News & Features

Veterans Andy Jackson and Mark Smith are due to go head-to-head once again this weekend at the National 12 Hour Championship.

AeroCoach rider Jackson took the national crown last season covering 303.98 miles in the 12 hours- just 1.14 miles ahead of his rival Smith.

Crawley Wheelers rider Smith has been on form during his preparation for the event clocking 1-38-51 on his way to winning the CC Breckland 50 last weekend.

The course is split into sections and will see riders start in Cheshire before completing a circuit in Shropshire.

Both riders will be wary of the challenge from newly crowned National 100 Champion Adam Wild (GS Metro) who will be competing over the 12-hour distance for the first time.

Reigning women’s champion Vicky Gill (Drag2Zero) is absent from the event so a new champion will be crowned.

Second place finisher in the National 24 Hour Championship from 2018 Christina MacKenzie (Stirling Bike Club) will have her eyes on victory over the shorter distance.

She will face competition from Welsh 50 Champion Michelle Lee (PDQ Cycle Coaching) amongst others.

Elsewhere, a field of 120 veteran riders will take on the East Anglian VTTA 10 in Cambridgeshire on Saturday afternoon.

James Rix (Team Bottrill) will start as scratch man along the fast out and back E2/10 course but he will face stiff competition.

After winning the Race Rapid 10 last weekend George Mills-Keeling (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) will be looking to continue his good form in the Wrekinsport 10 in Shropshire.

He will have to fend off the challenge of a strong Team Bottrill contingent which will be headed by scratch rider George Evens who is joined by Kieran Morris.

Brothers Simon and Christopher McNamara are due to battle it out again in the Southdown Velo 25 near Chichester on Sunday.

Simon McNamara (HuntBikeWheels.com) won the Bec CC 25 last weekend by 17 seconds from brother Christopher who suffered a mechanical on route.

Junior rider Thomas Day (Zannata Galloo Team) starts as scratch man on the A27.

After starting his campaign with a win last weekend over 10 miles Christopher Fennell (The Independent Pedaler- Nopinz) will compete in the Catford CC 25.

National 25 Champion Fennell will face competition from Nicholas Fennell (Thanet RC) who has podiumed three times since action resumed.

Meanwhile the women’s event is headed by National 25 silver medallist and 50 champion Emma Lewis (The Independent Pedaler- Nopinz) who will have to fend off the challenge of early starter Jennifer George (Memorial-Santos).

All eyes will be on professional rider Harry Tanfield (AG2R La Mondiale) at the Darlington 25 which goes out and back along the A1.

Steve Gore-Browne (Team Swift) starts as scratch man while competition to Tanfield could come from Kris Atkin (Team Kirkley Cycles).

Meanwhile on the south east coast Joe Skipper (Team Skipper) will be looking to continue his winning start to the season in the VC Baracchi 50.

The course sees riders complete two out and back loops near Bungay in Suffolk.

Winner of the Wigan Wheelers 30 last weekend Alexander Royle (Manchester Bicycle Club) starts as scratch rider in the Leamington C&AC 10 on the out and back A45 course near Rugby.

Under-23 rider Ollie Hucks (AeroLab Ward Wheelz) could provide competition after clocking 18-38 in the Chronos RT 10 last month.

Finally, Thomas Hutchinson (Team Kirkley Cycles) goes off as scratch man in the Blaydon 23 in the north east of the country.

Hutchinson took victory in the Barnesbury 10 last weekend and will be the man to watch over the longer distance.

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