Kylie out-rides Island Games champ
GUERNSEY have made a superb start to their virtual ‘regionals’ campaign and a stunning ride from teenager Kylie Vaudin played no small part in that.
The 16-year-old finished top woman in round two of the Guernsey Velo Club’s latest big focus, a Local Interclub Zwift Race series featuring opponents from various British Cycling South outfits, impressively scalping multiple Island Games champion Kim Garrett (nee Ashton) in doing so.
Such was the quality of Vaudin’s performance that she finished within 90sec. of her leading male colleagues – Matt Osborn, Marc Cox and Jack English – over 36km.
That trio all scored top-five finishes and helped lift GVC to second behind Portishead in the overall series standings.
With 10 rounds remaining across five weeks, there is still very much to pedal for, but GVC president Mark Smith is grinning.
‘After 10 weeks where we’ve not been racing on the roads, it’s great to see that people have maintained their level of fitness, being competitive in these events,’ said Smith.
‘Not only competitive, but competitive against some class riders, and we are getting our name out there in some of these big races.’
‘Kylie has put in an outstanding performance against some class competition.
‘For someone so young, to be putting in such impressive performances, it bodes well for her future and hopefully she can carry on her performances off Zwift, onto the road and onto the mountain bike.
Smith had been involved in the early bustle of the front group before slipping back, but Vaudin had been somewhat harder to shake off.
The leaders eventually forged clear on the extended run up Leith Hill to the finish and Osborn led the Guernsey contingent home in 50min. 56sec.
Osborn placed third BC South rider and sixth overall, followed immediately on both counts by his two star teammates.
In-form Vaudin clocked 52-21 and Guernsey’s second woman to count was Danielle Hanley.
In the season opener last Tuesday, English had been the top Sarnian scorer with second overall.
