Season Starts With a Bang!
The start to the 2025 season has certainly been dramatic, full of high profile launches and a growing list of race victories as the team set the early pace in the domestic race scene.
The team came together for their annual winter training camp, this time in Calpe, Spain.
Gathering as a team for the first time,unveiling new riders, new sponsors, kit and bikes, is a vital time to build the team environment, get to know new team members and begin to plan a season-long strategy.
With track, cyclo-cross, climbers, sprinters and a cohesive, supportive team, it’s going to be an exciting time supporting the girls this season.
Having announced Smurfit Westrock as a principal, multi year sponsor several months ago it was the turn of Ribble Cycles to be announced as official bike sponsors for 2025 and the new Ribble Ultra SL R and Endurance SL R Disc bikes, in custom team colours, certainly grabbed attention in Spain.
A film crew from Ribble arriving for a few days to produce a promotional video (check it out on the home page) certainly made the most of the great weather and superb riding conditions.
The roads around Calpe have an almost mythical aura for cyclists and the team found themselves regularly sharing the tarmac with the top UCI World Tour teams as they trained and tested around Moraira, the Tudons, Coll de Rates and Bèrnia climbs, along with the stunning coastal roads in-between.
Martha Lebentz, team soigneur, data analyst and massage therapist summed up camp perfectly; “Camp was mega! Great week of laughs, hard work and getting to know each other. Such a lovely group of people to be working with and very excited to see what the season brings with these talented girls!”
And Sian added; “The camp was the perfect way to bond with everyone to start the season off on the best note possible. We gelled so well as a group and I feel right at home already, I can’t wait to see how the season is going to go with such a good group that fully backs each other!”
Belgium
On a post-camp high the team bagan March in Belgium for the Omloop Het Hageland, Le Samyn des Dames and Ixina GP Oetingen UCI races, once again sharing the road with some of the world’s best riders.
Inevitably it was fierce racing with the pro teams looking to stamp their authority on the season but the experience gained and lessons learned from top level racing weren’t wasted when the domestic season opened closer to home.
At the same time, Lucy Glover took to the Manchester velodrome for the National Track Championships, lining up against star names Katie Archibald, Neah Evans and world champion Anna Morris. A standout moment came when she finished 6th in the Points Race, an impressive result for our young rider and a sign of great things to come.
North Lincolnshire Women’s Classic
The domestic season kicked off on 9th March with the new North Lincolnshire Women’s Classic where the team fielded a strong lineup in unseasonable good weather on the roads north of Market Rasen.
A cautious first lap of the 10 mile circuit was followed by an explosive second lap when attacks began at the front of the race where Bexy quickly took advantage, counter-attacking and building a gap to the main bunch.
Bexy takes up the story;
“We had a strong presence at the front of the race from the start with both Anabel and Jo amongst the early moves trying to break clear. The pace was driven on at the end of the first lap and I was in a prime position to attack over the top of a move - so I did!
I was hoping for some company ... But I knew I had to capitalise on the gap into the draggy climb into the cross headwind so I pressed on. After a few more laps out solo I was really looking forward to some company! Being joined by Melissa kept the momentum - that and the relentless loyalty of the team behind marking moves and disrupting any dangerous chase - our lead continued to grow until it was obvious that the win was coming from one or the other of us. The fatigue was weighing heavy on my mind (and legs) but the final kick was also a sweet finish to the battle against the wind and I was extremely happy to cross the line first.”
And so the team took their first victory of 2025, setting the scene for what was to be a dominant March.
Peaks 2 Day
The following weekend we again fielded a strong team in the Peaks 2 Day race and although the temperature had dropped and the climbing increased, the intensity within the team showed no sign of diminishing. Stage 1 was a 5.9km, punishing road bike time trial where Lucy Harris took a 2nd place finish just two seconds behind the leading time. Alex made it two team members on the first podium, finishing a further 23 seconds back.
Later the same day Lucy Gadd stormed to victory on stage 2, having broken up the peloton on the main climb and, with Lucy Harris assisting in the break, attacked again with 18km to go, soloing to the finish, winning by 41 seconds and taking the leader’s jersey.
A strong team effort behind saw the team feature prominently in the top 20.
Stage 3 on Sunday served up a technical, punishing test that the team set out to control from the off, covering attacks at the front whilst ensuring the leading group was whittled down. As the stage reached it’s decisive moments, the leading group of just 11 riders contained 5 team members, and entering the final sprint, Lucy Gadd was set up to protect her lead and finish just 3 seconds behind the winner.
With Lucy Harris finishing safely in the front group and securing 3rd place overall it proved another impressive team performance, backed up with top 10 finishes for Lucy Ellmore, Alex and Annabel.
Cicle Classic
The following weekend saw the opening round of the National Road Race Series with the Melton Cicle Classic.
The Cicle Classic is an iconic opener to the season, known by many as the English Paris Roubaix, with a reputation for tough and even vicious conditions, especially on its off-road sectors. This year the weather preceding the race had remained good with little rain and all sectors retained, unlike last year, and the iconic Cicle mud was at a premium.
Almost inevitably the race began fast but stayed together and as the various sectors were ticked off, a large group remained on the front, including a good number of the team, looking again to control things.
As the race snaked through the Leicestershire countryside the leading group was slowly whittled down, but as they turned north for the final phases it remained a not insignificant 40+ strong.
Conspicuous in the leading group were six team members, Lucy Harris and Lucy Gadd particularly visible and clearly demonstrating their early season form was not letting up.
Jo too was influential in the group using her vast experience to control the race, popping out of the peloton to snatch sprint points and ensure the team had the best opportunities as the race entered it’s final stages.
As thoughts began to turn to the finish, with many expecting a large bunch sprint, Lucy Harris this time took the opportunity to counter attack off the front and found herself all alone, soon building a significant lead as the race entered Melton.
With just a final loop to the finish line Lucy was 30 seconds ahead and it was clear nobody would be catching her, even with a minor, unplanned diversion as she took the final bend.
In a reduced sprint Jo just missed out on a podium place with Bexy, Alex, Alice and Lucy Gadd all finishing in the same group.
The Cicle Classic was another dominant team performance, a demonstration of the depth we will have throughout the coming season, and the perfect way to head into Spring!
A trip up to Lancashire for The Capernwray Road Race before another European excursion to the Région Pays de la Loire Tour Féminin follows for the team, and then we’re back for Round 2 of the National Road Race Series at the East Cleveland Classic.
Can we continue our great form into April?
Words and Images by Adam Winfield, Through the Lens unless stated