News & Features

Christina Wiejak and Andy Nichols tasted victory in the time trial events as round two of the Merlin Cycles Classic Series took riders to the picturesque but challenging Longnor in Staffordshire.

Wiejak (Saint Piran) covered two laps and 22 miles of hilly terrain in a winning time of one hour, four minutes and 18 seconds.

And Nichols (Team Lifting Gear Products/Cycles In Motion) took victory in the men’s event, , covering three laps and 33 miles of in 1-24-33.

The event saw riders complete an 11-mile lap starting at Longnor before heading out north-westerly before joining the A53 back south past the village of Flash and climbing alongside the Black Brook Nature Reserve before heading through Hardings Booth back to Longnor to complete the lap.

Conditions were good with what started as a cool morning warming up as the event went on to warm by midday. Riders also had to battle a headwind section on the A53 back south past Flash.

Nichols finished third in the National Hill Climb Championships last season and showed his ability once again to take victory and the first prize of a five-day stay in Riccione, Italy.

David Fellows (Solihull CC) won last year’s event in a time of 1-30-31 and despite going over five minutes quicker on this occasion he had to settle for second in 1-25-19 just 46 seconds back.

“I’m from a road racing background,” explained Nichols. “So only set my time trial bike set up at the start of the week.

“There were a few bits on the course where I could have done better but it went as well as I could have hoped.

“I know David (Fellows) and we are good mates so I knew he was going well. He was ahead on the last lap but there is never much between us.”

Meanwhile Wiejak clocked an average speed of over 20.5 miles per hour despite the lumpy terrain. Amy Gornall (Pro-Noctis - Redchilli Bikes) was also on her first open time trial outing of 2022 and finished second in a time of 1-06-28.

“It was a really tough lap and my sort of thing,” said Wiejak.

“I mix my time trialling with road racing but I like time trialling as it’s more of a solo effort. It is a bit more about my ability to dig deep. I like the repeated efforts of sporting courses. The really short and snappy efforts make it like a hilly criterium. It was a really great event and very enjoyable.”

In the road bike category over two laps (22 miles) Jude Taylor (Team PB Performance) clocked a time of 56-31 for victory.

Taylor had refined his form with a fifth place at the Rossendale RC hilly 50 earlier this month and recorded an average speed of over 23.3 miles per hour on his way to victory.

Adam Kenway (Team Brother UK) led the chase behind taking second in 57-26 while Gerard Henry (University of Warwick) completed the podium positions.

In the women’s road bike category Anna Weaver (Team Kirkley Cycles) was the quickest rider with her time of 1-09-31 good enough for 19th road bike overall, while Alison Dockney (Macclesfield Wheelers) was second woman road bike in 1-09-37.

More on other categories and prize winners can be found in the individual event listings.

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