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While it took Geraint Thomas nine attempts before he triumphed in the Tour de France Andy Jackson (AeroCoach) won the RTTC National 24-Hour Championship on his debut effort after telling Mike Broadwith (Arctic-Tacx RT) last year he “might have a go.”

And have a go he did taking the 2018 title with a massive 530.61 miles, only bettered by Andrew Wilkinson (Port Sunlight Wheelers), with the record of 541.17 miles, and Broadwith’s   three winning rides in 2015, 2016 and 2017, to become number three in the `24` story. 

With a little less than four hours to go Jackson was already in command reaching the finishing circuit of the Mersey Roads Club promotion with a shade over 451 miles under his belt, leading Broadwith by some 25 miles while Nick Clarke (Lovelo Cinelli RT) and Victor Chetta (Arctic-Tacx RT) were both credited with 413 miles.

The closing hours saw Jackson add 79 miles to his tally while Broadwith gained 83 miles over the nine-mile finishing circuit for a grand total of 496.80 miles, worth eventual third place. It was Clarke who impressed having conserved enough energy to cover some 10 laps of that finishing circuit to add 92 miles to his 413 miles for a grand total on 505 miles, worth the silver medal for second place.

With Chetta on 486.41 miles, Josh Crow-Stewart on 458.3 miles and Broadwith’s 496.8 miles Arctic-Tacx RT claimed their third successive set of team medals with a grand total of 1441.51 miles.

Will we see Jackson defending next year? “That’s my first and last,” was his short answer, but time will tell. As for Broadwith he knew he was on a looser early on. “After about four hours I knew I shouldn’t be here, but the `24` means a lot to me,” he said, still suffering with neck pain after his recent End to End record ride. “It was certainly no disgrace being beaten by Andy he is a great rider. Now I am off on a family holiday, my wife Helen certainly deserves it,” he said.

The colourful Crystal Spearman (NOPINZ) followed up her third place in the recent 12-Hour Championship with top spot in the `24` one year after she was runner-up to Jasmijn Muller (Kingston Wheelers). 

Spearman ran out with 445.8 miles, 14 miles clear of second placed Christina Mackenzie (Sterling Bike Club) while the ever- present Lynne Biddulph (Born to Bike-Bridgtown Cycles) claimed third with her 397.74 miles. Team honours were taken by Born to Bike-Bridgtown Cycles thanks to Biddulph, 397.74, Jacqueline Hobson, 250.17 and Libby McLaren, 243.65 miles for a total of 891.56 miles. It was the club’s seventh consecutive team win in the `24`.

The defending champion Muller ended up with 388 miles having retired on reaching the finishing circuit at the Clubhouse Wrexham. Her distance placed her in fourth spot. She was under the weather and did not want to compromise her plans to go for the End to End Woman’s record, planned for September.

So once again the annual trek for many to the Merseyside Roads Club event drew to a close with the prize presentations and words of congratulation for the faultless running of the Championship by Jon Williams and his many helpers from Cycling Time Trials Director David Barry. 

Words by David Taylor
CTT Publicity officer