After an impressive performance in the first race of the season, Matrix Fitness – Prendas have a change of gear for the 2nd weekend of events. Jessie Walker will begin affairs in Holland in the Omloop Borsele in the UCI ranked junior event. It’s already her 2nd outing for the Great Britain development set up, the ODP, this season as she looks to progress towards the Junior National Championships.
Jessie will be lining up once again with the Junior World Champion in Holland, Lucy Garner. Meanwhile in the UCI elite event in Borsele, Dani King will make her 2nd road outing of the season. “Dani’s road program for the year is very restricted of course given her Olympic preparation for the track. But I’ve been working very closely with Dani and Paul Manning to ensure she has the ideal preparation races for this important block of road racing. I arranged a guest spot for Dani with a Dutch team, who later asked me to become Director Sportif for the event, so I’ll also be taking charge of a team in Europe for first time this season” commented team manager Stefan Wyman
Dani King and Jessie Walker - by Paul Douglas
On Sunday, Dani moves to the roads of Belgium and will be taking part in the GP Roeselare, a UCI 1.1 event. The team took part in this tough Belgian classic last year with Dani as part of that team so she knows what to expect. It’s a tough race with some significant hills in the middle section of the event. The riders do several hilly loops before returning to Roeselare on the flat roads for what has traditionally been a sprint from a much reduce peloton or front group.
Sunday will also see Jessie finishing the 3rd day of racing over in Holland, while in the UK the remaining team riders will be at the Cheshire Classic for the first round of the National Women’s Series. The Cheshire Classic has had a significant increase in sponsorship this year and with a very good prize fund, has attracted a full field. Early season races indicate that Natalie Creswick will be the race favorite should she take to the start but the Matrix Fitness – Prendas Team are confident they can spring a surprise on the hilly course and be in the mix for the podium.
“I think we can do well on all fronts this weekend. Dani warmed up well for this weekend in a men’s race last week, where she comfortably finished in the peloton. Annie showed her strength in Surrey last week and I think the Cheshire finish is very good for Penny and Hannah Walker as well. As for Jessie, she’s moved forward so much and I think she can also spring a surprise over in Holland. I think the course might be a little flat for her, but with a lot of eyes on Lucy Garner, you never know when opportunities will appear.” Said Wyman
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