News & Features

The historic Beacon Roads CC little mountain time trial once again forms part of the CTT Classic Series on Sunday, with riders travelling from across the country to tackle a challenging 39-mile circuit around scenic country roads of Worcestershire.

The third round of the 2024 series, the annual event was first run in 1948 and has become a well-loved event which for several seasons has formed an important part of the CTT National Series.

The varied terrain means most riders will compete on road bikes, with Kelly Murphy (Doltcini O’Shea) expected to be quickest female on such a machine after finishing second to the last round to team-mate Hayley Simmonds.

Her competition will come in the form of first round winner Jessica Rhodes-Jones (AeroCoach) as well as Keri Parton, the Team Bottrill rider who was second in round one.

Veteran Karl Norris (360VRT) is tipped by Spindata to be fastest, with MagCAD Design team-mates William Neill and Andrew Magnier also expected to do well.

Ben Goodwin (Fibrax Fenwicks Wrexham CC) was fastest on a time trial bike at round one back in March, and he will be going for another victory in the Beacon Roads CC event.

Elsewhere Alex Dowsett (Nopinz) is favourite to win the Diss and District CC 25-mile event in Norfolk on Sunday, with Mark Richards (DAP CC), David Halliday (Team Bottrill) and Matt O’Brien (Loose Cannon’s Conditioning) expected to be pushing for the podium.

Jadan Vive le Velo’s Laura Davies looks set to be fastest female, but don’t write off team-mates Becky Ridge and Hannah O’Brien (Loose Cannon’s Conditioning).

With victory in the Brighton Mitre CC hilly 27.3-mile event under his belt earlier this month, in-form Tim Torrie (trainSharp) is tipped for victory in the Shaftesbury CC 25-mile event near Chelmsford in Essex.

However, road bike rider James Jenkins won’t be far behind and his team-mate at Hart Performance Coaching Sean Sullivan is also expected to put in a good performance.

The promoting club’s Louise Robinson looks set to be fastest female.

In Northumberland Vector Racing are staging a 25-mile event near Bedlington, with Team Kirkley Cycles’ Lewis Wake and Euan Adam (Durham City Velo) along the favourites.

Barrow Central Wheelers are using the scenic Morecambe Bay coast road for their 21-mile event on Saturday.

If Spindata is to be believed it will be a close-run affair between Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC), Chris Booth (Giant-Kendal-Sidas.uk) and Matt Morris (Wigan Wheelers). In-form Joanna Cebrat (360cycling) is likely to be fastest female.

In Scotland GTR-Return to Life p/b Streamline are expected to dominate the Scottish Veterans TTA 10-mile Championships near Irvine in North Ayrshire on Sunday, with team-mates Dougie Watson, Chris Smart, Marc Anderson and Rob Graham listed as Spindata’s top four riders to follow.

Anderson and Graham will warm up for the SVTTA Championships with a ride at their own club’s 10-miler the day before, although Alastair McNicol (Dooley’s RT) is expected to rival them there.

Elsewhere on Saturday is the East Sussex CA 10-mile event near East Hoathly, with their 25-miler taking place at nearby Maresfield the following morning.

Also over ten miles are events held by Farnborough and Camberley CC in Hampshire, King’s Lynn CC near Tottenhill in Norfolk, as well the West Kent RC 10 and VTTA East Midlands 10.

And Sunday’s events also include the Cleveland Wheelers hilly 25-milrt in North Yorkshire, along with the Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers’ 42km in Dorset.

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