News & Features

The top two men in the overall standings, team-mates John Archibald and Will Lowden (both HUUB-WattShop) will go head to head at the penultimate round of the Merlin Cycles Classic Time Trial Series in Cumbria on Sunday.

The pair have both ridden three rounds, and with a maximum of four to count towards the overall standings this weekend’s 28-mile Circuit of Greystoke Forest could prove decisive.

The Border City Wheelers are hosting the event on one of the most picturesque courses in the country, and there are also close battles in other categories for the series too.

Currently leading the road bike category with three rides in the bag already, Chris Booth (Giant-Kendal-Sidas.uk) is down to tackle the circuit and underline his ambitions for the overall win.

Also riding a road bike, top junior Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Wheelers) also makes the trip to Cumbria.

And in the paracyclists category the top four in the overall standings are all down to ride, with national ranking system Spindata suggesting that Liverpool Mercury CC’s David Murphy will take the win.

Others to watch include current series leader Graeme Church (QN Racing) who has ridden all four rounds so far, while Rik Waddon (Para-T) and Ben Hetherington (Ferryhill Wheelers) could also challenge.

The top three in the veterans on target time category, Mark Sanders (Mid-Devon CC), Simon Dighton (Beacons Roads CC) and Nicholas Latimer (Lifting Gear Products) are in action this weekend too.

Elsewhere, the Ali Speed Trophy is up for grabs in the Scottish 50-Mile Championships promoted by Fife Century RC near Auchtermuchty on Sunday.

Chris Smart and Douglas Watson (both GTR-Return to Life) are expected to battle for the win, with Smart tipped to edge out his team-mate, while Joanna Patterson (Wahoo! Le Col) looks set to be fastest female.

In Hampshire it’s the Hounslow and District 100-mile event near Upper Froyle, with Festival Road Club’s Colin McDermott, Sam Barley (AS Test Team) and Andrew Rivett (VC St Raphael) looking close.

And in the women’s event Emma O’Toole (Districts of Hamwic Cyclesport) should take the win, with road bike rider Sien Van Der Plank (New Forest CC) and Naomi Shinkins (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) also riding.

Bynea CC are hosting a 25-mile event in Carmarthenshire, with their riders Chris Gibbard and Chris Jones expected to be up there in the results, while Pembrokeshire Velo’s Bethan Ouseley is likely to win the women’s category.

Tom Ward (WardPerformanceUK) and Jake Sargent (Team Bottrill) look set to do battle at the FTP Racing 25-mile event in Wiltshire, with the women’s field looking close too between Team Bottrill’s Kim Barfoot-Brace, Micki Carr (FTP Racing) and Claire Emons (a3crg).

Elsewhere on Bank Holiday Monday it’s the Anfield BC 100 in Shropshire, as well as Brighton Mitre CC’s two events – a traditional 10-miler and another hilly 10-miler near Steyning later in the morning, also on the calendar.

The weekend starts with the Richmond CC sporting 23.5-mile event in North Yorkshire on Saturday, as well as the Bynea CC staging a 10-mile event on similar roads to their 25-miler the following day.

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