After missing last season due to suffering from long Covid, Olivia French has started this hill-climb campaign in stellar form, winning on both Mam Nick and Snake Pass last weekend.
French, 22, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, could provide an outside shot at the National Championships later this month.
Last year’s champion Illi Gardner will be favourite to retain her title, but the other podium positions are wide open.
Two-time winner Bithja Jones has not raced since finishing third last season, while injuries look set to rule out Mary Wilkinson and Rebecca Richardson.
French (Stolen Goat Race Team) recorded a winning time of eight minutes and 40 seconds over the 2.1-kilometre Mam Nick climb which has an average gradient of 9.8%. A minute behind in second place was Morgan Newberry (Loughborough Lightning/TRG) who stopped the clock in 9-45. Showing her talent in third place overall was quickest juvenile rider Maia Howell (Matlock CC).
Road and criterium rider French had a baptism of fire into hill-climbing, competing in her first event on Winnats Pass in the Nationals two years ago.
Determined French
“This season I’m determined to do as many as possible, hence double and triple-header weekends,” said French.
“It’s nice to have done a maximum effort and completely empty yourself before having a lie down on the floor at the finish.”
Bu hikaye Cycling Weekly dergisinin October 12, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Cycling Weekly dergisinin October 12, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
CLASSIC BIKE - JOHNNY BERRY
Johnny be good at making beautiful lightweight bikes
UK SCENE - WUNDERKIND HUDSON WINS YORKSHIRE CX
Newly crowned junior hill-climb champ shows his versatility by winning round seven on the mud
WATT WORKS FOR ME TADEJ POGAČAR
The man himself - subject of this special issue - explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
11 WAYS TO POG-UP YOUR PLAN
Tadej Pocačar's performance is out of reach but you can adapt his training to raise your game. Chris Marshall-Bell consults the experts to find out how
Why do modern aero bikes look less aero?
Are today's aero bikes really faster, or is marketing just getting better? Joe Baker investigates...
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
An Olympic year is always special and the cycling season once again delivered a year of highs and lows, from Pogi's triple to Katie Archibald's pre-Olympic trip
MEET THE PARENTS
What made Tadej Pogačar the phenomenon he is today? Chris Marshall-Bell went to Slovenia to meet his mum and dad, Mirko and Marjeta
HALF MAN HALF GOAT
Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against
Lefevere cashes in his chips and leaves cycling management
The news that Patrick Lefevere will step down as Quick Step boss marks the end of an era, after 22 years in charge
Mathieu van der Poel weighs up skipping Tour de France
Dutchman hints at missing Tour in favour of mtb Worlds bid, reports Tom Thewlis from Dénia, Spain
