Drama, downpours and determination define Essex Reservoir Road Race
- smithc486
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Essex Reservoir Road Race – Event Report
Southend Wheelers, in partnership with Essex Roads Cycling Club, London Academy and Primo Racing Teams, proudly promoted the Essex Reservoir Road Race on Sunday 26 July.
Regional A Road Race (51.7 miles / 83.1km)
The mornings racing started with the Regional A race open to Senior and Junior 2nd, 3rd and 4th category riders, along with Senior and Junior women from all categories saw riders facing a strong wind, a brief spell of heavy rain and increasing heat as the day unfolded.
A few miles into the opening lap, the long drag up to the Ship Pub on Stock Road immediately shaped the race. The peloton split into three distinct groups: a front group of 14 riders, a larger chasing bunch, and a smaller group of six riders working hard to bridge across. Behind them, several riders who had been distanced early fought to regain contact. This pattern remained largely unchanged for much of the race.
With three laps remaining, the front group had reduced to five riders who were working smoothly together and had built a clear advantage of around 1 minute 30 seconds over the chasing peloton. Two laps from the finish, the clouds darkened and a sharp, intense downpour swept across part of the course, adding another challenge for the riders. The roads dried just enough before the final run‑in, setting up a dramatic 300‑metre headwind sprint.
In a hard‑fought finish, Jermaine Izukanne (Private Rider) powered through the headwind to take victory by half a bike length ahead of Alex Mutter (London Dynamo), with Thomas Lewis (BCC Race Team) securing third place.
The prime prize on lap three was won by Joe Brown (Out of Thin Air).
Women’s Regional A Road Race (43.3 miles / 69.7km)
The afternoon saw the women take to the same course, this time under brighter skies, although the wind remained a constant factor. The pace was steady in the opening laps, with the peloton staying together until an attack early on lap two, gaining around ten bike lengths before being reeled back in ahead of the prime sprint claimed by Millie Gage (Wolfox CAMS Le Col RT) in a sprint across the line — from that moment the race became noticeably more animated, with several riders testing the bunch.
Breakaway Forms
A decisive move came shortly afterwards when Mathilde Pauls (Born to Bike Racing Team) launched a strong attack, quickly joined by Ida Burrows (Private Rider), Serena Johnston (London Academy). and Esme Wiley (London Academy). The four‑rider break worked hard to build a lead of around one minute over the chasing peloton, who were gradually losing touch as the pace increased.
Final Lap & Sprint Finish
By the time the race had reached the final lap, the break had well over a minute on the peloton and with the pace intensifying the break reduced to three riders, the podium places would be decided amongst these riders, and how well they would cope with the strong headwind towards the finishing line – it was going to be a test of timing and resilience.
In the closing metres, Mathilde Pauls (Born to Bike Racing Team) edged ahead to take victory by a wheel’s length from Serena Johnston (London Academy). Ida Burrows (Private Rider) claimed an impressive third place in her first ever road race.
*Success starts here…
Acknowledgements
A fantastic day of racing, teamwork and determination across both events. Southend Wheelers would like to thank Essex Roads Cycling Club, London Academy and Primo Racing Teams for their support in promoting the event, Tried & Tested Cycle Coaching for providing the prime prizes, and the National Escort Group (NEG) for ensuring rider safety throughout the day.
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*Success means different things to different riders—joining your first club run, competing in an event, conquering an off-road challenge, finishingyour first charity ride to standing on the podium.
Your success story begins here….
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