The Tumble Hill Climb

Illi Gardner (Wahoo Le Col) and Ed Laverack (Backpedal) showed their form by winning the Welsh Hill Climb Championships on The Tumble.

Gardner, who turns 24 next week, is the reigning national champion and will be favourite to retain her title later this month.

The Wahoo Le Col rider knocked 29 seconds off her own course record, setting a winning time of 14 minutes and 46 seconds to win the women’s event by nearly five minutes.

The Tumble sees competitors start on the outskirts of Llanfoist before climbing through the trees into an exposed section towards the top. The climb is 2.64 miles long with an average gradient of 7.8%.

Gardner, from Cardiff, came into the event having won all four of her open hill climbs so far this season and continued her unbeaten record in emphatic style.

Veteran rider Lowri Woodier (Pontypool Road Cycling Club) finished second woman in 19-38 ahead of Becky Aicheler (Cwmcarn Paragon Cycling Club) in third (19-43).

Laverack holds the men’s course record on The Tumble of 11-55 and was just 17 seconds slower than that mark winning the event in 12-12.

Backpedal rider Laverack came into the event with six hill climb wins to his name and added a seventh in fine style finishing 45 seconds clear of his nearest challenger.

A close battle for second saw Chris Mann (Velotik Racing Team) post a time of 13-27 which was four seconds quicker than Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products) in 13-31.

The quickest veteran was Phil Stonelake (Bristol Road Club) whose time of 13-53 was good enough for seventh overall.

Russell Powell (Sid Valley CC) was second in the veteran age category (15-06) and Karl Norris (360VRT) was third in 15-10.

Quickest junior was Charlie Williams (Hereford & Dist Wh) in 18-02, while Joshua Palmer (VMCC powered by Y Beic) was fastest juvenile (19-46). The quickest juvenile girl was Helen Stevenson (Cwmcarn Paragon Cycling Club) who finished fifth overall in 23-24.

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

Results:
1 Ed Laverack (Backpedal)     12.12
2 Chris Mann (Velotik Racing Team) 13.27
3 Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products)     13.31
4 Archie Cross (Bristol Road Club)    13.34
5 Joshua Hall (Elevate RT)     13.39
6 Gabe Dellar (Stolen Goat Race Team)        13.53

Women:
1 Illi Gardner (Wahoo Le Col)            14.46
2 Lowri Woodier (Pontypool Road CC)         19.38
3 Becky Aicheler (Cwmcarn Paragon CC)     19.43
4 Lianne Lusty (Cwmcarn Paragon CC)        21.18
5 Helen Stevenson (Cwmcarn Paragon CC)  23.24
6 Emma Davies (Port Talbot Whs CC)          25.02