This event is for tandems, over 2 laps of the J8/3 course.
J8/3: Longnor - Flash Bar - Royal Cottage - Longnor (11 mile circuit)
The event has again been sponsored by Hotel Milano
Helvetia, Riccione in Italy (www.hotelmilano.net), one of the area’s
famous “Bike Hotels”. The hotel is offering prizes of 2 five day stays
at the hotel on their “Plus” package for cyclists, and in a change for 2024 these prizes are offered to the
fastest open veteran on a road bike, and to the fastest female veteran
on a road bike. During their stay, the package will give our winners
bed, breakfast, evening meal and post-ride afternoon buffet along with
the assistance of a guide to show them the best local routes (with the
hotel’s other guests of course). The prizes don’t include air fares but
many UK airports have budget routes to destinations in north eastern
Italy which allow easy transfers to the hotel by bus, train or taxi.
Bike hire is available at the hotel.
The Hotel Milano Helvetia will, in addition, be offering a 10%
reduction on the cost of their stay (excluding extras like bike hire and
bar bills, of course) to ALL ENTRANTS to the event!
Long-standing sponsor of the event, Sam Clark at Sett Valley Cycles, also kindly sponsors the Mountain Time Trial yet again in 2024.
Simmonds and Casey quickest at CTT Classic Series R2
Junior rider Patrick Casey (Team Grenke Auto Eder) posted a new course record for his age category and recorded the fastest time in the second round of the CTT Classic Series organised by Buxton CC-Sett Valley Cycles, while Hayley Simmonds (Doltcini O’Shea Cycle Division) won the women’s event.
Meanwhile, Adam Kenway (Team HUUB) was quickest road bike and Alex Hodgkinson (Ilkeston Cycle Club) the fastest time trial competitor over 33 miles.
Casey posted a winning time of 55 minutes and 59 seconds which was 12 minutes quicker than his nearest junior competitor and faster than any of the senior riders.
Patrick Casey
The Buxton CC-Sett Valley Cycles mountain time trial took place on Good Friday and its gruelling nature makes it a popular event.
The testing circuit around hilly lanes of the South Pennine moors in Staffordshire saw most riders tackle two laps (22 miles), while the open category on time trial bikes competed over three laps (33 miles).
Organiser Chris Lea had worked hard to ensure that roadworks which threatened the event running were removed ahead of the start.
Simmonds holds the women’s course record of 59-11 set in 2018, but blustery and changing weather conditions made for slower times on this occasion.
The 35-year-old from St Neots recorded an average speed of over 21.2 miles per hour to win the women’s event over 22 miles in 1-02-04 on this occasion.
Fellow Doltcini O’Shea Cycle Division rider Kelly Murphy finished second in 1-03-19, while CTT Classic Series round one winner Jessica Rhodes-Jones finished third on this occasion.
“There was a little bit of sun on one of the laps, but it was pretty cold and very windy, it was just blowing over different weather systems,” said Simmonds.
“It has been six years since I last did this course, it’s a fun course to do but the weather conditions did make it a bit tricky today.
“It was nice to get an early season win on the board. Jessica [Rhodes-Jones] won the first round of the Classic Series and Kelly Murphy who’s my team-mate on the road is in really good form at the moment as she has been doing team pursuit [Olympic] qualifications with Ireland, I knew that she would be pretty stiff competition.
“I’m really pleased that I managed to execute a good ride and win the women’s race.”
Simmonds plans to have a mixed calendar this season with time trials along with gravel and road races.
The most entries were in the road bike category which saw a close battle between the top two riders in the open category.
David Fellows
Hill climb specialist Adam Kenway (Team HUUB) came out top recording a winning time of 58-40 over the 22 miles.
David Fellows (Solihull CC) has two open victories to his name already this season but finished runner-up on this occasion 18 seconds back (58-58). Jude Taylor (Team PB Performance) was third in the road bike category stopping the clock in 1-00-20.
“One moment it was gorgeous sunshine and five minutes up the road it was hail and sideways 30 to 40 mph winds. It was a bit grim at points,” said Kenway.
“The first lap was dry and I got the better weather as I was 10 minutes in front of David. The second lap on the top it was biblical and hail.
“It was a 10-minute undulating climb. It’s the first year in last couple where I’ve had a proper winter, since I was riding semi-professional.
“This winter I’ve properly trained and been on a training camp. You feel faster on the climbs and the tops.
“I grew up near where it starts so this is one of those races that I’ve never won and I thought this is my last chance of having a good winter and being able to win it.”
Mark Lovatt (Congleton CC – MyWindsock) was the quickest veteran on scratch in 1-00-54, but just eight seconds behind was Karl Norris (360VRT) who finished best veteran on standard (-00.29).
Lovatt was second veteran on standard (-00.51) and Kevin White third (-01.12).
Bethany Brooksbank (Trek Sheffield) was quickest in the women’s road bike category posting 1-10-05, ahead of Sarah Byrne (Tactic UK WRT) in second (1-11-47) and Anna Weaver (Team Kirkley Cycles) in third (1-13-32).
Two open time trial competitors took on the 33-mile course and Alex Hodgkinson (Ilkeston Cycle Club) was the quickest posting a winning time of 1-43-19 beating James Brayford (Congleton CC – MyWindsock) into second (1-51-15).
Sophie Heighton
Casey was clearly the quickest junior with youth road bike competitor Fraser Cummings (Matlock CC) finished second overall in 1-08-00 and time trial bike rider Jacob Bradbury (Manchester Wheelers) third overall (1-09-46).
Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Whs) was the only female junior rider and stopped the clock in 1-28-32.
Host club riders Jon and Elizabeth Batt were the only tandem competitors and covered the 22-mile course in 1-18-50.
Meanwhile, in the para-cyclists competition Ben Watson (ADDFORM Vive Le Velo) posted a time of 1-03-09 which equated to a handicapped time of 46-51.
Fellow para-cyclist Mark Valentine (Poole Wheelers Cycling Club) clocked a time of 1-11-10 on his time trial machine which equated to a handicapped time of 59-48.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.
