News & Features

WELSH Championship honours are up for grabs this weekend when the Welsh CA 25 takes place between Usk and Monmouth on Sunday morning.

A big field of 115 riders from across the UK are set to battle it out on the fast course in South Wales.

Tom Ward (Ward WheelZ) has the privilege of being last starter on his first outing of the season after winning the same event last season in 45-36 and finishing second in the National Closed Circuit Championship last term.

Jake Sargent (Fulfil The Potential Race Team) has won all of his five events so far this season but will face his toughest test yet.

The Bynea Cycling Club pair of Philip Tucker and Christopher Gibbard will also provide a challenge amongst a strong field.

Veteran Angela Carpenter (…a3crg) heads the women’s field a week after winning the Newbury Velo 10 in 21-23.

Anna Morris (Ward WheelZ) could provide a challenge on her first ride of 2022 after finishing second in the National Closed Circuit Championship last season just one second behind the winner.

The VTTA National 10-mile Championship takes place on Saturday has also attracted a stellar field and takes place just across the Prince of Wales Bridge in Gloucestershire.

Richard Oakes (Team Ohten Aveas) will be looking to repeat his win in the VTTA National 15-mile Championship two weeks earlier and starts last veteran.

Kevin Tye (VeloRefined Rule 5) is aged 60 and will be hoping the results on veteran standard works in his favour on his first outing over 10 miles this season.

 Angela Carpenter (…a3crg) will be hoping for a double weekend of wins starting last woman after winning the VTTA National 10-mile, 15-mile, 25-mile and 30-mile championships last term.

Competition will come in the form of team-mate Sarah Matthew and Kim Barfoot-Brace (Bath Cycling Club) while senior rider Megan Dickerson ( Fulfil The Potential Race Team) will be hoping to record the fastest time.

Also taking place on Saturday is the Velo Club Cumbria 10 out and back on the A66 towards Keswick.

Veteran Douglas Watson ((GTR - Return To Life p/b Streamline) starts as scratch man after winning nine events last season.

Marcel Shubert (Darlington Cycling Club) clocked 50-52 on his way to winning the Darlington CC 25 earlier this month and will start a minute ahead of Watson.

In the women’s event Abi Smith (Moonglu CC) has been in formidable form and will be tough to beat.

Douglas Watson is also hoping for a weekend double starting as scratch man again in the Glasgow Nightingale CC 10 which includes the District Championship.

However, Spindata predicts that Iain MacLeod (Kelpie Racing) will finish 30 seconds clear of his rivals and will break the 20-minute mark.

MacLeod is yet to compete in an open time trial this season so his true form is unknown while National 24-hour Champion Robbie Mitchell (Auchencrow Thistle CC) will also challenge.

The women’s field is headed by National 50-mile Champion Joanna Pattison (Wahoo Endurance Zone P/B Le Col) who is also making her first open time trial appearance of the season.

Finally, Velo Club Baracchi host a Bank Holiday Monday event on the B10/43 out to Bungay in Suffolk.

Lloyd Chapman (Loose Cannon's Conditioning) already has six podium finishes to his name this season and will be hoping to improve on this record.

Veterans Paul Jay (Drag2Zero) and Matt O’Brien (Loose Cannon's Conditioning) will be amongst his rivals.

A good women’s field is headed by Hannah O’Brien (Loose Cannon's Conditioning) who will be pushed all the way by Becky Ridge (TPH Racing).

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