News & Features

Round one winner Jennifer George and round two winner John Archibald are both expected to ride the third round of the Merlin Cycles Classic Time Trial Series in Worcestershire on Sunday morning.

With four results from six rounds required to qualify for the overall series, The two HUUB-WattShop riders are on track to challenge for the title – although they will need to be on form to take victory this weekend.

The event is promoted by the Beacon RCC on a 39.5-mile course south of the start near Great Witley, and both last year’s TT event winners Richard Bussell (AeroCoach) and Emma Bexson (Stratford CC) are returning.

This is the 75th anniversary edition of the classic Jack Clements Memorial with the first taking place in 1948, and previous winners include Olympic ace Bob Maitland who won the first three editions, and more recently Ray Booty, Beryl Burton, World Champion Graham Webb, Stuart Dangerfield and Dame Sarah Storey.

In line with all time trials now, there will also be a road bike category at the event. Spindata suggests that Harrison Hunter (05/03) and Celia Brown (Beacon Roads CC) will be fastest male and female respectively in that category.

Elsewhere Vector Racing are staging a 25-mile event near Bedlington in Northumberland, where Lewis Wake (Team Kirkley Cycles) is expected to take the win ahead of team-mate Adam Smith.

The battle for the women’s prize looks set to be between another Team Kirkley Cycles rider Joanne Rea as well as Louise Burnie (Blaydon CC) and Vicky Gibbs (Reifen Racing).

The popular F2 course near Cambourne in Cambridgeshire is the venue for the Shaftesbury CC 25 on Saturday, with Rob Walker (WardPerformanceUK.com) listed as pre-race favourite by national ranking system provider Spindata.

In-form Rose Race Team rider Jack Levick will give him a run for his money, while Ross Clarke (TMG Horizon CT) could challenge too.

On Sunday morning it’s the Barrow Central Wheelers 21-mile event along the coast of Morecambe Bay and back.

It looks likely to be a close-run thing between Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC) and Richard Nesfield (Giant Kendal Sidas), while the promoting club’s own Ben Harrison and Richard Helm will be in the mix too.

Three riders are tipped to go under the 19-minute mark at the a3crg 10 in Hampshire, with Chris McNamara (Sigma Sports-Cannondale), Ben Williams (GS Mossa) and Paul Burton (Paceline RT) tipped for fast times by Spindata.

And national champion Kate Allan (Team Bottrill) takes part too, and is expected to scrape under the 20-minute mark in the women’s event.

North of the border at the Royal Albert CC 10-miler near Eglinton Country Park in Ayrshire, team-mates Chris Smart, Dougie Watson and Marc Anderson (GTR Return to Life) are all riding, as well as Alastair McNicol (Dooley’s RT). Kate Richardson (Alba Development RT) looks likely to be fastest female.

Elsewhere on Saturday it’s the Dursley Road Club 10 near Stone in Gloucestershire, the Otley CC 10 in North Yorkshire, and the Mersey Tri 10 near Bickerstaffe in Lancashire.

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