Monica Greenwood (DAS-Handsling) proved the strongest of a two-rider breakaway that dominated much of the race in Sheffield, outsprinting Amy Gornall (Pro-Noctis-Heidi Kjeldsen-200 Degrees Coffee).
The win in Sheffield is confirmation of Greenwood’s form this season, coming after an early season podium in the National Road Series, consistent top results in the National Circuit Series, and victories in Belgium.
DAS-Handsling and Pro-Noctis-Heidi Kjeldsen-200 Degrees Coffee took control of the front of the race early on.
The uneasy truce was broken as Alba Development Road Team’s Arianne Holland and Sophie Enever took it in turns to attack up the slight rise to the finish, stretched the peloton over the next few laps as the strength of DAS-Handsling, Alba Development RT, and Pro-Noctis took over.
After 15 minutes, a lull in the pace saw last year’s series winner Emma Jeffers (DAS-Handsling) go solo. However, the move never gained more than a handful of seconds and she was reeled back in a lap later.
As the race approached the halfway mark, Greenwood launched a stinging attack from the front of the bunch, powering up the finishing straight with Gornall a few metres behind.
The two dominant teams of the race so far seemed content with the race situation and the leaders worked well to establish a gap, aided by their teammates back in the bunch, which almost came to a crawl as the DAS-Handsling riders fanned out across the road.
The gap continued to grow over the next few laps and, with two laps to go, it was clear that the breakaway was destined to make it all the way to the line.
Coming into the final lap, Gornall led Greenwood along the back of the course, looking over her shoulder and keeping the pace high to guard against a late attack.
The duo rounded the final corner together, with Greenwood slotting into the lead just before the turn. She accelerated hard coming into the finishing straight and opened up a small gap to Gornall almost immediately, holding her lead all the way to the line.
Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis-Heidi Kjeldsen-200 Degrees Coffee) rounded out the podium, winning the bunch sprint for third.
Corinne Side finished safely in the bunch, her seventh place doing enough to retain the series lead ahead of Round 6 in Newark.
