John Archibald smashed the course record on his way to victory in round three of the Sigma Sports Classic Series, while Joscelin Lowden continued her great form with victory in the women’s category at the event in Staffordshire promoted by Buxton CC.

Archibald, the 28-year-old Ribble Pro Cycling rider from Glasgow, clocked 1-17-09 for the three-lap 33-mile course for men and espoirs, which gave him victory by 4-32 and a new course record.

Round one winner Adam Wild (GS Metro) also broke the old course record with 1-21-41 for second spot and was 1-19 ahead of round two winner Phil Williams (Liverpool Phoenix CC) in third.

“I’m very pleased to have won,” said Archibald. “I recced the course last week because I’m living just down the road in Derby now so I knew what to expect.

“It came down to how hard you could nail it on the hills and recover on the downhill sections as much as possible. This course is a refreshing change from a dual carriageway.

“I had an idea of what time I would need to do to be competitive, but the course record wasn’t really on my mind. I was concentrating on beating the other guys because there were some good riders here.”

And Lowden continued a great run of form with victory in the women’s two-lap 22-mile event, adding to her win in round two as well as victory in the opening round of the national road race series, the East Cleveland Grand Prix, last weekend.

Her time of 1-00-24 gave her the win by 57 seconds from Paralympic ace and former series winner Sarah Storey (Storey Racing), while round one winner Kelly Murphy (Storey Racing) was third, another 1-41 off the pace in third.

“It was bloody hard out there!” said Lowden, 31 and from London. “ The conditions were good but it was hot, which made a change from the last round where it was so cold I couldn’t feel my fingers.

“I wanted to go under the hour which I just missed, but I’m please to win against such a strong field. And it was in such a stunning location - I just wanted to look at the view!

“I’m beginning to realise that I have some form! I came back from training in Calpe and the last few weeks I’ve seen the benefits. I’ve decided that I will ride the round in Cumbria and then the last one, so I will get in four rounds and hopefully go for the overall series win.”

In other categories, Scott Walker (Team Bottrill) was fastest veteran with 59-12 for the 22-mile course, while Joe Le Sage (Rutland CC) was 23 seconds back, and Simon Deeley (Team HUUB) was third.

Velotik RT’s Chris Mann was victorious in the junior race with a time of 58-39, 1-18 faster than Ewan Mackie (Matlock CC), while Daniel Kucerjavijs (Team JRC) was third.

And Glossop Kinder Velo’s Ben Watson was top in the paracyclists category, with a handicapped time of 53-59 giving him the win by 3-45 over David Murphy (Liverpool Mercury Dolan CC).

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