Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s double World and Olympic champion Laura Trott won a thrilling edition of the IG Nocturne around London’s historic Smithfield Market on Saturday. The evening criterium was Trott’s first race in her home city since her London 2012 triumph and spectators were out in their thousands to cheer on the biggest field that the women’s event has ever seen.
With Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling dominating the race, which lasted for 30 minutes plus five laps of the city centre course, the black and orange team managed to get five riders into the nine-rider group that rounded the final corner. Four-time race winner Hannah Barnes (MG-MaxiFuel) opened up her sprint first, but Trott just managed to throw her wheel in front as they hit the line.
“We were trying to string it out, but we ended up stringing out our own team, so Lauren Kitchen and Dani King just took over and were working really hard on the front,’ said Trott after the race. “It ended up splitting, which I was really happy about.”
“Lauren sat on the front for about five laps, which I wouldn’t have wanted to do!” Trott continued. “Then Dani came through with about a lap and a half to go, and I was just wheel-sucking her, but then Hannah hit us on the inside. I got on her wheel and hoped for the best, but I full on had to lunge for the line because I’d left it too late.
“I’m super happy, and I’m really pleased with how the girls rode for me as well,” she added. “It’s the first time I’ve actually been the named rider, so that was quite nice, and nice again to do it in front of a home crowd.”
The IG London Nocturne was a rare chance for Trott to race on the streets of London, and the first time she has done so since taking her two Olympic Gold Medals last summer.
“It was mad! It was so good! I just loved it!” she exclaimed. “The crowd were chanting my name all the way around, which was really nice. It’s nice that I can give back a bit, by winning. That is what I want to do, and I’m just proud that I rode well. I really do appreciate what the crowd come out and do.”
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s World and Olympic champion Dani King completed the podium with third place, while Lauren Kitchen took sixth, World and Olympic champion Joanna Rowsell finished seventh, and Charlotte Becker took ninth in her very first race for the team.
“It was fantastic wasn’t it,” said Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling directeur sportif Simon Cope about the Nocturne event. “It surprised me how many of the UK-based riders were still in that front group, which shows that the level of the sport’s coming up here, but we had five in the front group at the end, so we had to win really.”
Result
1. Laura Trott (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
2. Hannah Barnes (MG-MaxiFuel Pro Cycling)
3. Dani King (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
6. Lauren Kitchen
7. Joanna Rowsell
9. Charlotte Becker
12. Emily Collins
14. Amy Roberts
