Crawley Wheelers 42

Chris Coxon (Brighton Mitre CC) and Gemma Freeman (Sussex Revolution Velo Club) battled against tough conditions to take the open and women’s victories at the Crawley Wheelers sporting 41.6, while hosting club rider Alex Dobiecki was quickest road bike.

Crawley Wheelers held their Good Friday Classic Sporting Time Trial when 47 hardy souls took on the 41.6-mile course which includes 778 feet of elevation.

Coxon, aged 46 and from nearby Steyning, won seven open events last season and opened his account for 2024 in just his second open outing.

Christopher McNamara’s course record of 1-29-14 stands for another year as in poor conditions Coxon covered the course in 1-32-03.

Fellow veteran Mark Smith (Crawley Wheelers) finished second in his first open event of the season in 1-36-20, while Pat Wright (Paceline RT) completed the open podium positions (1-37-30).

“I was happy with that,” said Coxon. “Surprisingly it was a savage morning with wind and rain, much worse than forecast.

“I was in survival mode for much of it. It was quite a classic early season opener for the area. It’s a sporting course with various road surfaces, a long drag and a double kick at the end.

“Crawley Wheelers also do a good job of organising the event. I raced four weeks ago, but it was icy at the start and I had a few problems, I was on a road bike in an non-aerodynamic position and it didn’t feel like a race for me.

“This feels like the opening weekend for me. I rode the Road Bike National Championship last year and won my age group so I want to do that again.

“After that I haven’t got any specific events that I’m targeting but I want to do some a bit further afield and test myself to post some proper fast times.”

The women’s course record of 1-53-58 held by Angela Carpenter also stands for another season.

Freeman was the only woman to break the two-hour mark posting a winning time of 1-56-03 to take the first open victory of her campaign.

Rebecca Goodwin (Penge Cycle Club) finished second in 2-00-19, while Christine Lutsch (Peckham Cycle Club) completed the podium positions finishing in 2-09-53.

Crawley Wheelers veteran Alex Dobiecki won his first open victory in the road bike category stopping the clock in 1-44-42.

Ewan Tuohy (Arctic Aircon RT) was second road bike in 1-46-07, while Richard Llewellyn (Imperial Racing Team) was third (1-50-26).

Angela Dyson (East Grinstead CC) was the quickest female road bike competitor in 2-30-38, ahead of Domie Pollard (East Grinstead CC) in second (2-35-52).

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

* More photos from this event are available here