Race Report
’VSJ Girls on Tour’
Women Only (CAT 3 and 4) Circuit Race at Goodwood Motor Circuit
On 28 March 2010 Velo Sport Jersey members Donna Le Blancq and Jo Le Cocq travelled to the UK to take part in their first women only race on the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
The 13 lap / 2.4mile circuit is fast, mostly flat with one technical chicane and is generally always windy, and it certainly was at 9.30 am on Sunday morning when the girls took the start line amongst a field of nearly 40 women, one of the largest the race has ever seen. Jo raced near the front of the pack watching and chasing any attempts at a break away, however with 4 laps to go she ran out of steam, having only recently returned from the Cape Argus race in South Africa of 109k and a bout of sickness it was possibly all a bit much and in hindsight should have tried to reserve a bit more energy but still, her team mate Donna was still in the pack and going really strong, putting in an excellent effort for Velo Sport Jersey. With a couple of laps to go there was a break from the stronger teams which meant Donna and the other women had to work really hard to chase them down at which point the men’s CAT 4 race had started and they came through like a high speed freight train... CAT 4 men in the UK are not slow! The women in the breakaway splintered and slowed which meant Donna’s pack caught them, on the last lap a strong pack of 10 women broke away again for a final sprint. Donna still chasing, still strong, came out with an excellent position of 12th earning some points for Velo Sport Jersey in the Women’s Racing League.
It was a fantastic race and excellent experience for the girls to race among such a large field of women of all abilities.
If any women would like to know more about the races Jo and Donna are doing or would like to take part with them, you can email Jo at joannalecocq@gmail.com or Donna at donnaleblancq@yahoo.com.