VTTA (London & Home Counties) 10

Alex Pickering (Elysium Kalas Race Team) set a new personal best on his way to victory in the VTTA London & Home Counties 10, while Lauren Creamer (Velo Fixers) won the women’s event by over a minute.

The F11/10 saw competitors complete an out and back course along the A41 between Tring in Hertfordshire and Bedgrove.

Pickering, aged 21, took his third open victory of the season and took over a minute off his 10-mile personal best to stop the clock in 18 minutes and eight seconds.

The Elysium Kalas Race Team rider placed third in National Road Bike Championship last weekend and showed his form to finish nine seconds ahead of his nearest challenger.

Veteran Richard Oakes (Team Ohten Aveas) led the battle behind finishing second in 18-17, while Ken Buckley (BPC BIOFLOW RT) was third (18-20).

“It was my first time riding this course and I knew it was a quick one by looking at previous rides,” said Pickering.

“The start is uphill and into the wind so I knew I had to put down the power to make up time before the downhill, where I could then somewhat recover.

“The weather conditions were almost perfect so it was a good day to set a fast time, so overall I am very happy with my ride and set a new 10-mile personal best also!”

In the women’s event Creamer, from Birmingham, was the only rider to break the 22-minute barrier stopping the clock in a winning time of 21-19.

The battle for second saw Alice Connor (London Academy Racing) finish in 22-27 which was seven seconds fastest than quickest veteran on scratch Lisa Davis (DRAG2ZERO) who posted 22-34.

“It didn’t feel especially fast for me but was a decent ride,” said Creamer. “It’s a good course which I like to try and do when I get the opportunity, especially in the early morning when there is not going to be quite as much traffic.

“I really appreciate the decent surface of the course and for a dual carriageway it was fairly safe out there.

“The wind was quite minimal this morning but I felt the headwind at the start and for the last two miles up from the final turn.

“I would like to do some of the national events this year like the National 10 and possibly 25 and Circuit Championships in June.”

The road bike category saw a close contest as John Franklin (Twickenham CC) stopped the clock in 21-26 which was two seconds quicker than Matt Steel (Pronto Bikes)        (21-28).

Completing the road bike podium positions was Jamie Bishop (Newhall.cc) who posted a time of 22-58.

In the women’s road bike competition Jayne Paine (Willesden CC) was quickest in 24-40, ahead of Lynne Scofield (Rockingham Forest Wheelers) in second (28-41) and Hannah Makins (Mickey Cranks Cycling Club) in third 30-00.

Quickest tandem was the A5 Rangers CC pairing of Murray Kirton and David Stockley in 24-50 ahead of the tricycle duo of Norman Harvey and Mary Corbett (Sotonia CC) who posted a time of 26-46.

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

Results:

Open:
1 Alex Pickering (Elysium Kalas Race Team)           18.08
2 Richard Oakes (Team Ohten Aveas)            18.17
3 Ken Buckley (BPC BIOFLOW RT)            18.20
4 Joel Stewart (Team Ohten Aveas)    18.44
5 Andy Critchlow (Team Ohten Aveas)          18.45
6 David Brearley (ADDFORM Vive Le Velo)           18.47
7 Will Deely (Southampton University Road Cycling Club) 18.49
8 Alastair Luxford (Wightlink Wight Mountain Race Team) 18.50
=9 Adrian Ford (Brighton Mitre CC) 18.58
=9 John Brearley (ADDFORM Vive Le Velo)           18.58

 Women:
1 Lauren Creamer (Velo Fixers)         21.19
2 Alice Connor (London Academy Racing)   22.27
3 Lisa Davis (DRAG2ZERO) 22.34
4 Deborah Coyle (Shaftesbury CC)    23.16
5 Charlotte Dadd (Melton Olympic CC)        23.27
6 Alexa Forbes (London Dynamo)     24.19
7 Jayne Paine (Willesden CC)            24.40
8 Jen Clegg (Team Bottrill)     24.57
9 Susan Oldham (Cowley Road Condors CC)           25.46
10 Gillian Reynolds (Willesden CC)  26.54

Road bike:
1 John Franklin (Twickenham CC)    21.26
2 Matt Steel (Pronto Bikes)    21.28
3 Jamie Bishop (Newhall.cc)  22.58
4 Mark Thurlow (Shaftesbury CC)     24.16
5 Jeremy Page (Southborough & Dist. Whs)  24.59
6 David Sullivan (Cardiff Ajax CC)   36.52

Women:
1 Jayne Paine (Willesden CC)            24.40
2 Lynne Scofield (Rockingham Forest Wheelers)      28.41
3 Hannah Makins (Mickey Cranks Cycling Club)     30.00

Tandems:
1 Murray Kirton & David Stockley (A5 Rangers CC)           24.50
2 Norman Harvey & Mary Corbett (Sotonia CC)      26.46