Sunday saw the return of the prestigious Lincoln Grand Prix, the final round in British Cycling’s Spring Cup and for the first time there was also a womens race . Shootthebikerace kept a close eye on proceedings in both events and particularly the performance of the four girls making up the Sunsport Velo WRT. This is a major event in the British Cycling calendar and a good step forward in Sunsports progression.

Anyone who knows the Lincoln event will be aware that the approach to the start/finish line involves an ascent of the fabled Michaelgate, an 11 degree cobbled hill, which in the womens race was tackled eight times! The cream really does rise to the top when faced with this kind of challenge and so it proved as the talented Alice Barnes took top honours for the Drops Cycling Team.

Sunsports girls gave a good showing however with particular praise going to Alice Sharpe who, despite a heavy fall (on her face no less) battled back through the field to finish little more than a minute behind Barnes. Sophie Thackray belied her slight frame to stay within touching distance of the front group until the last lap and looked particularly strong on the steep ascent.  She really is a talent and will surely go from strength to strength judging by this showing. Mads Scott put in a strong performance before tailing off  in the last couple of laps and Jane Hellewell was one of the unluckiest riders of the day when she was taken out by a crash on the very first lap.

Sophie Thackray on Michaelgate

Mads Scott in the thick of it

Team manager Tony Orrell was pleased with the overall performance and now knows that the team can mix it with the best. He has high ambitions for this venture and the next stop is Motherwell for the first round of the Matrix Tour Series. Backed by some loyal and committed sponsors Sunsport Velo will now have a great opportunity to show their jerseys off to the tv cameras.

There is plenty more to come from this talented squad and I for one am looking forward to following their progress and inevitable rise through the ranks of the peloton

Alice Sharpe topping Michaelgate

Alice showing off her war wounds