Weekend preview 18 / 19 August

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The National Team Time Trial Championship comes to Northumberland on Sunday, as Dan Bigham and Si Wilson bid to defend the title they won in 2017.

The latest title race of 2018 sees Bigham and Wilson team up with John Archibald in a formidable Ribble Pro Cycling team who look hard to beat on paper over the 30-mile course.

Last year when the title race was in Yorkshire they won by 30 seconds from Team Bottrill, with Stuart Travis the sole surviving member of their trio as the 2018 line-up includes George Evans and James Rix.

Elsewhere, look out for the local GS Metro teams who know the roads around Cramlington. Danny Grieves lines up with talented young riders Adam Wild and Thomas Prentice and could challenge for a medal, while GS Metro’s other team includes Ben Lane, Ali Bailey and Ross Walton.

Last year’s winning women’s trio from Aprire Bicycles are absent, but there are six strong teams due to line up for the women’s title.

Team Swift look strong with in-form Gemma Frost, Fiona Sharp and Kirsty Bramley in their team, while the Army CU have two women’s teams due to ride.

The Ribble Pro Cycling team are off at 0845 and due to finish around an hour later.

Results will be posted as soon as possible afterwards, with reports, interviews and photos shortly afterwards.

Elsewhere, national competition record holder and 2018 National 25-Mile Champion Marcin Bialoblocki (NOPINZ) returns to Rhigos in South Wales to tackle the Realteam.co.uk 25 on Sunday, and with favourable conditions he could lower the record even further.

He is last man off in a field of 120 men, while the popular course has attracted the same number of riders for the women’s, juniors and overflow event.

After her strong performance in the European Championships, Hayley Simmonds (Team WNT Pro Cycling) is the last rider off in this event, and she too could challenge for a new women’s record over 25 miles.

Other top class riders due to take part include Alice Lethbridge, whose Drag2zero team-mates Vicky Gill, Liz Powell also ride.

And in Shropshire, the West Cheshire TTCA 12-hour event has attracted some top names including long distances aces Victor Chetta (Arctic Tacx RT) and Andy Jackson (AeroCoach).

Full startsheets are available on the CTT website, and remember to keep checking back to the CTT website over the weekend for reports and results from events across the country.

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