KNIGHT COMPOSITES RND 1, BUXTON CC/SETT VALLEY CYCLES PROMOTION

Weather permitting a busy Easter looks on the cards with the first of this year’s Knight Composites Classic Series time trials on Good Friday at Longnor in Derbyshire. The event sees the return of Matthew Bottrill (Team Bottrill-Vanguard) to the sport after spending most of the last two years taking part in Triathlons. Overall winner five times since 2010, Bottrill says he is “glad to be back” in our sport.

The 33 miles men’s event also has Dean Robson (Northover VT-Rudy Project), Carl Donaldson (GS Metro), Mike Cuming (Madison Genesis), Andrew Whiteley (Langsett Cycles RT) and George Evans (Team Bottrill) in the 39-strong line-up. 

Hayley Simmonds (Team WNT Pro Cycling) returns in defence of her 2017 title in the Women/Vets 22-mile test. The Storey Racing team return in some strength with Bethany Crumpton, Anna Kay, Rebecca Durrell and Monica Dew hoping to repeat the team’s overall victory in the team race.

Jackie Field (CC Ashwell) and Louise Scupham (Team Jadan) are also ready to mix it while Peter Greenwood (Team Swift), Chris Myhill (Peak RC), Ben Lane (GS Metro), Daryl May (Sheffrec CC) and Peter Nicholls (Race Hub), 2017 Vet’s overall champion, add interest.

Heading the Paracycling field we have multi-world champion Sarah Storey (Storey Racing),  and past overall winners Colin Lynch (Manchester wheelers) and Nicholas Fairfield (City RC Hull). They face two laps of the Longnor circuit, 22 miles. Eight Junior riders compete, including Thomas Cornwell (In Gear-Quickvit-Italy Bike Tours RT).

Event headquarters are at St Bartholomew’s Primary School, Longnor with the first rider off at 11.01 and Hayley Simmonds last away at 1.42.

OTHER WEEKEND EVENTS

The Merthyr CC `25` at Rhigos sees distance record holder Marcin Bialoblocki (NOPINZ) and 100-mile and 12-Hour women’s record holder Alice Lethbridge (Drag2Zero), Adam Robinson (Team KTM UK) and Pfeiffer Georgi (Liv CC Halo Cycles) in action.

Matt Sinclair (Lutterworth Cycle Centre) stars in the Sleaford Wheelers Charity `10`; Veteran Gethin Butler (Preston Wheelers) and Simon McNamara (South Downs Bikes) head for the Crawley Wheelers Sporting 41.6 miles; Ben Stowe leads the Arctic-Tacx RT in the Watford Velo Sporting 18.8-mile Hardriders test: Tom Rigby (Croston Velo) rides the North Lancs RC `10` along with the club’s Stephen Irwin, women include Rebecca Rimmington (Team Merlin).

Pat Wright (Paceline RT) is down for the Hereford & District Wheelers `25`; Edmund Bradbury (JLT Condor) goes for the Bishops Stortford CC Hilly `25` and if he has recovered from the Knight Composites event, Dean Robson (Northover VT) is listed for his club’s open `10` along with Crystal Spearman (NOPINZ).