Johnson Health Tech Women's Grand Prix Series - Round 3 - Oldham

Annie Simpson from Horizon Fitness win in Oldham (photo credit: Tour Series/VeloUK)

Annie Simpson leads Horizon Fitness 1-2 in Oldham

Simpson and King head the field for Horizon Fitness, as Helen Wyman continues in Series lead

Annie Simpson took victory in Round Three of the Johnson Health Tech Women’s Grand Prix Series at Oldham, heading home teammate Dani King and Series leader Helen Wyman from a four rider breakaway group.

Fellow escapee Sarah Byrne came home fourth, but took the honours in the evening’s sprints competition for her VC St Raphael team.

In front of a large and supportive crowd in Oldham town centre, the new-for-2011 Johnson Health Tech Women’s Grand Prix Series reached its penultimate round.

As with the men’s race later that evening, the tough town centre course took its toll from the outset, with the 33 rider bunch soon becoming strung out around the 1.1 kilometre course.

Round One winner Hannah Barnes took the honours at the opening sprint of the evening, pipping Hannah Rich to the line, with Wyman in third.  With neither Barnes nor Rich scoring at the second sprint and Wyman only taking fourth, Barnes moved back into the lead of the competition, albeit tied on points with Rich, but donning the jersey thanks to her sprint win on the night.

A group of four riders pulled clear as the race reached half distance, containing the two Horizon Fitness riders, Wyman and Biddulph’s Byrne.  The four inexorably moved clear, building their lead tour after tour, lapping much of the field.

Behind a chasing group of around ten riders, including Motorpoint and For Viored Brookvex who had both missed the move, kept up pursuit, but with the leaders working well together could make no in roads to their lead.

Come the final lap and Simpson, King and Wyman just eased clear from Byrne in the last few hundred metres up from Oldham’s final corner, with Stoke-on-Trent winner King raising her arms in celebration as Simpson crossed the line ahead of her in a perfect team performance.

Third place for Wyman, follows seconds in both Peterborough and the Potteries, ensuring she takes a nine point lead over Motorpoint’s Lucy Garner to the final round at Woking.

The top seven riders remain in contention for the title heading to Surrey, though if any of them are to wrench the jersey from Wyman’s shoulders they will have to put a stop to her consistent run of podium finishes.

Wyman’s title rival Garner led home the remnants of the main field for fifth, ahead of teammate Barnes and the Horizon Fitness duo of Penny Rowson and Jo Rowsell, with Condory’s Nicola Juniper and Corrine Hall rounding out the top ten.

For Viored Brookvex duo of Rohan Battison, who remains in the hunt for individual and sprint honours, and Rebecca Curley were the last of the riders to finish on the leading lap.

The final round of the Johnson Health Tech Women’s Grand Prix Series takes place in Woking at 17.00 on Tuesday 14^th June, where the final winner of the white Johnson Health Tech jersey will be crowned.

Round Three, Oldham, Results

Individual Results

1. Annie Simpson            Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo
2. Dani King                       Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo
3. Helen Wyman              Kona Factory Racing
4. Sarah Byrne                 VC St Raphael
5. Lucy Garner                 Motorpoint Pro Cycling
6. Hannah Barnes            Motorpoint Pro Cycling
7. Joanna Rowsell           Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo
8. Penny Rowson             Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo
9. Nicola Juniper             Condor Cycles
10. Corrine Hall                  Team Corridori / Specialized

Team Winner

1. Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo

Sprints Winner

1. Sarah Byrne                 VC St Raphael

Individual Standings, after Round Three

1. Helen Wyman              Kona Factory Racing                                        64pts
2. Lucy Garner                 Motorpoint Pro Cycling                                   55pts
3. Hannah Barnes            Motorpoint Pro Cycling                                   52pts
4. Dani King                       Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo        47pts
5. Penny Rowson            Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo        46pts
6. Hannah Rich                Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo        44pts
7. Rohan Battison           For Viored Brookvex                                        44pts
8. Nicola Juniper            Condor Cycles                                                      37pts
9. Annie Simpson           Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo         35pts
10. oanna Rowsell            Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo         35pts

Team Standings, after Round Three

1. Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo         166pts
2. Motorpoint Pro Cycling                                    139pts
3. For Viored Brookvex                                         111pts
4. Condor Cycles                                                       63pts
5. Mule Bar Girls                                                       6pts

Sprint Standings, after Round Three

1. Hannah Barnes            Motorpoint Pro Cycling                                         16pts
2. Hannah Rich                 Horizon Fitness RT Prendas Ciclismo              16pts
3. Helen Wyman               Kona Factory Racing                                              15pts

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