Forme Coaching-Cycleshack manager and rider Mandy Collie (Photo: Marian Lamb)
By Caroline Martinez
A four-strong team of Irish riders is in Bedford, England, to take part in the Bedford Women's International stage-race taking place this Bank Holiday Weekend.
The team has been put together by Mandy Collie (pictured), director of Forme Coaching. The company is also sponsoring the team and all the riders either work for or are clients of Forme Coaching.
The team is: Forme riders Collie and Ciara McManus and two guests in the shape of Laura Banfield (Swords CC) and Amy Brice (Phoenix CC).
The two-day race will be divided into four stages: a team and an individual time-trial and two road races of 80 and 85 kilometres.
The line up includes elite British teams such as Sarah Storey’s ‘For Viored RT’ and the Node4 Giordana Women’s Team.
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“Most of them are up a level to what we are riding at, with many competing on the European circuit and racing full time,” said Collie.
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“We all work, one of us has a family and we fit in our training and racing in and around other things.”
The women’s racing scene in the UK is significantly different from what we are used to in Ireland. A much larger field of racers allows for women-specific ability categories with a points upgrade system. And there is a much more extensive calendar of women-only races.
The Bedford Two-Day is part of the bigger Women’s National Teams Series held across the UK. The greater strength-in-depth of the British scene makes it the ideal forum for Irish riders looking to prepare for challenges later in the season and test themselves against the pros.
Collie believes the Bedford stage race experience will stand to the women who will be competing in the Rás na mBan in September when the tide will be turned and some British riders will be competing in Ireland. As the Forme team go into the race there will be no designated leader and they will all be riding for experience and, if all goes well, general classification.
Says Collie: “Having completed the Rás na mBan two years in a row, it often is a shock to Irish domestic riders to compete with more experienced riders and larger bunches. The opportunity to ride a race like this now will hopefully provide fantastic experience and confidence for each member of the team at a similar level to that of Rás na mBan.”
The four Forme Coaching-Cycleshack riders will not be the only Irish riders in action in Bedford this weekend. International track team pursuit rider Ciara Horne and Irish Development Squad member Lauren Creamer are also on the start list.
The two British-based cyclists will ride as part of their respective local team squads, Team Hope Factory Racing Ltd and Abergavenny RC/Gateway Cycles/Nick Lane Construction.
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