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JLT Condor presented by Mavic extended their lead in the Pearl Izumi Tour Series to make it three victories from three races in 2016, with Jon Mould's individual win in Motherwell helping secure the maximum 10-points. Meanwhile Drops Cycling Team took the lead away from the opening women's Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series round of 2016, which saw a popular victory for Eileen Roe on Scottish roads.
The Motherwell event started the Pearl Tour Series' Scottish week, which continues with a round in Edinburgh on Thursday, the first time the unique team based televised event has held a pair of rounds in Scotland. After a pair of victories at the opening event in the Isle of Man, JLT Condor presented by Mavic once again proved to be the team to beat with Mould leading them home with his sixth individual win in the Pearl Izumi Tour Series. Mould had been part of a front group of five riders with representatives from all of the major teams, which was joined in the final five laps by a further quintet, including teammate Ed Clancy, who would go on to contest the finish. It was Mould who crossed the line first, with Albert Torres splitting him and Clancy to help Team Raleigh GAC to runner-up position behind JLT Condor, before Pedal Heaven's Will Fox and Madison Genesis' Tom Stewart rounded out the individual top five. The team victory extends JLT Condor's advantage to five points over reigning champions Madison Genesis, who could only come fourth in Motherwell. Commenting afterwards on his win, and extended lead for his team JLT Condor presented by Mavic, Jon Mould said; "Four years on the trot now that I've won an individual round since I started in 2013 with the first Tour Series I rode, it's a nice habit to keep going. "It's nice, it adds a bit more to it. It's harder to win in the leader's jersey to be honest. The team takes precedent over everything else, so when you've got an opportunity to win in it it's really nice. "We need to keep going, it's only two rounds in and there's a long way to go. One mistake or one problem and you're on the back foot and chasing for the rest of the night.” Pedal Heaven's Fox took the Brother Fastest Lap award, while Morgan Kneisky retained the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey, thanks to the efforts of Team Raleigh GAC teammate Torres, who took the majority of the points available in Motherwell to protect Kneisky's advantage. Among the guest teams, it was Planet-X Northside who took the early lead in the North competition, which will see teams race in Motherwell, Edinburgh, Durham and Stoke-on-Trent. The women's Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series was shaped by a four rider group led by Roe, fellow former champion Nikki Juniper, Lincoln Grand Prix winner Alice Barnes and Team Breeze rider Annasley Park. The quartet went clear early on and never looked like being caught, with Barnes sweeping up the points in both intermediate Sprints to take the green jersey following Round One. At the finish, it was Roe who took the win to loud cheers from the Motherwell crowd, with Barnes second and reigning champion Juniper in third, just ahead of Park. Behind the front four there was another strong performance from Drops youngster Ellie Dickinson, who won the National Junior Road Race title at the weekend, coming home fifth, one place ahead of Team WNT's Irish champion Lydia Boylan. That, and 2012 Champion Annie Simpson's eighth, helped Drops Cycling to become the first team to pull on the five Matrix Fitness GP Series leader jerseys thanks to a 19-point advantage over Team Breeze, with Team Ford EcoBoost a further point in arrears. For full results and standings for the Matrix Fitness GP Series, please click here. Highlights of the Motherwell races are on ITV4 at 1900 on Wednesday 18 May, with a repeat at 1300 on Thursday 19 May. You can also watch the action on demand via the ITV Player catch-up service. Thursday sees Edinburgh host Round Three of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, with the elite men's race at 1930 on the 1.6-kilometre Grassmarket circuit, which includes the cobbled climb of Victoria Street, and the supporting Brother Grand Prix corporate ProAm race at 1800. Support activities and events will take place around the Grassmarket from 1600. |
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