News & Features

UCI World Cup track champion Dan Bigham is the scratchman at the Virtual CC 25 in South Wales on Sunday, as he aims to set a personal best time as part of his preparations for the National Time Trial Championship in June.

Taking place on the notoriously fast R25/3h course near Rhigos, the event begins at 8am and features some fast riders throughout the field of 105 men and 13 women.

Bigham – with a personal best of 45-32 set on the same course last July – is coming into form, and rode his first time trial of the season in the mid-week Banbury Star CC club 13-mile event, where he sliced 40 seconds from his 2018 course record.

“I definitely hope for a PB, but I think Marcin’s competition record is on the shelf,” said 27-year-old Bigham. “I’ll be sure to empty the tank, but what that gives me we’ll have to wait and see!

It’s hard to see where challengers will come from, but Ken Buckley (Nuun-Sigma Sport) has already looked impressive this season with a time of 46-27 in the Lea Valley CC 25 in April.

In the women’s event, reigning National TT Series veteran women’s category winner and third-placed rider in the national rankings 2018, Jackie Field (CC Ashwell) is last off.

Elsewhere, Tyneside Vagabonds are holding their 64th Mountain Time Trial in Northumberland, attracting almost a hundred riders.

The current leader of the Sigma Sports Classic TT Series, Adam Wild is the last man off, while his GS Metro team-mate and reigning national hill-climb champion Fiona Burnie is the pre-race favourite female. Other names to watch out for include Matt Moorhouse (Preston CC).

The Scottish District Championship is being held on Sunday by Glasgow Green CC at Bishopton, and targeting the title are a field of 120 riders including Douglas Watson (GTR Return to Life) and Liam Beaty (Hawick CC).

Of the women, Victoria Smith (AeroCoach) would be a safe bet to be fastest female.

Another AeroCoach rider, Chris Boddy is the last man off at the High Wycombe CC 25 near Marlow in Buckinghamshire, where challengers could include Liam Maybank (Twickenham CC) and Mark Jones (Drag2zero).

Kate Allan (Drag2zero) looks like the woman to beat, although Anneleen Bosma (Team LDN) is something of an unknown quantity.

In Kent, the De Laune CC promote a 25-mile event near Challock, and it’s hard to see beyond team-mates Emma Lewis and Chris Fennell for victory, as the Independent Pedaler duo have been in great form recently.

In South Yorkshire on Saturday Sheffrec CC hold a 25-mile time trial which has attracted pro triathlete Philip Graves (NOPINZ) as well as Adam Duggleby (Vive le Velo) to the course at Hatfield Woodhouse.

And in North Yorkshire Anna Turvey (Drag2zero) is down to compete in the Richmond CC sporting 24-mile event on Saturday, when Jonathan Robinson (Army Cycling) is the last man off.

And in Hampshire Julia Shaw, the former competition record holder over 10, 25, 50 and 100 miles, is down to ride the Sotonia CC 10 on Saturday afternoon near Lyndhurst.

The 53-year-old Drag2zero rider – whose personal best time of 19-47 is still the fifth fastest time ever over ten miles – will face competition for the prize from Christina Murray (Army Cycling) as well as Sarah Matthews (a3crg).

Full startsheets from these and other events are available on the CTT website. Remember to keep checking back to the CTT website over the weekend for reports and results.

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