Eastern Counties Cycling Association 50

Kate Allan (Team Bottrill) and Andy Critchlow (Paceline RT) took chunks off the course records and sent a message to their rivals by winning the women’s and men’s events in the ECCA Championship 50.

Reigning women’s National 10 and 50-mile Champion Allan posted a winning time of one hour, 42 minutes and 57 seconds to take one minute and 30 seconds off her previous course record and person best.

Veteran rider Critchlow took his fifth victory of the season and posted a men’s course record of 1-35-36.

The fast F2/50 saw competitors complete almost four laps on the out and back on the A428 between Cambourne and Cambridge.

Allan has been on formidable form so far this season with an unbeaten run of five wins, including at last week’s National Team Time Trial, and she made six wins from six on this occasion.

Allan’s team-mate Emily Martin (Team Bottrill) led the way behind finishing second in 1-47-13, while Anastasia Bowler (Wahoo Le Col) finished third (1-54-10).

Deborah Beare (Icknield RC) was the quickest veteran on scratch taking fourth in 1-54.55, while Emily Robertson (Bedfordshire Road CC) was the only woman road bike competitor stopping the clock in 1-56-49. .

“I’ve got good form and consistent training with a good mixture of mileage and intensity,” said Allan. “I’ve got a new bike for this season and I’m more comfortable in the position for a longer distance which means I can maintain decent form over the 50 miles.

“Normally I’m fatigued towards the end, but I was able to maintain the power. There was a little bit of wind but you didn’t feel like you were getting a tail-wind or really a headwind in either direction.

“It’s a good building block as I’ve only ridden 10s so far this season so that time is really motivating, I’m hoping to chip away at that (50) time and looking at the competition record of 1-42-20.

“I was tracking the competition record and was close at the halfway point. I’ve got more in the tank to give for it.”

In the men’s event Crichlow, aged 49, knocked 35 seconds off Chris McNamara’s course record set last year of 1-36-11.

Jack Levick (Rose Race Team) came into the event with a record of six wins from seven events but had to settle for second this time out in 1-37-35.

The battle for second was a close one with veteran Paul Burton (Paceline RT) finishing third a further seven seconds back (1-37-42).

“It was a good day, the conditions were nearly perfect,” said Critchlow.

“There was a little bit of a breeze, but nothing to slow you down. I got the best of the conditions with an early start, the conditions couldn’t have been any better.

“I went out a bit hard and had a fast opening 25 miles of 46-30 and then hung on in the second part and gritted by teeth to bring it home. It felt good to get the win against some of the other riders, it was a stacked field.

“The previous course record was held by Christopher McNamara so to take 35 seconds off that is a decent chunk.

“I beat Jack Levick by almost two minutes so it has given me confidence going into the National Championships.”

In the men’s road bike competition Drew Sheffield (Fulfil The Potential Race Team) was the quickest in 1-58-08 ahead of Norman King (St Neots CC) in second (2-42-20).

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

Results
1 Andy Critchlow (Paceline RT) 1:35.36
2 Jack Levick (Rose Race Team) 1:37.35
3 Paul Burton (Paceline RT) 1:37.42
4 Paul Pardoe (Peterborough CC) 1:41.04
5 Sam McDonald (St Neots CC) 1:41.50
6 Howard Bayley (Blazing Saddles) 1:42.15

Road bike
1 Drew Sheffield (Fulfil The Potential Race Team) 1:58.08
2 Norman King (St Neots CC) 2:42.20

Women
1 Kate Allan (Team Bottrill) 1:42.57
2 Emily Martin (Team Bottrill) 1:47.13
3 Anastasia Bowler (Wahoo Le Col) 1:54.10
4 Deborah Beare (Icknield RC) 1:54.55
5 Lara Franklin (Stowmarket & District CC) 1:56.08
6 Chantel Coetzer (Redbridge CC) 1:59.00

Road bike: Emily Robertson (Bedfordshire Road CC) 1:56.49