The county of Northamptonshire played host to Stage 1 of the 2017 OVO Energy Women’s Tour on Wednesday, 7th June 2017. Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma romped to victory.
2017 OVO Energy Women’s Tour
The Women’s Tour is a cycle race that was introduced in Great Britain in 2014. It is currently sponsored by OVO Energy. The race is split into five road stages. It became a part of the new UCI Women’s World Tour, the premier annual female elite road cycling tour, in 2016.
Stage 1 – Daventry to Kettering
Stage 1 of the 2017 OVO Energy Women’s Tour took place in my home county of Northamptonshire. The 99 riders, representing 17 teams, began the 147.5km course in Daventry and finished in Kettering. Along the way were two Eisberg Sprint and two Queen of the Mountain challenges.
Having never witnessed a cycle race in the flesh before, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Since they were passing within a couple of miles of my home, I figured I’d take a look. After studying the route, I had quite a clear vision in my mind of the backdrop I wanted, and I knew exactly where I’d find it.
I hopped on my own bike and cycled up to a spot on the A510, just south of Generals Corner. I was positioned on the outside of a sweeping bend, where the gradient started to rise again after a short descent. A “District of East Northamptonshire” sign, was visible in shot, too.
Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
The OVO Energy Women’s Tour operates a ‘rolling roadblock’ policy, whereby roads are temporarily closed as the race progresses. With riders using both sides of the road, it’s really the only way to ensure their safe passage.
Katarzyna Niewiadoma
Following the live race updates on my phone, I knew the leading pack was still pretty well bunched as they approached Oundle. Then, all of sudden, Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma began to surge clear.
After waves of police and event motorbikes passed me, the leading rider finally came into view, along with lead, support and film vehicles.
Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
I’d rather assumed she would be on ‘my side’ of the road, so I was a bit disappointed that she wasn’t. The resultant images are nowhere near as dynamic as I’d hoped.
Although I didn’t time it, I would estimate that Katarzyna Niediwadoma was comfortably in excess of two minutes ahead of the peloton – the chasing pack – at the point she passed me. I was approximately 30kms from the finish, and it was very obvious, even to a novice like myself, that it was going to take a monumental effort for anyone to catch her.
The Peloton
The main peloton must have comprised of nearly 50 riders passing me. Thankfully, they were on my side of the road, and I got some quite nice stuff – something close to my original vision. Lizzie Deignan (formerly Lizzie Armistead), 2015 World road race champion and reigning Commonwealth road race champion, was in the leading wave (in orange, on the left).
Peloton, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
Peloton, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
Peloton, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
The thing I wasn’t prepared for was just how close together they would all be. The vast majority passed as nothing more than a blur, in truth!
Peloton, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
Peloton, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
Peloton, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
On the crest of the hill in the distance, it started to become apparent that there had been a crash. I could see people jumping out of support vehicles with spare wheels and the police and ambulance had stopped.
Eventually everyone who had been caught up in the melee, I think, got back underway. There were a few minor cuts and a plaster or two to be seen, but thankfully nothing more serious.
Peloton, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
Peloton, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
Peloton, Stage 1, OVO Women’s Tour 2017 – Karl Drage, Northants event photographer
The race for Kettering
Katarzyna Niewiadoma’s lead extended to three and a half minutes at its most substantial gap. Though the pack did close her down significantly in the latter stages, Niewiadoma officially crossed the Kettering finish line some one minute and forty six seconds ahead of the peloton. A truly remarkable solo effort.
The highest placed British rider was Northamptonshire’s own Alice Barnes, who officially finished in 7th place, one of 17 riders to clock the same time!
To find out more, please see the 2017 OVO Energy Women’s Tour website.
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