Victory for Beaumont as Sennema Toughs it Out!

Thursday 1st June. The seventh round of the London Women's League took place at Hog Hill on a warm, sunny Thursday evening. The logistics of getting across London at rush hour to the venue meant that there was a smaller field than at other rounds of the league. Nevertheless, the quality of the racing was in no way compromised.

The group of 12 riders stayed together for most of the race despite digs on the infamous 12% gradient each lap by various women, and breakaway attempts notably by Astrid Wingler (London Phoenix) and Sabine Homrighausen (Kingston Wheelers). It was on the penultimate lap that Claire Beaumont attacked on the Hoggenberg and this shattered the group, though four riders managed to hang onto her coat tales. This select group was eventually fused back together on the bottom section of the circuit, with riders carefully marking one another until the decisive moment.

That time was signalled by an attack from Mathilde Pauls (Pearson Cycles), but she was quickly caught by the fast finishing Claire Beaumont (Rapha Condor) who took the win. The podium was completed by Astrid Wingler (London Phoenix).

League leader, Maryka Sennema (Kingston Wheelers) who had made the trip to Hog Hill despite feeling under the weather, clung onto the group until the penultimate lap and rolled over the finish line in 7th place, the leader's jersey still firmly on her shoulders. Elise Sherwell's absence from the race led to Sennema increasing her lead, and furthermore the race outcome led to the emergence of a new number 2 in the rankings, Sherwell's Pearson Cycles club-mate, Mathilde Pauls. The order of the top 3 riders could change yet again when Sherwell, Pauls and Sennema all meet at the next round, Crystal Palace on June 15th.

Results
1. Claire Beaumont Rapha Condor
2. Mathilde Pauls Pearson Cycles
3. Astrid Wingler London Phoenix
4. Naomi Anderson Team Zappi
5. Susan Wood Maldon and District CC
6. Dyanne Holland Dulwich Paragon
7. Maryka Sennema Kingston Wheelers
8. Helen MacKay London Phoenix
9. Peta McSharry Team Wiggle
10. Sabine Homrighausen Kingston Wheelers
11. Vikki Filsell Pearson Cycles
12. Maria David Dulwich Paragon