Catching her rivals by surprise, Jessica Finney launched a long sprint at the end of a gruelling Women's CICLE Classic to hold on for a slender victory over a small finishing group.
Overnight rain made the notoriously rough roads around Melton Mowbray extra challenging, making for an action-packed race on Sunday.
Dubbed the 'British Paris-Roubaix', this year's event saw a group of six riders survive the race's many crashes and mechanical problems on the treacherous off-road sectors.
Finney (AWOL O'Shea) took the faster finishers in the leading group by surprise, launching her bid for glory coming into the final corner. She had enough power to fend off Monica Greenwood (DASHandsling Bikes) in second and Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck Development Team) in third.
"I was shocked at the end," said a delighted Finney, who also won last year's Stockton Grand Prix.
"I was waiting for the sprint as the group were working well so it would have been hard solo. I didn't think I could beat the pure sprinters so I went before the final corner. I took them by surprise and I just held it."
This story is from the March 30, 2023 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 30, 2023 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
UK SCENE WILSON WINS AT CLAYTON SPRING CLASSIC HANDICAP
Junior rider Atkins wins North Road CC 25
"I'm Geraint Thomas," he said politely."And I'm a bike rider"
The Doc salutes the Welshman's staying power and charm
AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON...STRENGTH TRAINING
The need-to-know essentials for cyclists lifting weights - Rob Kemp asks an expert
NOURISH TO FLOURISH
The nutrition you need to age-proof your performance
THE WORLD'S FASTEST DESCENDER
DOWNHILL MAESTRO SAFA BRIAN TELLS MARIA DAVID HOW HE MASTERED THE ART OF DESCENDING TO BECOME FASTER THAN EVERYONE EXCEPT, PERHAPS, TOM PIDCOCK
VISION METRON SL 60
Super-stiff, responsive race wheels that hold their line when the wind whips up
RIDDEN AND REVIEWED GIANT TCR ADVANCED O £3,699
Lively all-rounder that offers pro bike pedigree without the premium price tag
Six days of Paris
This is one of those images that makes you feel almost as though you're there in it, soaking up an atmosphere heavy with embrocation and cigarette smoke, those hanging lamps creating a ghostly glow across the arena.
Alberto Dainese's BMC Teammachine R
We take a close look at the Italian sprinter's Tudor Pro Cycling team bike
Pogačar has fun in the desert
World champion wins UAE Tour overall, with some chaos on the way
