National Road Race Championships 2021 conclude in Lincoln
The cycling event is rounding up with the men's and women's races today
The National Road Race Championships 2021 conclude in Lincoln today, with the gruelling men's and women's road races across the famous cobbles of the city.
The time trials kicked off the event for 2021 on Thursday (October 14), with elite cyclists competing along a 29.4km circuit taking in the sights of the Lincolnshire Wolds.
Brothers Ethan and Leo Hayter won the elite and under-23 titles, with Anna Henderson and Anna Shackley winning in the women's events.
Ethan Hayter told British Cycling: “I think I was kind of the favourite coming into this but I don’t think Leo really was, so that was a really nice way to start the day to come down and see him."
"It’s a big shame my family couldn’t be here because my Dad’s actually got Covid – he’s all right, he’s just stuck at home, but I’m sure they’ll celebrate!
“I know what time my brother did and as I came around here with a lap to go I checked and was just about up on him, so I thought I must be going all right!”
There was success for Ethan Hayter the next day in the circuit race, while home grown talent Jo Tindley secured victory on the streets of the city where she grew up.
Her lead in the gruelling circuit race never fell below 20s. Speaking after the race, she told British Cycling:
“If you’re going to do it, you want to do it in front of a home crowd, don’t you? There was quite a lot of drive that kept me going, but it’s not sunk in just yet.
“There are some really good sprinters in the group, and having done some other races this year I knew I couldn’t just handle them, so for me it was either whittling it down and making one big move, or as it happened really early it just lined out and there’s not a lot of rest on this circuit, so I knew I could potentially get away. When the gap happened quite early I had to commit to it, I had no other option.
“I used to work at the pub just here so I know the finish line very well from looking out of the window at it. You always dream it – it’s pretty special.”
Ethan Hayter could manage an unprecedented triple if he comes out on top in the men's road race later on today (October 17 - starting 13:00)
Riders will take in the harsh cobbles of Michaelgate in an event contested over 166km (13 laps) for men and 101km (8 laps) for women.
The events will have both an elite and under-23 title up for grabs.
Mark Cavendish returns to Lincoln in the men's race, with Ben Swift, Matt Walls and James Shaw also competing.
Hannah Barnes, Alice & Anna Henderson and Joss Lowden are among favourites in this morning's women's race (October 17 - starting 09:00)