News & Features

Hundreds of the country’s top veteran cyclists are heading to Yorkshire this Sunday for the Veterans TTA National 25-Mile Championships near Thirsk.

The event is open to all entrants from juveniles upwards, but the veterans will be in the spotlight as they compete for the Charlie Cole Cup and medals using the age adjusted times.

Headquarters is at Dalton and the first rider is off at 8am, heading north east round the A168, onto the A19 to South Kilvington to turn and head back.

The VTTA Championships is just one of 22 time trials taking place across the country, offering a distance and location to suit all tastes.

In Monmouthshire there could be an intriguing battle for top honours at the Hereford and District Wheelers 25-mile event near Usk, with Jake Sargent (Team Bottrill) top of the pile according to national ranking system Spindata.

But he will be pushed by Finlay Tarling (Willebrord Wil Vooruit), the talented 16-year-old brother of Ineos Grenadiers ace Josh Tarling. He is predicted to clock around 49 minutes for the course.

Also ones to watch are Anthony Jones (VMCC powered by Y Beic) and Owen Burgess (UF Rowe and King).

Ludlow Brewery RT rider Roxy Woodfield is expected to push for the female prize, alongside the promoting club’s Emma Wyatt and fellow veteran Joanna Jago (Performance Cycles).

trainSharp’s Tim Torrie is expected to win the Easterley RC 25-mile event near Ugley in Essex by around two and a half minutes, with Team Bottrill’s David Halliday and Joe Skipper of Team Skipper others to watch.

Elsewhere on Sunday it’s the Fife Century RC 25 near Auchtermuchty where Dougie Watson (GTR Return to Life) is expected to take the win ahead of team-mate Marc Anderson.

Other events on Sunday include Paceline RT’s 15.8-miler near Dorking in Surrey, as well as the Penzance Wheelers 15 in Cornwall.

Saturday’s time trials begin with the VTTA Surrey/Sussex 10 near East Hoathly, with Simon McNamara (Sigma Sports-Cannondale) the pre-race favourite, and Sally Turner (HUUB WattShop) the pick of the women.

Blaydon CC are holding a 19-mile two-up event near Stannington in Northumberland, while in Hampshire it’s the Farnborough and Camberley CC 25-mile event near Bentley with James Boyman (Hoops Velo), Liam Maybank (Twickenham CC) and Guernsey Velo’s Seb Tremlett aiming for glory.

Also over 25 miles, it’s the Manchester and District TTA event near Byley in Cheshire, with Simon Wilson (HUUB WattShop) expected to take the Association title, while Alex Royle (Manchester BC) and Tom Thornley (Fulfil the Potential Racing) are also aiming for the podium.

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