UNIVERSITY lecturer Leah Cuthbertson taught a lesson to the rest of the field at Etape Loch Ness after claiming the Fastest Woman title in Inverness on Sunday.
The University of Leicester microbiology lecturer, who is a member of Welland Valley Cycle Club, claimed the title for the first time in her career when she completed the 66-mile course in a time of two hours, 51 minutes and 41 seconds.
She was one second faster that Heather Shanks from North Argyll Cycle Club in Oban who finished in 2:51:42.
Sammie Mitchell from Ross-shire Cycling Club in Avoch was the third fastest woman when she finished in a time of 2:57:19.
Leah Cuthbertson is the fastest woman 2026 Etape Loch Ness. Picture: Callum Mackay
Cuthbertson (40) who is originally from Fintry in Stirlingshire was riding for her E-Sports team Restart with Shanks who is also a team member.
It was the first time that she had met her online racing teammates and was pleased to take the fastest woman title.
Leah Cuthbertson received fastest woman award from Provost Glynis Sinclair. Pictures: Callum Mackay.
She said: “We had never met before, so we all came up together which was really good.
“I did this ride for the first time in 2021 and that was my first sportive. I started riding in lockdown and I just got addicted.
“I wanted to come up and see how the hard work has paid off in the last few years and I really wanted to come out and win. That was the plan.
“I was fifth in 2021 in three hours and seven minutes so there was a big improvement in the last few years.”
Read: Aberdeenshire athlete is crowned fastest man at Etape Loch Ness.
Cuthbertson came to Etape Loch Ness with the intention of taking the fastest woman title.
But she knew that her teammate, Shanks, who took the Queen of the Mountain title, given to the fastest cyclist on the 4.8 mile climb section to the top of the Glendoe summit, would push her all the way.
2026 Etape Loch Ness fastest man Innes Jamieson and fastest woman Leah Cuthbertson. Pictures: Callum Mackay.
She said: “We knew it was going to be that close, I was working with Heather and the plan was to get her to the Queen of the Mountain title and then we would go together for the finish.
“There were a good few kilometres where we were working hard together then we got joined by a few others.
“It was definitely going to be close, but that is what teammates do and it was nice to have someone out there in your corner to work together with.”
Read: Check out the 2026 Etape Loch Ness gallery.
Cuthbertson says it is her intention to come back next year and defend her Fastest Woman title. However, she also wants to take time and pride in how far she has come in cycling in the last five years.
Etape Loch Ness fastest man Innes Jamieson and fastest woman Leah Cuthbertson. Pictures: Callum Mackay. Pictures: Callum Mackay.
She said: “This was a really big goal for me and something where I wanted to see how far I have come.
“I had come from a place where I did not know what to expect and had never done anything like this.
“To come back after doing quite a few and learning how to road race and doing road bike time trials, it was a massive achievement.
“It gave me a pat on the back that the hard work I am doing is paying off.”
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