News & Features

A long-awaited return of events in South Wales takes place on Saturday with 87 riders ready to test themselves in the Bike-Pace 50.

Christopher Gibbard (Bynea Cycling Club) returned with a bang winning the Gloucester City Cycling Club hardriders 25 last month and will again be in action.

He will face tough competition with Arthur Franklin (FTP Fulfil the Potential Racing) having won two from two already this season.

Junior Joshua Tarling (Flanders Color Galloo Team) finished third in last year’s Junior National 10 and will be testing his legs for the first time this season.

The R50/1B sees riders start outside Abergavenny and complete two laps of a 25-mile loop to Mitchell Troy and back along the A40.

Amongst the women’s competitors are Jo Buckland (FTP Fulfil The Potential Racing) and Emma Bexson (Stratford Cycling Club) who starts as last rider.

Meanwhile, former National Hill Climb Champion, Ed Laverack (Backpedal) is due to test his form over the flatter terrain in the road bike event.

The weekend begins early on Saturday morning with the Southern Counties CU 10 on the G10/42 out and back course from Dorking.

Veteran Andy Critchlow (Norwood Paragon CC) starts as scratch rider after placing fifth in the Sussex CA 25 on his last outing.

David Bell (Cambridge CC), veteran Paul Smith (VeloRefined Rule 5) and junior Olivier Mangham (VC De Londres) are amongst the late starters who could challenge.

After winning the Redmon CC 10 last weekend Christopher Fennell (The Independent Pedaler – Nopinz) continues his early season with a busy weekend starting at the Medway Velo Club 10 near Canterbury on Saturday.

Fennell post a time of 19-29 in less than perfect conditions last weekend and will be hoping for better weather this weekend.

Peter Merritt (TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling P/b Trainsharp) has taken three podium positions so far this season and could provide some competition.

After taking top-three positions in last year’s National 10, 25, 50 Closed Circuit and Circuit Championships, Alex Clay ((The Independent Pedaler – Nopinz) is due to start her season in the women’s event.

Meanwhile, in the North East the Tyne & Wear Fire Service CC 12 takes place on Saturday lunchtime near Stamfordham.

Jack Rees (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) will be looking to improve on his second placed finish in the Stockton Wheelers 23 last month and starts as last man.

Veteran Chris Smart (GTR - Return to Life) has also been hitting form and took fourth in last week’s Derwentside CC 40 so could provide a challenge.

A strong field of 19 women are also due to complete the countryside loop with Teri Bayliss (Sub Rosa) the last away.

A huge field of 119 riders and a tandem are due to compete for honours in the ECCA Championships 25 on Saturday afternoon.

Using the traditional out and back F2A/25 course riders will compete along the A428 past Cambourne.

Veteran Paul Hart (Hart Performance Coaching) finished third in last weekend’s Maldon & District CC 25 clocking 53-45 and starts as scratch man.

In the women’s field veteran Kerry Tate (Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club) will be the last rider starting.

Meanwhile, Glenn Taylor and Neil Dowie (Shorter Rochford RT) take part in the tandem event.

The Frodsham Wheelers 22 will see riders complete a loop of the Cheshire countryside on Saturday afternoon.

A strong field has assembled headed by veteran David Crawley (Velotik Racing Team) who finished fourth in the Velo Club Cumbria 10 on his last outing.

Abi Smith (Team Breeze) has been in fine form so far this season winning the Velo Club Cumbria 10 on her last outing.

The 2-up team time trial has also seen a good field entered with the Liverpool Century RC pairing of George Elliott and Sam Hughes starting last.

Giant Camden Team Liv have 10 pairings competing in the women’s event of the CC London 2-up 18.2.

The event starts and finishes near Brickendon before travelling north to Horn’s Mill before meeting the B158 and then turning off to Little Berkhamsted and Epping Green before returning to the finish.

However, the Team Watto pairing of Heather Mayer and Matea Deliu start as last in the women’s event and Andrew Hastings (Haste CC) and Nicholas Candy (Finchley RT) are the scratch men.

Adam Duggleby (Chapeau! Vive Le Velo) will be hoping to return to winning ways when he starts as last man in the VTTA Notts & East Midlands 25 on Saturday afternoon.

