VC Glasgow South 22.4

Chris Smart led an emphatic performance for GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline at the VC Glasgow South 22 with the team placing five riders in the top six, while Lorna Todd (Ayrodynamic Triathlon Club) won the women’s event.

Smart, aged 42, took his ninth open time trial victory of the season in a time of 48 minutes and 36 seconds – over two minutes clear of his nearest rival.

Starting and finishing Stewarton the WW22/01 saw riders complete a tough 22-mile loop firstly heading down to Kilmarnock and then picking up the A77 back north-easterly to the outskirts of Glasgow.

At Newton Mearns competitors then cut back across to join the B769 back down towards Stewarton for the finish.

Scratch rider Smart finished 10th in the National 25-mile Championship last month and added another win to his collection this time out.

A close battle for second saw Marc Anderson (GTR - Return To Life p/b Streamline) finish in 50-52 which was just eight seconds faster than Jesse Dawson (Vanelli-Project GO) who clocked 51-00.

“It’s a super-hard course, but a local one I train on so it was good to race on it,” said Smart.

“It was muggy with not much wind, the course is hard enough without wind. It’s a lumpy course and starts on a hill from a standing start, I was zig-zagging up the starting hill.

“There is also a climb towards the end, it’s relentless. I’m hoping to go down for the National Closed Circuit Championships (later this month) so it’s full gas racing.

“I don’t stop any more and I’m motivated to keep racing. As you get older you get scared that if you stop racing you might never get the form back.”

Todd was the quickest of the female competitors with her time of 1-02-57 over seven minutes quicker than road bike rider Emma Rogerson (Glenmarnock Wheelers) in 1-10-41.

The men’s road bike competition saw Simon Porter (Fullarton Wheelers) take a clear victory with a time of 1-00-27.

Battling for second were VC Glasgow South team-mates, David Tomb recorded a time of 1-08-18 which was over three minutes quicker than Mark Ford (1-11-41).

The two-up team time trial competition was won by the VC Glasgow South pair of Stephen Pope and Stephen Culbertson who posted a time of 1-01-05.

Bute Wheelers riders Matthew Le Core and Andrew Conway finished second in 1-06-05 ahead of team-mates Jonathan Street and Adam Neilson (1-11-31).

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

Results:

Men:
1 Chris Smart (GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline)            48.36
2 Marc Anderson (GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline)       50.52
3 Jesse Dawson (Vanelli-Project GO) 51.00
4 Rob Graham (GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline)           52.15
5 Ian Sim (GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline)       53.45
6 Tony Scott (GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline)  54.50

Women:
1 Lorna Todd (Ayrodynamic Triathlon Club) 1:02.57
2 Emma Rogerson (Glenmarnock Wheelers) 1:10.41

Road bikes:
1 Simon Porter (Fullarton Wheelers)  1:00.27
2 David Tomb (VC Glasgow South)   1:08.18
3 Mark Ford (VC Glasgow South)     1:11.41

Woman: Emma Rogerson (Glenmarnock Wheelers)  1:10.41

Two-up:
1 Stephen Pope/Stephen Culbertson (VC Glasgow South)    1:01.05
2 Matthew Le Core/Andrew Conway (Bute Wheelers)          1:06.05
3 Jonathan Street/Adam Neilson (Bute Wheelers)     1:11.31