Eastern Counties Cycling Association 10

Kate Allan powered her way to a new course record and personal best at the Eastern Counties CA 10-mile time trial near Six Mile Bottom in Cambridgeshire on Saturday, while Liam Maybank and Kevin Tye broke national veterans records.

Maybank clocked 17-24, tying the sixth fastest time ever recorded. The 52-year-old wiped out all 40+ veterans records and was just four seconds away from Alex Dowsett’s men’s course record. And 62-year-old Kevin Tye clocked 18-07 to take second spot on a cracking day in Cambridgeshire.

Team Bottrill rider Kate Allan clocked 19-10, lowering the three-year-old previous record for the E2/10 by 21 seconds.

Her time put her eleventh overall, and made her fastest female on the day by 49 seconds from Laura Davies (Jadan Vive le Velo), with third being Hannah O’Brien (Loose Cannon’s Conditioning) with 20-45.

“Although it felt like a fast day, I was surprised to get such a big PB,” said Allan. “It was my first time riding the E2/10, I paced my ride perfectly but really struggled with gearing in the return leg, I didn’t have enough gears to play with and found that I lost quite a bit of momentum.

“I’m still a long way off Hayley’s comp record, although I’m confident that with more of a 10-mile focus, and an alignment of legs/conditions on the day I can achieve an 18-minute time in the coming years.”

In the open event there were nine riders under the 19-minute barrier, with Maybank (Twickenham CC) winning by 43 seconds from Tye (VeloRefined Rule 5) with Sam Mcdonald (St Neots CC) another 21 seconds back in third.

“It was the first real float day of this year for me,” said Maybank. “My legs have been improving over the last few weeks and I rode the first half well with more attack than for a long time.

“Seeing 34.7mph average at halfway was a bit of a shock and control was not so good in the second half, but the legs were good enough to hold on to the speed and take the age record down a good notch.”

Elsewhere in the field there were personal best times for 63 of the 113 finishers, with the biggest improvement being Simon Murphy (St Neots CC) who lowered his previous best by 4-07.

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