News & Features

Long-distance specialists will have their turn to target honours this weekend at the RTTC National 12-hour Championship.

Starting shortly after 6am on Sunday morning CC Breckland are hosting the championship event on behalf of the East District.

In the women’s event Kim Barfoot-Brace will bid to retain her title and win her third National 12-hour crown.

The 43-year-old, from Bath, covered 263.13 miles in the 12 hours of competition 12 months ago – to win by just over two miles.

However, Spindata believes that Naomi De Pennington (DRAG2ZERO) could be the rider to take victory having won the ECCA event over 100 miles in June.

Chris Murray (Army Cycling) is also in podium contention having won the Hounslow & District Whs 100 and finishing fifth in the National 100-mile Championships – a position above Barfoot-Brace.

A new name is set to be in the men’s trophy with last year’s victor Richard Sharp not on the start sheet, having not raced an open event since his success 12 months ago.

After top-10 finishes in the National 100, 50 and 25-mile events already this season Spindata has tipped Jake Sargent (Team Bottrill) to take victory.

However, the event could be wide open with veterans Hadyn James (BPC FLOWBIO race team), Henrik Persson (FTP ( Fulfil The Potential ) Race Team) and David Halliday (Team Bottrill) all hoping to use their experience to podium at the championship event.

The London & Home Counties will host the VTTA National Championships over 15 miles on Sunday morning.

With the national titles decided on age adjusted time the quickest rider on day may not walk away with the honours.

Richard Oakes (Team Ohten Aveas) clinched the VTTA National 10-mile Championships in May and starts as last rider

Oakes’ team-mate Andy Critchlow went 22 seconds quicker at the national 10-mile event but is five years older and they are set to battle for honours again.

The age adjusted time format could open the door for the likes of 62-year-old Kevin Tye (
VeloRefined Rule 5) and Neil Mackley (...a3crg).

Linda Dewhurst (RIDE REVOLUTION COACHING) also triumphed in the VTTA National 10 and is looking to double up over the slightly longer course.

However, she will have to see off competition from the likes of Susan Semple (Legato Racing Team) and Melanie Sneddon (TORQ Performance).

Those looking for hillier terrain are heading to Sunday’s North Tyneside Riders 27-mile event in Northumberland.

Spindata predicts victory for road bike competitor David Fellows (Solihull CC) who has three open wins to his name this season including the Matlock CC 25 and Derwentside CC 40.

However, Andy Cunningham (Ilkley CC) could pose a threat after the hill climb specialists won two hill climb events on the same weekend earlier this month.

Blaydon CC team-mates Sarah Wilkinson and Louise Burnie are set to battle for honours in the women’s event.

Those looking for quicker terrain are heading to South Wales on Sunday morning for the Royal Dean Forest 25-mile event.

Spindata forecasts that James Jenkins (Hart Performance Coaching) could be close to breaking the 47-minute mark in the open event, while Emma Wyatt (Hereford & Dist Whs CC) could add to her winning tally in the women’s event.

The F2A/10 has attracted a big field for Saturday’s East Anglian VTTA 10 with recently crowned National Closed Circuit Champion, Piotr Zulawski (Cambridge CC), going for victory in the open event and Becky Ridge (Loose Cannon's Conditioning) in the women’s.

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