News & Features

More riders will get their 2023 seasons off to a start this weekend, with the North Road CC hardriders 25-mile time trial among eight events across the country.

The event takes place on a circuit near Brookman’s Park in Hertfordshire, and is hopefully back to its traditional 25-mile course after being shortened to 22 last year because of roadworks.

Sam Brown (6AM Cycling) is listed as the pre-race favourite by national rankings provider Spindata, with last year’s runner-up Josh Crow-Stewart (05/03) aiming to go one better this time.

Elspeth Grace (Cambridge CC) is tipped to be top female, while veteran Karine Jones (Verulam-Really Moving) could also challenge for the podium.

In Gloucestershire it is the Chippenham and District Wheelers 22-mile event near Tormarton, where Jake Sargent (Team Bottrill) is expected to take the win with Didcot Phoenix CC’s James Pittard and Robert Francis (Pronto Bikes) expected to challenge for the top three.

Francis will be trying to repeat his victory in last weekend’s Severn Road Club 12.2-mile event.

Redhill CC’s sporting 18-mile event on Sunday uses a course near Dorking in Surrey, where evergreen veteran Angela Carpenter (a3crg) is expected to be the fastest female as well as faster than most of the men on the start line.

She’s tipped by Spindata to clock around 45 minutes and place sixth overall among the men.

In the men’s event Paceline RT colleagues Paul Burton and Pat Wright are expected to push for the win, with veteran Burton tipped to take the win - but don’t rule out Twickenham CC’s Liam Maybank.

Sotonia CC are holding a 24-kilometre road bike event in Wiltshire, with Jamie Whitcher (Bournemouth Cycleworks) and Oliver Hurdle (Stolen Goat RT) tipped to do well.

Kirsty McSeveney (a3crg) looks set to be fastest of the women, but watch out for Sien Van Der Plank (New Forest CC) too.

Elsewhere City Cycle Couriers are holding a 13-mile event near Ermington in Devon.

Look out for event organiser Rob Scott in the result, as well as Nigel Polkinghorne (Duchy Velo) and Liam Bard (GTR-Return to Life).

Saturday’s events include the Rossendale Road Club hilly 10.3-mile event near Bolton by Bowland in Lancashire, where it could be a close run thing between Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC), Richard Nesfield (Giant-Kendal), Alastair Ribbands (Congleton CC) and Carl Potter (Tactic Sport UK) according to Spindata.

There’s a 15-mile event near Abergavenny promoted by Cardiff 100 Miles RCC on Saturday, as well as the Central Sussex CC hilly 10 in West Sussex which features separate events for road bikes as well as time trial bikes.

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