Weekend Preview, June 8-9

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Some of the best riders from across the country head to Gloucestershire on Sunday for the National Circuit TT Championships, which also doubles up as the final round of the Sigma Sports Classic Series.

Using a circuit which takes riders over the border into Wiltshire, the men cover two laps and 39 miles with other categories tackling one 19.5-mile circuit.

The field is littered with top names in all the categories, with the men’s title being contended by riders such as National 25-Mile competition record holder Marcin Bialoblocki (NOPINZ), Dan Bigham (Ribble Pro Cycling) as well as new National 15-mile competition record holder Chris Fennell (The Independent Pedaler), Sigma Sports Series leader Adam Wild (GS Metro)

Andrew Meilak

and his rival for that title Phil Williams (Liverpool Phoenix CC).

Other names to watch include road pro Harry Tanfield (Team Katusha Alpecin) and Tom Ward (AeroLab Ward Wheelz).

The women’s event is also littered with riders on top of their game, with Storey Racing’s Kelly Murphy looking to wrap up the Sigma Sports Classic Series overall win. But challenging her for the win are Pfeiffer Georgi (Team Sunweb) and national hill-climb champion Fiona Burnie.

Joscelin Lowden (The Independent Pedaler) is also down to ride, but is not likely to take part as she is still recovering from the broken arm and separated shoulder sustained in a crash at the Tour of California which ruled her out of the penultimate round of the Sigma Sports Classic Series two weeks ago.

Other names who could feature high up the result include Anfield BC 100 winner Chris Murray (Army Cycling) as well as the ever-improving Megan Dickerson (Bristol South CC).

Elsewhere, the Kent Cycling Association are staging a 100-mile event near Kingsnorth, with the favourites including Andrew Meilak (VeloRefined.com Aerosmiths), Dan Pullen (N+1 Lindfield Coffee Works) and Nick Fennell (Thanet RC), while of the women Pip Jenkins (Southborough and District Wheelers) has some good form.

Angela Carpenter

In Cambridgeshire it’s the Veterans’ TTA National 25-mile Championship near Newmarket. Andy Jackson (AeroCoach) is a man in form and could challenge for the title, as well as James Rix (Team Bottrill).

And in the women’s category, Angela Carpenter (a3crg) is last off, with rivals set to include reigning National TT Series veteran women’s winner Jackie Field (CC Ashwell) and Katja Rietdorf (Born to Bike).

In South Wales the Bynea CC 50-mile event on Sunday near Llanwrda has a field which includes Stuart Travis (Team Bottrill), Daniel Northover (Finsbury Park CC), while Arthur Franklin (Portishead CC) will be hoping to replicate the form which led him to victory in the 73 Degrees/Chippenham and District Wheelers 50 last weekend.

Adam Duggleby (Vive le Velo) is the favourite to win the Drighlington BC 10 on Sunday in North Yorkshire, but he will be challenged by Philip Graves (NOPINZ) and Chris Smart (GTR-Return to Life).

There’s a good entry in the women’s category, with Sarah Lewthwaite (Team Sportslab) and Fiona Sharp (Team Swift) names to look out for.

Full startsheets from these and other events are available on the CTT website. Remember to keep checking back to the CTT website over the weekend for reports and results.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.