The 36-year-old had won three events in a row before being beaten into second in the Darlington CC 25 on his last outing despite clocking a time of 49-07.

Oliver Peckover (UpShift Nutrition Race Team) has an unbeaten record with five wins this season and clocked a 48-46 on his way to winning the B.D.C.A 25 last month.

Junior rider Joshua Giddings (Z Junior Race Team) has also started the season in flying form winning both the Coventry CC 10 and Coalville Wheelers 10 so could challenge.

Meanwhile, Grant Bigham (VeloRunner RT) gets his season under way.

The course sees riders start outside Newark on Trent before heading out and back on the A46 to Cotgrave.

The women’s event also sees a strong women’s field with veteran Fiona Sharp (Chapeau! Vive Le Velo) starting as last woman.

Of the tandems Ian and Lauren Pike (Lincoln Wheelers CC) start last on their tricycle.

After an early season road racing abroad former Hill Climb, 10 and 25-mile National Champion, Hayley Simmonds (CAMS Racing) returns to action in the Aerocoach road bike 10.

Simmonds is preparing for the National Circuit Championships last this month and will be hoping to get off to a winning start.

However, she will have to see off the challenge from Victoria Smith (AeroCoach), Gabriella Homer (Rupelcleaning Champion-Lubricants), Lauren Creamer (Lviv Cycling Team) and Madeleine Gammons (Jadan CycleSpace- Vive Le Velo) amongst others.

The event starts near Harvington before crossing into Warwickshire and joining the A46 to Alcester and back.

The men’s event also has a competitive field with Jonathan Morris (AeroCoach) starting as last man away.

Richard Todd (Onyx RT) won the Paceline RT 15.4 on road bikes last weekend and team-mate Ole Henrik Bang-Andreasen the time trial event and both will be keen to continue their form.

Adam Kenway (Team Brother UK) leads a charge of road riders looking for victory including Chris Opie (Saint Piran), Yanto Barker (Drops - Le Col S/B Tempur) and Graham Briggs (Clancy Briggs Cycling Academy) amongst others.

Finally on Saturday evening the West Pennine RC 10 takes place on the fast L1015 course out and back along the A590 near Kendal.

Simon Wilson (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) starts as last man after clocking 18-02 on the same course last year on his way to winning the Wigan Whs 10.

Dan Evans ((ASSOS Speed Club UK) could provide a challenge having won the Matlock 10 on his last outing while veteran Douglas Watson ((GTR - Return to Life) has also been on form.

Meanwhile, in the women’s race host club rider Harriet Gilson starts last with a personal best of 21-32.

Sunday’s events begin with the Poole Wheelers 25 on the fast P413 course out to Stanley Green.

Samuel Wadsley (Primera-Teamjobs) has won the CC Weymouth 10 already this season and starts as last man.

Student Oliver Hurdle ((Southampton University Road Cycling Club (SURC)) will provide tough competition having won the New Forest CC 33 on his last outing.

Veteran Sonia Laurie (New Forest CC) starts as last woman but Danielle Shrosbree (Team LDN) will be amongst her challengers.

The Addiscombe CC 25 also takes place on Sunday morning with riders tackling two and a half laps of a looped course Ifold.

The course includes two climbs through Ifold over to Plaistow with Pat Wright (Paceline RT) starting as last man.

His minute man Mark Smith (Crawley Wheelers) won the Sussex CA 10 earlier this month in 20-15 and will be hoping to increase his winning tally.

Sarah Matthews (…A3crg) will head the women’s field bidding for victory.

A huge field of 125 riders are down to ride Sunday’s VTTA London & Home Counties 10 taking place near Aylesbury.

Mark Arnold (VTTA East Anglia Group) starts as last man but will face competition from Team Ohten Aveas duo Joel Stewart and Richard Oakes amongst others.

Angela Carpenter (…A3crg) will once again be bidding for glory in the women’s event after winning the VTTA National 15 Mile Championships on standard.

The Zero BC Race Team duo of Peter Oliver and Christopher Edginton are the last away in the tandem category.

After winning the Oxonian CC 36 on his first outing of the season Sebastien Dickson (AeroLab Ward Wheelz) will be looking to win again in Sunday’s Reading Cycling Club 50.

