News & Features

The Tour of the Meldons doubles up as round four of the CTT Classic Time Trial Series on Sunday, as has attracted some of the country’s top riders to Scotland for the Edinburgh Road Club event.

Run over a 22.2-mile course near Peebles, the event has attracted in-form John Archibald (HUUB WattShop) who set a new course record time on his way to victory in the Scottish District 10-Mile Championships last weekend when he was over a minute and a half quicker than the next best rider.

He is expected to be quickest again in this event, but others to watch out for are series leader Ben Goodwin (Fibrax Fenwicks Wrexham CC), who was victorious in rounds one and three, as well as Alastair McNicol (Dooleys RT).

GTR Return to Life will be out in force, and Chris Smart is tipped by Spindata to be best veteran with others to look out for including his team-mate Ray Wilson.

Dominic Righini-Brand and his wife Evgeniya make the trip north, the Spalding CC pair sitting second and fourth in the veterans and women’s categories respectively.

Also in the women’s field, keep a look out for Alice Larkin (High Peak Cycles RT) and Anna Fairweather (RT23).

Also on Sunday it’s the Welsh 25-Mile Championships on the popular R25/7 course near Usk in Monmouthshire, where a large field of riders will gather.

Third last year, Chris Gibbard (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team) will be hoping to step up, but Spindata has him down to finish second, 59 seconds behind Tom Ward (WardPerformanceUK.com) with in-form Matthew Cox (FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team) battling for the final podium place with Oliver Bridgwood (Bath CC).

Similarly, Claire Emons (a3crg) will be hoping to improve on second spot last season in the title race to take the win, while Emma Wyatt (Hereford and District Wheelers) and Sarah Murray (Clwb Beicio Egni Eryri) also likely to be on the podium.

Sussex Cycling Association are hosting a weekend of events with a 10-miler on Saturday and a 25-mile event on Sunday.

Andy Critchlow (Team Ohten Aveas) and brothers Simon and Chris McNamara (Sigma Sports RT) are expected to be battling for the 10-mile win, while only Simon McNamara returns for Sunday’s longer event where Cris Coxon (Brighton Mitre CC) and Liam Maybank (Twickenham CC) will also be in the frame.

Critchlow has decided to ride the VTTA London and Home Counties 10-mile event on Sunday, where he is pre-race favourite, although he will be challenged by road biker George Fox (George Fox Cycling Solutions).

The former 10-mile road bike national record holder, Fox will be looking to take back the record he lost on this same course to HUUB-WattShop’s Alex Pritchard last year.

Spindata has Fox down to cover the course in 18-46, but he will need to find another 12 seconds to secure the record.

Elsewhere on Sunday, it is the Stockton Wheelers sporting 23-mile event which is also the district road bike championships, while the Derwentside CC host their annual 40-mile event near Allendale in Northumberland.

On Bank Holiday Monday it’s the Kent Valley Road Club’s 9.1-mile climb to the summit of Shap in Cumbria, while VC Baracchi host a 10-mile event near Harleston in Norfolk.

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