Junior rider Alex Franks (VC de Londres) won his first senior open time trial in the North Road CC Hardriders 22, while under-23 competitor Elspeth Grace (Welwyn Whs) clinched victory in the women’s event.

Road and track rider Franks showed his potential in time trials covering the 22-mile course in a winning time of 52 minutes and three seconds.

A sunny but cool day with chilly south-easterly breeze greeted competitors for the event which was shortened to 22 miles due to roadworks.

Starting near Potters Bar the course snaked around the Hertfordshire countryside taking in the villages of Newgate Street, Little Berkhamsted, Epping Green, Brickendon, Bayford, and then Horn’s Mill before heading down the B158 to the finish at the bottom of the iconic climb of Essendon hill.

Franks, aged 16, finished third in the under-16 national scratch race championships on the track last season and showed his speed on this occasion to win by a minute and 35 seconds.

Scratch rider Josh Crow-Stewart (Arctic Aircon RT) had to settle for second on this occasion completing the adjusted course in 53-38 which was 16 seconds faster than Matthew Clements (Kuwait Pro Cycling Team) who clocked 53-54.

John Jones was fastest veteran on standard with his time of 56-52 equating to a +12:00.

He also led Verulam Really Moving to the team prize alongside Issy Zimmerman (57:58) and Karine Jones (1:06:00) making a combined time of 3:00:50.

In the women’s event 22-year-old Elspeth Grace (Welwyn Whs) took victory clocking a winning time of one hour, one minute and four seconds.

It was Grace’s second win of the season after also winning the Ely & District CC hardriders 25-mile event two weeks earlier, clocking 1-07-02 on that occasion. 

Finishing just under two minutes behind in a clear second place was Rachel Brown (CC London) finishing in 1-03-03.

A close battle for the final podium place saw Lucy Neatham (Team Watto) clock 1-05-12 which was 44 seconds faster than Emily Knight (Bishop's Stortford CC) in 1-05-56 while Karine Jones (Verulam Really Moving) was a further four seconds back.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

* A full gallery of images from this event by Kimroy Photography is available here

Results

Men 

1              Alex Franks       VC de Londres  52:03

2              Josh Crow-Stewart        Arctic Aircon RT 53:38

3              Matthew Clements       Kuwait Pro Cycling Team 53:54

4              Tom Elwood       CC London 55:01

5              Martin Smith      Team LDN  55:38

6              Ben Thompson    East London Velo 56:51

 Junior:  Alex Franks         VC de Londres   52:03

 Vet on Standard: John Jones  Verulam Really Moving  +12:00

 Team: Verulam Really Moving (John Jones 56:52, Issy Zimmerman 57:58, Karine Jones 1:06:00) 3:00:50

Women

1              Elspeth Grace    Welwyn Whs 1:01:04

2              Rachel Brown    CC London  1:03:03

3              Lucy Neatham   Team Watto  1:05:12

4              Emily Knight       Bishop's Stortford CC  1:05:56

5              Karine Jones      Verulam Really Moving 1:06:00

6              Abigail Coles       North Road CC  1:25:34