British National Road Race Championships 2008

1. Nicole Cooke Halfords Bikehut 3.00.57
2. Emma Pooley Team specialized/Designs for Women - same time
3. Joanna Rowsell Halfords Bikehut 3.04.06
4. Jessica Allen Halfords Bikehut -
5. Catherine Hare Halfords Bikehut -
6. Rachel Heal tibco -
7. Helen Wyman Swift Racing
8. Lianne Thompson Lune RCC -
9. Rachel Osborn Newport Shropshire CC
10. Leda Cox

This years British National Championships course was on the same circuit as the 2005 Championships event.    The course  had 2 laps of 2 different circuits both on rolling roads.

The first lap the field stayed together then Catherine Hare ( Halfords bikehut) went off the front before the 2nd lap and got a good gap ahead of the climb which shaped the race.

Nicole attacked going into the climb on the 2nd lap then Emma Pooley attacked which split the field further. I went with the attacks but my legs literally blew up  and wouldn't recover to make that last jump to the first group of 6 riders as I lost contact over the climb.   The first group included Nicole, Emma, Jessica, Catherine, Joanne and Rachael and they worked together until Nicole and Emma road away on the finishing circuit. 

 Nicole and Emma entered the last final kilometres together then Nicole put in her final surge to take her 9th British Championship title in a row with Emma taking a well deserved 2nd place.   The chase group of 4 behind sprinted for 3rd place with Joanne Rowsall (Halfords bikehut) taking the sprint for 3rd.

Our group were sprinting for 7th place with Helen Wyman taking the sprint and  I finished in 10th place.  

Not a great day for me today,  even after a few weeks easy I'm still feeling tired but I am sure I will bounce back soon.

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