The annual Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile Open TT returns again to the R10/16a course near Abercarn for what promises to be an exciting afternoon’s racing.
This year we’re welcoming Cardiff-based coffee company Hard Lines on board as event sponsors: they’ll be helping keep competitors and spectators caffeinated at race HQ, as well as providing some prizes!
We’ve decided to make the road bike category the main focus this year with a generous prize list (TBC) focused on attracting newbies into the sport, road racers back to riding against the clock – and maybe even tempting ‘testers’ to try something different.
Alongside the usual categories, we’ll have bonus prizes for the fastest of those racing their first open TT event, as well as for anyone who manages to set a new road bike course record…
There’ll also be the 2-up Road Bike TTT event running, for those of you who fancy sharing the pain!
If you want to ride both individual and TT events, please contact the organiser who will try to arrange appropriate start times.
Riders on TT bikes in the individual event are, of course, still very welcome. However, the weighting of the prize list will be towards the road bike category
We hope you’ll join us for this early season classic – and anyone new to time trialling with any questions about getting involved is more than welcome to get in touch through the organiser contact details on the right hand side of the page.
Cardiff Ajax 10 success for Cadin, Gibbard and Harcourt
Josie Harcourt
Oliver Cadin and Chris Gibbard tied for first place in a close finish to the Cardiff Ajax CC 10-mile time trial in Newbridge on Saturday afternoon, while Josie Harcourt was fastest in the women’s event.
Setting off as the six-from-last rider, Cadin (Cardiff University RCC) came home in 20-44 to take the lead, only for FTP Fulfil The Potential Race Team’s Gibbard, the final rider off, to equal his time as both finished fastest on a time trial bike.
The final spot on the podium was taken by Cadin’s Cardiff University clubmate Theo Tadros in 21-13 as riders faced challenging conditions on the course, with rain hampering competitors at points.
Joint-winner Gibbard said: “Conditions were really challenging and I’d only put my TT bike back together the day before so I didn’t really know what to expect.
“Even though it was nine degrees and driving rain there were still lots of marshals on the course and it felt like a really safe event.
“Congratulations to Ollie and Theo it’s great to see some younger riders riding time trials.”
The prize for the fastest road bike went to UF King & Rowe rider Owen Burgess in 21-56, while the quickest team trial pair were Veloflow’s John Brown and Neil Lewis in 21-38.
In the women’s event, Harcourt (FTP Fulfil The Potential Race Team) clocked 23-57 to continue a fine start to the season, while Miranda Clements (Cambridge University Cycling Club) was runner-up in 24-13 and third was Cardiff Ajax rider Emma Hunter in 25-58.On her victory, Harcourt said: “I was really pleased with how the race went. The conditions were quite challenging, with the rain really starting to pelt it down towards the end of the race.
“I enjoyed the course, it was fast but still lumpy enough to keep it interesting. My first 10 miles under 24 minutes on the road bike so I’m chuffed!”
Harcourt now has her eyes on the National Road Bike Championships in six weeks, with high hopes of challenging for honours.
This event, run on the R10/16A course, starts on Newport Road just north of Abercarn on the A467 and heads southbound past Crosskeys roundabout before bearing west to Wattsvile then southeat down past Risca to turn at Pontymister and retrace the route back along the A467 to the finish line, 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:
Open:
=1. Oliver Cadin (TT Bike) Cardiff University Road Cycling Club 20.44
=1. Christopher Gibbard (TT Bike) FTP Fulfil the Potential Road Team 20.44
3. Theo Tadros (TT Bike) Cardiff University Road Cycling Club 21.13
4. Owen Burgess (Road Bike) UF Rowe & King 21.56
5. Mathys Venter (Road Bike) Cardiff Ajax CC 22.16
6. Rob Cowell (Road Bike) 22.26
Two-up:
1. John Brown and Neil Lewis (TTT) Veloflow CC 21:38
2. Daniel Fox and Paul Hayward (TTT) UF Rowe & King 22.09
3. Daniel Hatch and Alex Ball (Veloflow CC) 22.39
Female:
1. Josie Harcourt (Road Bike) Fulfil the Potential Race Team 23.57
2. Miranda Clements (Road Bike) Cambridge University CC 24.13
3. Emma Hunter (Road Bike) Cardiff Ajax CC 25.58
4. Rosie May-Bennett (Road Bike) Tri Logic Cornwall 27.52
