This year sees the Women's National Road Race Championships being contested in Yorkshire once again, but this time over a flat circuit started and finishing in Beverley. The race started in New Walk, Beverley before heading out through the village of Etton to a 7.7mile circuit through South Dalton and Holme on the Wolds. The circuit was completed 7 times, then the race headed back into Beverley to finish in New Walk.

Unlike in previous years where there has always been a decent hill somewhere on the course to make a selection of the stronger riders, this years course was somewere between flat and rolling, and it was going to be hard work to split the field, but with the roads being narrow and a crash happening just behind me on the first lap, I knew it would be important to try.

On the longest hill (drag?) on the circuit Nicole and I attacked each lap in an attempt to break things up, but although there was some damage caused, it tended to be riders dropping from the back of the bunch, the hill just wan't long enough to break the elastic, and for the most part the bunch regrouped shortly afterwards.

On the 6th lap Emma Pooley attacked and got a decent gap at the front of the field, and after giving her a few minutes of freedom Nicole attacked in pursuit and the bunch lined out chasing. It was all back together by the time we hit the hill, but the effort had taken its toll and with another attack up the climb the field finally split and we had a group of 12 riders clear.

With a break so big it was hard to get everyone to work, but with no-one back in the field having the energy to chase, the gap soon grew. By this point I was starting to feel the effects of my lack of training over the last 10 days, and was cramping badly (not something I usually have problems with) so I just tried to keep it it a small gear, pedal as much as possible and try not to get out of the saddle too much.

The last time up the climb, Nicole decided she didn't want to risk leaving it to a bunch sprint, and attacked. I almost got on her wheel, but was beaten to it by another rider, but they couldn't hold her wheel, and by the time I got around her it was too late, Nicole had got the gap and that was the last we were to see of her until after the finish. The final few miles to the finish were some of the most frustrating miles of bike racing I've done in a long time! 1 Nicole versus 11 of us chasing it really shouldn't have been too difficult to bring her back, but most of the group seemed content to race for 2nd.

The final sprint didn't go any better for me than the rest of the race had, and I finished 10th, not a great Nationals result for me, but hey ho, there's always next year! Congrats once again to Nicole, and to 17yr old Jo Rowsell, who had a great ride, showing her strength through the race and taking the Bronze medal.