Student Lucy races with world elite cyclists in Tour de Yorkshire

Brockenhurst College student Lucy Gadd competed her first World Tour race in the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race alongside several world-class riders.

She competed as part of the six-woman Storey Racing team, which is headed by four-time Paralympic gold medallist Dame Sarah Storey.

At just seventeen, Lucy and teammate Elynor Backstedt were among the youngest in the event, which has become one of the best-attended races on the cycling calendar.

Big crowds lined the 132km route through the towns of Yorkshire, where riders faced rolling hills and steep climbs.

Challenging Conditions

Day one saw 109 riders set off from Barnsley, with the Storey team right behind the leading car. Heavy rain, hail and strong winds dominated on the second day, making for some testing conditions.

Nevertheless, Lucy powered through 90km and three of the five categorised climbs before being picked up by the broom wagon along with last year’s Commonwealth Road Race Champion Chloe Hosking.

Two-time gold Olympic medallist Marianne Vos took the title, beating fellow Dutch rider and current World Champion Anna van der Breggen. Great Britain's Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome were also in Yorkshire for the men’s race.

Fantasic experience

Lucy said afterwards: “I absolutely loved the experience of racing my first World Tour race alongside Olympic and World Champions and I’m eager to do more.

“I learned so much from all the riders around me and being in such an incredible supportive team allowed me to perform the best I could.”