Tim McEvoy and Lauren Dolan brushed aside the Beast from the East, powering their way through the freezing temperatures to be fastest male and female riders at the St Austell Wheelers 20.7-mile time trial in Cornwall on Sunday.

McEvoy, 39 and from Bodmin, placed second in the 2017 event, but improved his time by more than a minute, clocking 48.30 to take the win by 29 seconds from Philip Bray (Plymouth Corinthian CC), while third spot went to Cheltenham and County CC rider Ross Holland.

And fastest female was Lauren Dolan, the 18-year-old from Newton Abbot who clocked 55.13, more than three minutes better than second female Stacey Ginieres (Penzance Wheelers).

“It didn’t feel that fast,” said McEvoy. “There was a tailwind on the outward leg which was good, but then the hill kicked in and it was a slog on the way back down going into a headwind.

“I got held up by a horsebox at one point but managed to sneak past and didn’t lose too much time. It was good to get out there after not racing for five months, I just didn’t want to blow up in my first race of the year!”

McEvoy is staying local in his time trialling this year, and isn’t riding an open event now until Easter Sunday.

The course takes riders from the start point near Probus, north east to Ladock and Newmills, continuing northwards to Scarcewater and Fraddon before looping back down to a finish in Probus.

Despite the rest of the country seemingly covered in snow and freezing temperatures, by the time of the event most of the snow had disappeared in Cornwall.

Organiser Jaime Lewis had feared for the event after snow on Thursday, but temperatures rose and by the time he drove around the course on Saturday the roads had dried and temperatures were around 7-8 degrees.

Mid-Cornwall Cycling Club were celebrating victory in the 40-49 veterans category, with Nick Campbell having clocked 52.46, while they also won the 50-59 category with Simon Potter covering the course in 56.48.

The promoting St Austell Wheelers had Peter Maker to thank for victory in the over-60 veterans category with a time of 57.23, while Joe Howsley (Wadebridge Coasters CC) was fastest junior with 56.16. And the road bike category was won by Adam Pedley (Mid Cornwall CC) with 56.51.

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