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Laura Davies (FTP ( Fulfil The Potential ) Race Team) and Matt Rossiter (George Fox Cycling Solutions) claimed their first RTTC National Closed Circuit Championship titles in perfect weather at Croft Motor Circuit, North Yorkshire. Riders tackled five laps of the demanding circuit, totalling 10 miles, across various categories under Cycling Time Trials (CTT) organisation.
Former National Road Bike Champion Laura Davies topped the women's field with a time of 21:59, winning by 15 seconds. Joanna Brewis (ADDFORM Vive Le Velo) was runner-up in 22:14, while Miriam Jessett (Blaydon CC) and Poppy Cooke (Zurbaran Racing) tied for third at 22:53.
Following her win, Davies said: “It was really good, really nice weather conditions, there was no wind, it was lovely and sunny, so it was a perfect day with nice conditions. I’m really happy with the ride. It was nice to come back and complete the course without falling off this year, in 2023 I fell off on the final lap. I had that in the back of my mind, so glad to have got around safely first and foremost and a really big surprise to have taken the win. I knew there was a chance of winning, but I knew that I’d have to do a really good ride on the day. I came down with a cold two weeks ago so I wasn’t sure how I was going to come into this. The legs seem to have been there. It’s my first title on a time trial bike, so that feels like a really big achievement. This was the event that I had my eye on and trained specifically for, it’s really good.”
Matt Rossiter sealed his debut season with a national title, posting 18:50. The George Fox Cycling Solutions rider, who was runner-up in the National 50-mile earlier, finished ahead of Ian Inglis (Vive Le Velo) in second at 19:20. Thomas Lee (Team Bottrill) took third in 19:34, leading his team to the team prize.
Rossiter commented: “It was champagne weather for everyone today, amazing conditions. And lovely volunteers running the show and a super-efficient results team - thank you. Great to see so many people out enjoying it with an 8 and 80 year old winning their categories. I raced at Croft 12 years ago with Durham University so it was fun to be back. A big thanks to George Fox for navigating me through my first year of time trialling! He’s been immense, I can’t say thank you enough.”
Casper Von Folsach (HUUB WattShop) won the men's road bike category in 20:09, ahead of Lewis Timmins (Vector Racing) at 22:52 and Ray Hall (Zurbaran Racing) in 23:25.
Sarah Wann (EMC Cycling) took the women's road bike title in 25:33, followed by Vicki Spong (Outlands) in 27:12 and Kimberley Gray (Richmond CC) in 29:21.
Callum Russell (Macclesfield Wheelers) was quickest in hand-cycling with 22:45 (factored 18:20).
Ben Hetherington (HUUB WattShop) topped para-cycling men at 23:27 (factored 20:25). Rebecca Newark (Jadan Vive Le Velo), the sole female para-cyclist, recorded 24:15 (factored 20:23).
Juniors: Liam Hewitt (East Lancashire RC) won open category in 20:05; Freya Johnson (Gosforth RC) took women's in 24:53.
Youth: Ewan Whiting (Beeston Cycling Club) boys' winner at 21:44; Annabelle Carter (Manilla Cycling) girls' at 24:52. Manilla Cycling won the youth team award.
The event highlighted CTT's inclusive spirit, with participants aged 8 to 80 claiming category wins in sunny, calm conditions at Croft.
Photography by Sarah Behind The Lens | https://www.sarahbehindthelens.co.uk/