Natalie Creswick stormed to an opening round victory in Stoke-on-Trent, taking a solo win ahead of MG Maxifuel’s Hannah Barnes and Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport teammate Louise Mahe.
Creswick broke away alone early on and was never caught, winning by almost a minute from the small group sprint, taken out by Barnes, who also won the Sprints classification at Round One.
Behind Jo Tindley took fourth as the lead Matrix Fitness Race Academy Rider, with fifth place going to local rider Sarah Byrne.
Creswick’s Potteries performance also earned her the evening’s Combativity Award, a new prize for the 2013 Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series, while Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport took the team win thanks to the double podium for Mahe and Creswick.
Highlights of the race will be shown on ITV4 at 10pm on Wednesday 22nd May as a part of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series programme, which is repeated on Thursday 23rd May at 12.55pm.
Round Two of the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series takes place in Colchester a 5.30pm on Thursday 30th May, alongside Round Six of the men’s Pearl Izumi Tour Series.
Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series, Round One Stoke-on-Trent
Round One, Stoke-on-Trent, Individual Result, Top Ten
1) Natalie Creswick, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport
2) Hannah Barnes, GBR, MG Maxifuel
3) Louise Mahe, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport
4) Jo Tindley, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy
5) Sarah Byrne, GBR, Champion Systems - Maxgear - Base
6) Gabby Day, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy
7) Charline Joiner, GBR, MG Maxifuel
8) Hannah Walker, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy
9) Alice Barnes, GBR, Scott Contessa Epic
10) Hayley Jones, GBR, Node4 Giordana Racing
Round One, Stoke-on-Trent Team Winner: Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport
Round One, Stoke-on-Trent Combativity Winner: Natalie Creswick, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport
Round One, Stoke-on-Trent, Sprints Winner: Hannah Barnes, GBR, MG Maxifuel
Individual Standings, post-Round One, Top Five
1) Natalie Creswick, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 20pts
2) Hannah Barnes, GBR, MG Maxifuel, 19pts
3) Louise Mahe, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 18pts
4) Jo Tindley, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy, 17pts
5) Sarah Byrne, GBR, Champion Systems - Maxgear - Base, 16pts
Team Standings, post-Round One
1) Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 38pts
2) MG Maxifuel, 38pts
3) Matrix Fitness Race Academy, 38pts
4) Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team, 17pts
5) Team Hope Factory Racing, 6pts