News & Features

Top time trial riders from across the country head to the Thruxton Motor Circuit in Hampshire on Sunday, for the National Closed Circuit Championships.

Past winners and national champions are among the hundreds of riders who will be competing in the title race, which sees them cover five laps of the circuit and a total distance of around 11.7 miles.

2017 winner Paul Elcock (AS Test Team) is back to compete, while last year’s champions Marcin Bialoblocki and Emma Lewis are absent – Lewis because of injury while Bialoblocki has retired.

Lewis’s team-mates at The Independent Pedaler Joscelin Lowden and 2018 bronze medallist Emily Meakin are among the favourites for the women’s title this time, while in the men’s event national 25-mile champion Chris Fennell could also top the men’s podium for The Independent Pedaler.

Other men to watch out for include George Evans (Team Bottrill) and Nick Fennell (Thanet RC) who was fifth last year.

The event also includes a four-up time trial promoted by Antelope RT.

Also in time trialling, Brighton Mitre CC are hosting a 25-mile event near Steyning in West Sussex, with prolific TT winner Pat Wright (Paceline RT) likely to be challenging for the win.

And in Essex the Chelmer CC are promoting a two-up 15.7-mile time trial near Finchingfield.

In hill-climbing, reigning national champion Andrew Feather (Champion System UK) rides the Team Tor 2000 on the West Close Hill climb near Priddy in Somerset, while several of his rivals for the 2019 National Championship ride the Matlock CC two-stage on Sunday.

They start on the 1km climb of Riber on Sunday morning where former national champion Adam Kenway (Vitus Pro Cycling) is the last man off.

In-form Rebecca Richardson (Brother.UK-Fusion) looks like the one to beat in the women’s field, while she also rides the Bank Hill climb that afternoon where Calum Brown (Cycles in Motion) is last man off and likely to claim another win.

On Prospect Hill near Corbridge in Northumberland, there’s a big field of almost 100 riders tackling the 0.9-mile climb.

Colin Atkinson from the promoting Muckle CC is last man off while Jamie Johnson (Barnesbury CC) is right in front of him, but there are any number of riders capable of pushing for a podium place in a wide-open field.

The Bristol South CC also have a big field for their climb on Burrington Combe near Blagdon on Sunday, with the top few riders including Ed Laverack (SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling), Richard Gildea (Didcot Phoenix CC).

Women to watch out for include Kate Mactear and Jess Railton from the promoting club, as well as Nicole Coates (Brother.UK-Fusion) and Joanne Jago (Performance Cycles).

Elsewhere, North Lancashire Road Club have an event on the 1,600-yard climb of Nock O’Pendle, Chesterfield Coureurs have a 2.3-mile event on Beeley Moor, and the Farnham Road Club use Brockham Hill Lane near Holybourne for their hill-climb.

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.