Tyneside Vagabonds Mountain TT

Lewis Wake (Team Kirkley Cycles) and Madeleine Bell (Musselburgh RCC) finished minutes ahead of their rivals as they took victories in the hilly Tyneside Vagabonds 47.

Wake, aged 28, clinched his fourth open victory of the season in a time of one hour, 54 minutes and 57 seconds in the mountain time trial.

Starting and finishing in Belsay the 47-mile loop sees riders compete up to Scots Gap and then join the B6342 over to Rothbury at the top section of the course.

After traveling across to Thropton the course then heads back south through the Northumberland National Park and Elsdon before the final leg back to Belsay.

Wake won the event last season in 1-56-14 and went over a minute quicker on this occasion to clinch top spot.

Quickest road bike competitor Rob Carter (Cleveland Wheelers CC) used the hilly terrain to his advantage finishing second overall in 1-58-02.

Completing the overall open podium positions was Andrew Duggan (Alnwick & District Triathlon Club) who stopped the clock in 1-58-55.

Scratch rider and pre-race Spindata favourite Adam Wild (GS Metro) had a snapped chain which ended his hopes of a challenge.

“The Tyneside vagabonds Mountain TT is definitely one of my favourite events on the calendar,” said Wake.

“It was also the first open time trial I won back in 2021, so I’m really happy to win this time trial for the third time.

“It was as tough as I remember last year but thankfully the weather was mild which made things a bit easier.

“A big thank you to all the marshals spread out right across the course and timekeepers for helping out today.”

The women’s event was dominated by road bikes with Bell, from Edinburgh, posting the winning time of 2-28-45.

The 39-year-old hill climb specialist finished third and quickest road bike in the same event last year.

Fellow road bike competitor Celia Michie (Tyneside Vagabonds CC) finished second in 2-35-23, while Angela McGurk (Blaydon CC) was third (2-48-53).

Diane Chaney (Derwentside CC) was the only time trial bike competitor finishing fourth overall (3-21-55).

“It went really well today,” said Bell. “I raced the same event last year and really enjoyed it so wanted to come back. I grew up in the North East so like to come back and ride these events.

“It’s a hilly course with over 4,000 feet of climbing in 47 miles, the hilly course suits me very well. I wanted to try and pace my ride well so had a target pace.

“The hilly time trials are coming to an end now but I’ll ride some hill climbs.”

After finishing second road bike in the Derwentside CC 40-mile event earlier this month, Rob Carter (Cleveland Wheelers CC) went one better on this occasion winning the category in 1-58-02 which also placed his second overall.

Alexander Storey (GS Metro) finished second in the category and fourth overall in 1-59-41, while Christopher Browell (Tyneside Vagabonds CC) was third (2-02-26).

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

Results

Open
1 Lewis Wake (Team Kirkley Cycles)      1:54.57
2 Rob Carter  (Cleveland Wheelers CC)               1:58.02
3 Andrew Duggan (Alnwick & District Triathlon Club)    1:58.55
=4 Alexander Storey  (GS Metro)              1:59.41
=4 Terry Wilkinson (GTR - Return To Life p/b Streamline)             1:59.41
6 John Routledge (GTR - Return To Life p/b Streamline)               2:00.16
7 Daniel Kane  (Muckle Cycle Club)       2:02.21
8 Christopher Browell (Tyneside Vagabonds CC)            2:02.26
9 Jay Pitt (Outlands)       2:02.30
10 Adam Smith  (Team Kirkley Cycles) 2:04.10

Women
1 Madeleine Bell (Musselburgh RCC)    2:28.45
2 Celia Michie (Tyneside Vagabonds CC)            2:35.23
3 Angela McGurk (Blaydon CC)                2:48.53
4 Diane Chaney (Derwentside CC)         3:21.55

Road bikes
1 Rob Carter (Cleveland Wheelers CC)                1:58.02
2 Alexander Storey (GS Metro) 1:59.41
3 Christopher Browell (Tyneside Vagabonds CC)            2:02.26
4 Josef Murray (Protech Velo)   2:07.23
5 Garry Greenaway (Vanelli-Project GO)            2:07.51
6 Lee Cuthbertson  (GS Metro) 2:11.00

Women
1 Madeleine Bell (Musselburgh RCC)    2:28.45
2 Celia Michie (Tyneside Vagabonds CC)            2:35.23
3 Angela McGurk (Blaydon CC)                2:48.53