Hannah Barnes took her third win of the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series, in extraordinary style after an early crash left her injured, to leave her on the verge of clinching the title.
The MG Maxifuel rider crashed early on in Round Four of the Series, sustaining injuries that left her requiring nine stitches and hospital treatment post-race, but bounced back to take the bunch sprint, ahead of Roxanne Fourier and Coryn Rivera, and confirm victory in the Sprints competition.
Barnes continues to also lead the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series and only needs to start on Thursday to confirm the title, while her MG Maxifuel moved into a 28-point advantage over nearest rivals Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport in the team standings.
Attacks came and went throughout the 45-minute race, the most notable being that of Louise Borthwick who swept up the honours in both Sprints with a highly impressive solo ride. The Edinburgh RC rider was rewarded with the Combativity Award for her attacking display, going on to finish eighth overall.
With Borthwick caught the field came back together for a group sprint, with the injured Barnes head Fournier and Rivera for an international podium in Woking. The MG Maxifuel’s comeback was incredible, recovering from a dramatic crash that almost saw her unable to take part in the podium ceremony for a hattrick of wins in the 2013 Series.
Victory leaves Barnes 20 points clear of Louise Mahe and needing only to start the final round in Aylsham to win the Series at the third time of asking. Behind her Mahe and teammate Natalie Creswick are locked in a tight battle with Charline Joiner and Gabby Day for the Runner Up spot, with just seven points separating the four riders.
Second place behind Borthwick was enough to give Barnes the Sprints competiton, her 18 point lead over Mahe unassailable, while in the team classification MG Maxifuel remain on top.
Behind the Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team enjoyed their best round to date, coming second on the night thanks to Rivera and Ella Hopkins grabbing third and fourth. Team MuleBar Girl – Sigma Sport move back into second in the standings, 13 points ahead of defending champions Matrix Fitness Race Academy.
Highlights of the Woking race will be shown as a part of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series highlights programme on ITV4 at 10pm on Wednesday 12th June. The final round of the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series takes place in Aylsham, Norfolk on Thursday 13th June.
Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series, Round Four Woking
Round Four Woking, Individual Result
1) Hannah Barnes, GBR, MG Maxifuel
2) Roxanne Fournier, FRA, France
3) Coryn Rivera, USA, Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team
4) Ella Hopkins, GBR, Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team
5) Charline Joiner, GBR, MG Maxifuel
6) Alexie Shaw, GBR, Les Filles Racing Team
7) Louise Mahe, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport
8) Louise Borthwick, GBR, Edinburgh RC
9) Clemence Copie, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport
10) Lydia Boylan, IRL, Team CTC
Round Four Woking Team Winner: MG Maxifuel
Round Four Woking Combativity Winner: Louise Borthwick, GBR, Edinburgh RC
Round Four Woking Sprints Winner: Louise Borthwick, GBR, Edinburgh RC
Individual Standings, post-Round Four
1) Hannah Barnes, GBR, MG Maxifuel, 79pts
2) Louise Mahe, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 59pts
3) Charline Joiner, GBR, MG Maxifuel, 55pts
4) Natalie Creswick, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 54pts
5) Gabby Day, GBR, Matrix Fitness Race Academy, 52pts
Team Standings, post-Round Four
1) MG Maxifuel, 180pts
2) Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 152pts
3) Matrix Fitness Race Academy, 139pts
4) Breast Cancer Care Cycling Team, 78pts
5) Team Hope Factory Racing, 65pts
6) Team CTC, 30pts
Sprint Standings, post-Round Four
1) Hannah Barnes, GBR, MG Maxifuel, 35pts
2) Louise Mahe, GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 17pts
3) Natalie Creswick GBR, Team MuleBar Girl - Sigma Sport, 11pts
For full results and standings please visit www.tourseries.co.uk/jhtgpseries/standings.php
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Round One Tuesday 21st May Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Round Two Thursday 30th May Colchester, Essex
Round Three Tuesday 4th June Redditch, Worcestershire
Round Four Tuesday 11th June Woking, Surrey
Round Five Thursday 13th June Aylsham, Norfolk
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