News & Features

Riders targeting the British Best All-Rounder competition have three 50-mile events to tackle this weekend, while there are a host of other time trials taking place for people looking for all manner of distances and locations.

Cambridge CC are staging The Viking 50-miler on Saturday near Cambourne, with national ranking system Spindata predicting a close battle between Tom Hutchinson (Team Bottrill) and Bynea CC’s Chris Gibbard, with Hutchinson tipped to edge to victory.

And the women’s event also looks set to be a close-run thing with Kim Barfoot-Brace (Team Bottrill) and road bike rider Emily Robertson (Bedfordshire Roads CC) expected to be close.

Meanwhile, the following day there are also 50-mile events in West Sussex and Essex.

The Sussex CA event near Steyning has several in-form riders taking part. Chris McNamara (Sigma Sports-Cannondale) and Andy Critchlow (Paceline RT) are expected to challenge for top honours, as well as Howard Shaw (trainSharp) and Howard Bayley (Blazing Saddles).

Meanwhile, Pat Wright (Paceline RT) and Cris Coxon (Brighton Mitre CC) could also feature in the top few positions.

Basildon CC host a 50-mile event near Chelmsford, where Jack Levick (Rose Race Team) is expected to be fastest, with David Ward (Team Bottrill) and Colin Ward (Essex Roads CC) likely to feature on the podium too.

And Louise Robinson (Essex Roads CC) and Karen Aylen (Maldon & District CC) are among the women’s entries.

After his ride in Saturday’s Viking 50, Tom Hutchinson then plans to tackle the Houghton CC 25 near Ponteland, where Team Kirkley Cycles’ Adam Smith and Allen Valley Velo rider Nick Badcock are also gunning for the win.

The Veterans TTA North and Hartlepool CC are teaming up to stage a 25-mile event near Crathorne in North Yorkshire on Sunday, with Lewis Wake (Team Kirkley Cycles) and Marcel Schubert (Darlington CC) tipped to do well.

Look out for Sue McFarlane (Army Cycling) in the women’s event, as well as Karen Taylor (Springfield Financial RT) and Ferryhill Wheelers’ Caroline Ratcliff.

Kent Valley Road Club are holding a 10-mile event on Saturday evening and a 25-mile event on Sunday, both near Levens in Cumbria.

Sunday’s 25-mile event has Simon Wilson (HUUB-WattShop) as top seed, while Pendle Forest CC team-mates Richard Bideau and Jason Bateman are in the mix too.

The 10-miler on Saturday has Liam Beaty (Scottish Borders RT) top of the pile, while others to watch for include HUUB-WattShop’s Alan Murchison and Pendle Forest CC’s Richard Bideau. And Louise Scupham (Jadan Vive le Velo) looks likely to be the fastest of the women.

Elsewhere the Mid-Shropshire Wheelers’ 10-mile event on Saturday is also a district round of the National Youth Championships. Of the seniors, Grant Bigham (HUUB-WattShop) is expected to take the win from Chris Humphries (Bioracer UK RT).

In Scotland it’s the Caithness CC weekend of events with a 25-miler on Saturday and a 10-mile event and a two-mile hill-climb on Sunday.

Also north of the border, it’s Ryan’s Bike Surgery 12.2-mile time trial near Kinross, where Kyle Gordon (RT 23) is expected by Spindata to take the win.

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