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Promoted as a precursor to the National 25 and in warmer conditions, it did not fair as well as I had expected/hoped.
The sun greeted the field for the event, a one-off to let riders, who have not ridden eastern roads and more importantly, a chance to see the course before deciding whether to enter the men’s National in August.
A warm breeze from the south-east was going to make the outward leg a bit more challenging , even in the tree lined sections where the wind normally funnels through.
Two non-starters in the field, notably Tim Torrie (Shils-Doltcini RT) and course record holder (50:14), who was in recovery mode after his recent cycling accident.
With only 25 riders, I sent them off at 2 minute intervals, just to see what would happen. It just took the fast guys to catch their 2 min men a little longer.
With Torrie a non-starter, the race was wide open, with local riders Dan Blackburn and Cgris Holmes, both VC Norwich looking good on paper, but the surprise of the day was and unseeded rider, in his first ever time trial and riding for London Dynamo, Rowan Baker. Set off in the early part of the race at number 9, Baker stormed around the undulating out and back course in a blistering 48:55, smashing Torrie’s record by 1 minute and 19 seconds. An outstanding ride in conditions that others did find it a bit challenging.
After the event, Baker changed into his elite roadman persona and went to the Stowmarket in the afternoon for the Eastern Road Champs, where he finished a creditable 3rd.
Sam McDonald (George Fox Cycling Solutions) was another visitor to the course and seemed to like it as he finished in 2nd place with a 52:05.
The VC Norwich pair Chris Holes was 3rd with 53:43 and Dan Blackburn stopping the watch with 54:45, maybe feeling the effects of racing the tandem in the EDCA 10 on Saturday, finishing that event with a 19:32.
Three ladies entered which was good to see, with Sarah Roan (Total Tri Training) coming out top with 1:04:34, followed by Charlotte Smith riding for Newmarket Cycling & Tri club) 1:5:43 and Suzy Esser (Hashtag Coaching) 1:13:22 and a personal best for the course.
Team on the day as Norwich ABC:
Sandy Telfer 57:43
Graham Dilks 1:00:45
James Oxbury 1:1:58
Organiser : Stan Worrell (stanworrell@hotmail.com) Cell: 07977925478