News & Features

WITH just two rounds remaining, the Merlin Cycles Classic Time Trial Series reaches a critical stage for all categories with vital points up for grabs for riders with national title ambitions.

The iconic Circuit of Greystoke Forest in Cumbria provides the venue, with Border City Wheelers hosting the 28-mile event which includes time trial and road bike categories.

This event is the fifth of six rounds, with up to four results counting towards the overall competition.

Several riders already have three counting events under their belts and will be looking to seal a good score towards their total, while just one rider – Ferryhill Wheelers’ Howard Heighton in the road bike category – has four results to date, but he will be looking to improve on his previous results and maximise his score.

Elsewhere, at the other end of the country it’s the Hounslow and District Wheelers 100-mile time trial in Hampshire on Sunday morning.

Based near Upper Froyle, the popular event incorporates the Veterans TTA National Championship.

Angela Carpenter (a3crg) has already won the VTTA National 10 and 50 titles in 2022, and is looking to add the 100-mile title to that list, while her rivals include last year’s Hounslow 100 winner Marianne Holt (Fareham Wheelers).

Last year’s fastest man in the Hounslow 100, Mark Smith of Crawley Wheelers also returns to defend his title, but national rankings provider Spindata suggests it will be a two-horse race between Ross Holland (Saint Piran) and Paul Burton (Paceline RT).

In Scotland, Douglas Watson (GTR-Return to Life) will be looking to add another win to his 2022 record with victory in the Fife Century RC 50-mile event near Auchtermuchty in Fife on Sunday.

He’s the pre-race favourite, while Auchencrow Thistle CC rider Robbie Mitchell is expected to give him a run for his money.

The reigning women’s National 24-Hour Champion, Christina Murray (Army Cycling) is expected to be fastest female.

And in Northumberland, the Sunderland Clarion 25 takes place near Ponteland with Team Kirkley Cycles colleagues Lewis Wake and Adam Smith top of the Spindata predictions, along with Phil Hall (Velo Culture). Louise Burnie (Blaydon CC) is expected to be fastest female.

Among Saturday’s events are the Richmond CC sporting 23.5-mile event in North Yorkshire, with Harry Tanfield (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) and Marcel Schubert (Darlington CC) looking likely to provide the top times.

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