Edinburgh’s Lauren Dickson scored her best result for new team FDJ United-Suez with an excellent second place on the third and final stage of the race in the south west of Spain.
In the opening time trial, Dickson would finish inside the top 20, with fellow Scot Erin Boothman (LIv-AlUla Jayco Continental) sitting only a few places further back. Boothman would finish sixth in the bunch sprint on stage two, with the newly gazetted British elimination champion impressing in her first professional stage race.
The final 140km stage saw four large climbs – including a 15km climb taking the race over the 1000m barrier. new FDJ recruit led the field over the first climb 21km into the stage – taking some key mountain classification points with it. By the time of the one “Especial” category climb at the mid point of racing, the race had fractured with Dickson in the key group of contenders.
On the final climb, Dickson would be one of a few to comfortably hold onto the blistering pace set by Liv-AlULa, who were riding for Mackenzie Coupland. The Scot would come over the top and distance some of the Australian’s teammates and remaining interlopers in the group. Dickson would open up a small gap over the top, but Coupland’s one remaining domestique would close the gap with Noskova (Cofidis) also remaining in the lead group.
With just over two kilometres remaining Coupland, the Australian champion, would once again attack with Dickson managing to follow – and distance the two other escapees.
The Scot would lead out the sprint for stage honours, but Copeland would come around the top and take the stage win with Dickson in second place. The performance would also raise Dickson to second in the general classification, and her climbing exploits would be enough to win the Queen of the Mountains jersey.
It would be mixed fortunes for the Scots in Sunday’s GP Lillers (1.2) as Elliot Rowe and Alfie George were both aiming to become the first Scots to win the race in Hauts-de-France since Robert Miller in 1979.
Rowe, riding for his second season at Visma-Lease A Bike Development, attacked from the peloton in the early stages of the race, with well over 145km remaining. The break of four would establish a lead of around two and a half minutes – with the French teams behind ensuring the escapees would be kept on a short leash.
As the lead started to dwindle in the closing stages Rowe made his move. Attacking with 20 kilometres to go the Scot would be joined by one rider from Vendée-U and the pair would hold the chasing pack to around 30 seconds.
However, it would not be enough with the peloton making the catch with just over two kilometres remaining – he would however take solace in being awarded the races’ most aggressive rider.
Where the opportunity for one Scot would be extinguished, another would arise, however.
Alfie George was on sprint duties for his new team Elite Fondations. The Dundonian would be lead out into the northern French town in a good position, and would finish in third place in a stacked field – replicating his feat from 12 months ago – but this time only being bested by two riders racing in the ProTour.
In Italy, Handsling-Alba were in action at the Trofeo Oro (1.1) against a tough field of teams just off the back of racing in Strade Bianche.
Youth and Juniors
The first round of the British Youth Omnium would take place at the Sir Chirs Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, organised by Johnstone Jets.
There would be a fantastic effort from the Edinburgh RC boys in the Youth A (U16) open, with Micah Myles wining the first four races of the omnium to take the victory with Andrew Levinson following closely in second place. Myles started the day with an excellent kilometre time trial, which we think is a new Scottish record.
Zara Main (Deeside Thistle) would ride to second in the female field, showing excellent consistency throughout the omnium. Freddie Ball, also of Deeside, would take the victory in the Youth B field – after winning out in the elimination and sprint races.
For the home club there would success to as Eilidh Scally would take the win in the under 14 event – winning four of the five events.
Very well done to the team at Johnstone Jets for organising another great weekend of track racing, with the Youth Omnium following on from another successful Monsters of Track meet on Saturday.
The opening round of the junior national road race series took place at Hatherleigh with Spokes RT – Oscar Onley Development making a welcome return. Zach Barbour would finish the highest of the Scots in eighth, with Fraser Gemmel in 11th and Colin Johnston in 12th place.