Riders complete three and a half out and back loops of the A4 between Thatcham and Theale on the outskirts of Reading.

Red Hart-George (Mickey Cranks Cycling Club) starts as last man in the men’s event while Liz Duncombe (Socks4Watts Race Team) will be hoping to add another win to her tally in the women’s race.

Phil Williams (Team Bottrill) will be hoping to make it three wins from three events when he starts as last rider in Sunday’s WCTTA & SCCA 30.

The out and back course along the A442 and A53 in Shropshire will see riders battle it out for honours.

Williams has won the Merlin Cycles Classic Series R1 over 22 miles and Mersey Tri 10 on his two outings so far this season.

However, he will have to beat Richard Bott (Pirate Juice CC) and Dan Evans (ASSOS Speed Club UK) amongst others.

Jayne Dickens (Pro Vision BC) starts as final woman in a field which includes Emma Serjeant (Hafren CC).

Unbeaten rider in the North East of England is Michael Gill (AeroLab Ward Wheelz) and he will look to continue his run in the Zeus CRT 10 between Cramlington and Ashington.

Despite the form of Gill it is Tom Hutchinson (Team Bottrill) who starts last after winning the Team Kirkley Cycles 10 in 20-15 on his last outing.

Joanne Rea (Blaydon CC) has also been in form this season winning the Derwentside CC 40 last weekend and is final woman off.

The Alford Wheelers 18 event on the Revesby Circuit also takes place on Sunday near Horncastle.

Edwin Kaye leads a host of Alford Whs riders on the start list and is last away while Michelle Morley (Swift Racing) is amongst the women competitors.

National 12-hour and 100-mile National Champion Adam Wild (GS Metro) continues his return to form by taking on the Bishop Auckland mountain time trial which takes place over 40.3 miles.

Wild was pushed all the way to win the Derwentside CC 40 last weekend clocking 1-40-34 taking the win by just five seconds.

The course around the Barnard Castle area will once again test riders climbing and technical descending abilities.

Glen Turnbull (MTS Cycle Sport) will start last while Kate Giddings (Liverpool Century RC) makes the trip north in the women’s race.

Adam Duggleby (Chapeau! Vive Le Velo) has the chance to record a weekend double when he starts as last man in the Selby CC 10 on the V511 course in Yorkshire.

Duggleby’s team-mate Richard Sharp has been biting at his heels so far this season and is set to challenge again on Sunday.

The women’s field is also a strong one with Emma Mitchell (Rossington Wheelers Cycling Club) starting last just a minute ahead of Duggleby.

Lloyd Chapman (Loose Cannon's Conditioning) and Zachary Herrod (AeroLab Ward Wheelz) are set to battle once again in the V.C Norwich 10.

On their last meeting, also on the B10/43, in the Velo Club Baracchi 10 it was Chapman who won in 19-52 just four seconds faster than Herrod.

In the women’s event veteran Donna Hayman (Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club) will take on Denise Hurren (Sole Bay Cycle Sport) amongst others.

The tandem event will be headed by VC Baracchi duo John Swanbury and Kate Churchill.

Also taking place on Sunday morning is the Newbury Velo 10 with preference for riders slower than 20-00.

The event uses the F11/10 course between Aylesbury and Tring on the A41.

Host club rider Andy Tucker starts as last man while Jennifer Millmore (Team Watto) is final woman away.

The veteran pair of Ian Greenstreet and Rachael Elliott (Newbury Velo) go in the tandem event.

Nick English (AeroCoach) will be looking for his first win of the season when he starts last in Sunday morning’s Bath Cycling Club 10.

The event sees riders compete out and back along the A361 and English will have competition from Oscar Hutchings (Team Tor 2000 | KALAS) amongst others.

Megan Dickerson (Skoda DSI Cycling Academy) has taken a host of wins already this season and competes in the women’s event.

Finally riders will test their climbing legs in the Border City Whs hilly 28 which includes an out and back section before riders complete a loop in the countryside taking in a main climb.

Ben Harrison (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) won the Barrow Central Wheelers 21 on his last outing and will again be looking for victory.

Meanwhile, in the women’s event Deborah Moss (Team Merlin) will be hoping to clock a fast time.

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