Bristol South Cycling Club 100

Kit Walker earned his first ever open time trial win to secure victory in the open category at the Bristol South 100-mile time trial on Sunday morning, with Claire Hann finishing as fastest female.

Riding for Total Tri Training, Walker posted 3:51-04 to become the only rider to break the four-hour barrier, with North Hampshire Road Club’s Daniel Legg taking second place in 4:05-12 and third place taken in 4:07-18 by Tony Chapman (Frome and District Wheelers).

There was further success for Walker as he helped Total Tri Training claim the team prize.

On his win, Walker said: “Today was a solid ride!

“My aim was just to be as consistent as possible across the whole 100 miles and try and finish pretty strong.

“It went pretty smoothly on a nice course with plenty to keep the mind occupied over the distance and managed to keep it very even all the way to the end.

“I am very happy to take the win and put down a time and performance I thought I could.”

In the women’s event, Hann, riding for the promoting club, won the event in 4:21-52, with Isabella McNally (Pronto Bikes) in second in 5:10-13, while the final spot on the podium went to Kirsty Walker (Total Tri Training) in 5:15-21.

On her win Hann said: “I hadn't done any time trialling at all this year and this was my first ever 100-mile event.

“Plus I knew the day was forecast to be very hot, so I set out pretty conservatively.

“It was five laps of a 20-mile loop and I managed to pace them very evenly despite the rising temperatures at the end.

“It was a really varied course to keep me entertained, with a fair bit of up and down. While this meant it was harder and slower than a flatter course, the upside was being able to move around on the bike a bit more.

“By the final lap I was looking forward to all the little climbs and the opportunity they gave for me to get out of the saddle!

“I was really please with how my legs were feeling and it was a really satisfying result in terms of power and pacing.

“Also a big thank you to the kindness of rider number 40. Literally a minute before I started he lent me some electrical tape from his bike (that was helping hold his arm pads together!) to fix together my malfunctioning hydration system, he definitely helped save my race.

“Thank you to Bristol South for organising such a friendly race, with some excellent post-race cake.”

Andrew Metherell, riding for Velo Club Bristol, was quickest open road bike in 4:21-15, with a time of 4:52-44 helping Adrian Simmonds (Yeovil Cycling Club) to the runners-up spot and Dirsley Road Club’s Andrew Muitt sealing third place in 5:14-39.

Riders initially enjoyed a warm but overcast morning with light winds and quickly heated up with the sun beating down on riders in their final couple of laps on a course that really tests the will power of riders but despite this brutal set up the roads are generally quiet and in good condition.

This 50-mile event, run on course U86/50, is a looped circuit that starts just south of Minety and heads west towards Malmesbury on the B4040, turning south to Burton Hill then east past Brinkworth and, upon reaching the M4 junction, heading northbound to complete the circuit at Minety, then completing a further four full circuits and then finish just south of the start line.

*All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by James Ayles.

Results

1. Kit Walker (Total Tri Training) 03:51.04

2. Daniel Legg (North Hampshire RC)   04:05.12

3. Tony Chapman (Frome and District Wheelers)            04:07.18

4. Daniel Colman (Pronto Bikes) 04:09.32

5. Gary Lock (New Forest CC) 04:11.45

6. Rhys Jones (Rhondda Triathlon Club)              04:16.57

Women

1. Claire Hann (Bristol South Cycling Club)       04:21.52

2. Isabella McNally (Pronto Bikes)          05:10.13

3. Kirsty Walker (Total Tri Training)          05:15.21

4. Domie Pollard (East Grinstead CC)   05:59.30