Participants enjoy Elgin Cycling Club's three-event Ladies' Day
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ELGIN Cycling Club's debut Ladies' Day has proven to be a big success.
The club hosted the three-event day on Sunday, July 3, with the aim of encouraging more women to get involved in cycling.
There was a coaching session for newcomers early in the morning, run by Andrew McDonald from Grit and Glory Coaching, before a taster race took place at 11am.
There was also a Scottish Women's Road Race for more experienced road cyclists.
Julia Loecherbach, who travelled all the way from Alloa on the train to attend the coaching session and the race, was named as the race winner.
There was drama in the race, too, as Lucia Cunvin Smith of Elgin CC suffered a puncture late in the race before riding to the finish line after a Tour-de-France style roadside wheel change.
All entrants were awarded a huge well done, with several ladies set to return after enjoying themselves.
The Scottish Cycling Category 3/4 race in the afternoon attracted 22 Scottish Cycling-registered entrants from as far afield as Alloa.
At nine and 3/4 laps – 42 miles around Miltonduff – this was a tough race requiring determination, grit, skill and strength.
Despite a few attacks the group stayed together until the home straight.
Winner Helen Wall from Forth Velo went with a surprise early attack and made a big enough gap so the chasers couldn’t catch her.
A well deserved-victory for the second year in a row at Miltonduff and full points meant she climbed a British Cycling racing category – she is now a Cat 3.
Organiser Lorna Breetzke said: "We hatched the plan for this day last year, and are so grateful for advice from Scottish Cycling and funding from the Scottish Cycling Springboard fund to get it off the ground.
"We also couldn’t put on this day without the support of our fantastic sponsors Raw Culture, Ardent Spirits, Speyside Coffee and Calum’s Kitchen.
"The fact that we have ignited the racing spirit amongst our local women riders is a bonus."
