Ruth Corset climbs to stage win and into the lead at Mersey Valley

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Ruth Corset (Holden Cycling) proved her form and class in climbing to both the stage and Mersey Valley Tour leader’s jersey on stage two of the Subaru National Road Series event in Sheffield. Corset ended the day ten seconds ahead of Tessa Fabry (VIS) while sixteen-year-old Anna-Leeza Hull (Racing Kangaroos) impressed with a time just 18 seconds slower than the stage winner.

"It was a tough day, but I wouldn't have been able to do it with out my team mates," said Corset who was the 2012 NRS champion.

"We had planned to keep it together until the final climb, and for me to be as fresh as possible at this point and for me to attack there. My team did such a great job to get me there."

The 43-rider field which assembled in Sheffield for the lumpy 80.5km were treated to spectacular scenery with picturesque rolling hills of the region hiding two tough laps of the Weegena loop featuring the Queen of the Mountain (QOM) climb.

After twenty kilometres, Lisa Antill (Boss Racing) broke clear of the peloton mid-way up the first QOM climb and steadily built a lead which at its maximum, was a touch over two minutes and ensured she claimed the QOM jersey.

With attacks coming thick and fast on the second QOM climb, Corset managed to break free on her own and catch Antill before the final five-kilometre climb and rode away to claim the stage win.

"We knew that Lisa (Antill) was two minutes down on GC, so if we could see her, we weren't too worried," Corset explained.  "But later, my team mates got on the front, and we kept the attacks under control. (My team) was fantastic today.

"It is great now being in yellow heading into the last day. I am pretty confident my team mates will give everything and work together just as well tomorrow," said Corset of her ten second lead over Fabry.

Lisa Antill, a former triathlete who switched to cycling following a shoulder injury, was ecstatic with her first podium appearance in just her second NRS event.

"Before the race we thought we might have a bit of a dig, I was hoping for some help, but ended up on my own," said 31-year-old Antill who after dropping her chain on the push up the final climb, finished 23rd on the stage, three and a half minutes behind Corset.

"When the pace dropped off at the top of the first climb, and thought this was a good a time as any. For just my second NRS race, I am pretty happy to have had some fun, it was a good day out."

For sixteen-year-old Anna-Leeza Hull who a NRS podium appearance on her debut at this level, it as day to remember.

"I am very excited, I watch these riders on TV all the time, they are my idols, I can't believe it," said Hull. "I was a little edgy at the beginning, not being used to being in such large bunches. But once I got to the climb, I felt more comfortable and then the last bit I felt right at home, and went for it."

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