Giro Women
Lauren Dickson was on Grand Tour debut for FDJ United-Suez at the Giro d’Italia Women, while being a key mountain lieutenant for team leader Demi Vollering would be the aim -a strong general classification could come as a byproduct of a strong climbing performance.
Tuesday saw the first real general classification test with a 12km mountain time trial. A strong ride wouldn’t be a shock for the 2024 Scottish Hill Climb Champion, then riding for Handsling-Alba, but sixth place on the stage, despite riding on a road bike registered the Edinburgh native in the discussion for the general classification.
The bonus adding another card to the French team’s arsenal, with team leader Demi Vollering sitting in second after the first big test. Dickson would drop outside the top ten the following day, but only after setting up a stage victory for her teammate. However heading into the weekend’s final two staged the FDJ team leader, Vollering, would remain 1 minute in arrears of her compatriot Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx).
The penultimate stage was set to see two ascents over 2000m – the sterratto of the Colle delle Finestre and then the summit finish at the ski resort of Seistriere.
FDJ set a high tempo in the early part of the stage, with Celia Gery coming back from the break and pacing on the early part of the Finestre before Dickson took over on the top section of gravel with seven kilometres of the climb and 43 kilometres of the stage to go.
The Edinburgh RC graduate set a blistering tempo but an avalanche ahead led to the stage finish being moved to one kilometre from the top of the Finestre, with riders only told with 5km to go. Dickson reduced the peloton until there were just four riders left in the group – including the top three riders on general classification. The Scot had set her leader up for an attack but the race leader was able to counter. FDJ would take the stage win through Vollering and cut the gap to 49 seconds – Dickson with a player of the match performance in seventh on the stage and back up to 12th in the overall.
By the time the TV cameras had coverage of the final stage, the race had already been obliterated. Third place Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/Sram) was part of a move of three two minutes clear of Vollering and van der Breggen – and was currently sitting in virtual pink.
Lauren Dickson was the third rider in that group and despite feeling the fatigue of Saturday’s efforts produced a superb effort on the front to bring the gap down to one minute on the final climb – setting up Vollering for a final attack that would finally dislodge the pink jersey. The European Champion would manage to make the effort on the descent to bridge across to the three leaders – sitting in that group to take fourth on the stage and win the Giro d’Italia for the first time – and completing the triple crown.
Dickson would come home in eighth on the stage and 11th in the overall – and with a myriad of plaudits from the pro peloton after a Sepp Kuss-esque performance to support her team. We’re sure it won’t be last we’ll see of Lauren in the high mountains.
Tour of the Reservoir
From one former Handsling-Alba rider to a current team member; what a week it has been for Kate Richardson.
On Thursday it was revealed that the Glaswegian would make her Commonwealth Games debut in her home city, and on Sunday Richardson celebrated that call-up with a superb solo victory in the blustery crosswinds and moorland of the Tour of the Reservoir.
A solo move late on on the final climb propelled the Glaswegian to victory, utilising the tailwind to her advantage to ride away from the chasers and take her first win of the season. Arianne Holland rode to a superb fifth, and Beth Morrow to sixth for an excellent morning in the North Pennines for the Alba team. Morven Yeoman (DAS-Hutchinson) finished tenth, with Melanie Rowe in 11th.
Peebles
Team HUP’s Grace Inglis claimed the win at the fourth round of the Scotia Series in Peebles, from Izzy Filor (Forth Velo) and Gemma Mitchell.
Read the report from Peebles CC here:
Valencia
Many of Scotland’s best track sprinters made the journey to Spain’s East Coast for the Trofeu Ciutat de Valencia.
Lauren Bell claimed victory from Iona Moir in the sprints competition – the Team Scotland and Great Britain Cycling Team teammates had to go to a decider after Moir won the opening match, but Lauren Bell scored the win overall in rides two and three. Pete Mitchell (Black Line) would follow suit – taking the win in the men’s sprint.
Bell would continue her great form to take the keirin win, with Glasgow Track RC’s Ellie Stone finishing in third place in the final.
BMX
Back at home it was Round 6 of Scottish Regional BMX Series at Knightswood.
Check out the full results here.