Ronde Van Wymeswold, 14-15 Jun 2025

Last weekend I raced at the Ronde Van Wymeswold, a 2-day stage race co-hosted by my Club (University of Nottingham CC) alongside The YBC. As this wasn’t one of my target events, my goals for the weekend were to get 2 days of hard riding in and see where it left me.

The race started out with a 45 mile road stage around last years East Mids Regionals course, roads I know extremely well. My main goal for this stage was to stay safe and finish with the bunch. I sat mid bunch for the first couple of laps and then just surfed the bunch to the group finish.

In the evening, we were back on the same course for a 5-mile Time Trial. I was looking forward to this stage: no pressure of bunch skills, just pure head down riding. I went into it knowing what power I needed to aim for, and knowing that I needed to get over any rises as quickly as I could. I focused on keeping the power consistent and trying to get as aerodynamic as possible. I finished in 36th, putting me in 37th on GC, and with my best 10 minute power of the year to go with it!

Going into day 2 I was feeling the effects of Saturdays racing. My legs felt heavy during the warm up, but I knew I just wanted to finish the race feeling like I’d tried my hardest. The course finished on a medium length climb out of Long Clawson, and featured a fast descent into Harby that I have a love/hate relationship with. The first ascent of the finish climb was fine, we tapped away and I felt good. I didn’t position myself well for the descent so got stuck behind some nervous riders who were heavy on the brakes. This meant that I had to chase to the bunch on the descent, putting an extra effort into my legs that I really didn’t need! Going into the second ascent of the climb I knew it was going to be hard, and the addition of a prime sprint meant that I was distanced as we came to the top of the climb along with a few other riders. We chased, and with the help of a farmer-shaped road block, we managed to rejoin the bunch a lap later. Unfortunately by this point I was very hot and my legs weren’t happy, the next time up the climb I was distanced and left in a group of three. Despite our best efforts the gap continued to open, and we were left to complete the last 2 laps as a threesome.

Despite having no results to shout about from the weekend, I was pleased with how I rode, and it was encouraging to see that the power is there when I need it.

Tilly Gurney