CyclistThe best photos from the Womens CiCLE ClassicWhat happens when you mix pork pies, gravel cycling and bikes? You get the CiCLE Classic, of course.The East Midlands race had the honour of opening the UK domestic calendar last weekend with the 10th edition of its womens race. Doubling up as the first round of the womens Rapha Super-League, the 115km-long route tackles a demanding Classics course, following the bergs and gravel roads surrounding the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray.On the road or, rather, the gravel Nomie Thomson of Das-Hutchinson sailed clear to claim a dominant race victory, taking her right to the top of the standings in the Super-League GC. Three minutes behind, CAMS-Majaco rider Melanie Rowe won the sprint for second ahead of Morven Yeoman, adding another Das-Hutchinson rider to the final podium.Photographer Andy Smith headed up to the East Midlands to capture the action at Britains answer to the Flemish Classics. Here are 20 of his best photos. Related Posts Rapha Super-League 2026: Rutland CiCLE Classic and London Nocturne join domestic series in its second year Britains Classic: Inside the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic Monument Cycling TV launches new streaming service for the best of British bike racing Andy SmithThats what parents are for.Andy SmithIll take a guess and say the three dots symbolise a gravel sector.Andy Smith17-year-old Ruby Isaac is the British Junior ChampionAndy SmithAnd the proud owner of this pooch.Andy SmithNo time for pre-race pints at Melton Mowbrays Anne of Cleves pub.Andy SmithNothing like a bit of domestic racing.Andy SmithMuch of the CiCLE Classics route is on very British country lanes.Andy SmithThats until the gravel sets in. Andy Smith20-year-old Matilda McKibben negotiates some of the more loose terrain.Andy SmithThe CiCLE Classic was inspired by the racing scene in Flanders. The only thing missing is rain.Andy SmithLast years winner, Lucy Harris, finished in a respectable 12th place.Andy SmithSome of the tracks appear more like farmers fields than sectors from Strade Bianche.Andy SmithOne unlucky rider is forced to walk down the gravel sector while the group rolls by.Andy SmithHere she is. Mountain biker Amy Henchoz was forced to retire from the race. Looking at the size of those stones, its a miracle more riders didnt suffer from punctures.Andy SmithWhat riders gained from no rain was more than made up for by dust. Andy SmithIt was no problem for this rider. Nomie Thomson pulled out a three-minute lead, making this the largest winning margin ever seen in the Womens CiCLE Classic.Andy SmithThomson is a dab hand at gravel racing. Last year, she won Graean Cymru, the UCI Gravel World Series event in Wales.Andy SmithThe race-winning bike had no right being this clean at the finish line.Andy SmithThomson takes the lead in both the Rapha Super-League and the National Road Series.Andy SmithSince were in Melton Mowbray, the winner of the CiCLE Classic receives a pork pie (a big one at that) and some Belgian beer.The post The best photos from the Womens CiCLE Classic appeared first on Cyclist.