DORSET hosts the opening round of the Sigma Sports Classic Series on Sunday, with top riders from across the country heading to Wimborne to tackle the 24-mile course.

Almost 100 riders will compete on the P427 course which takes riders through minor roads up to the A354 before heading down to Blandford Camp and back across to near Wimborne.

Headquarters for the event is the Allendale Centre on Hanham Road, and is open from 8am, with the first riders due to start an hour later.

Last rider off is Rob Walker (Cambridge University CC) who was the overall series winner in the espoir category last season, while last season’s overall women’s series winner, Kelly Murphy (Storey Racing) is also down to ride.

A strong women’s entry also sees Emma Lewis and Joscelin Lowden  (The Independent Pedaler), as well as veteran in-form Angela Carpenter (a3crg). Other females to look out for include formidable junior Caitlin Peters (Storey Racing).

Among the entries in the men’s event are Phil Willians (Liverpool Phoenix CC), Chris Fennell (The Independent Pedaler), Gary Chambers (NOPINZ), Neil Lauder (Arctic Tacx), Paul Hart (Southend Wheelers) and Leon Wright (Race Hub).

Elsewhere, Teesdale CRC are staging a 21-mile event in County Durham which has attracted a good field.

The last man off is Philip Graves (NOPINZ), while Shaun Tyson (Ribble Pro Cycling) and Paul Thirling (Hartlepool CC) will also be up there. Reigning national hill climb champion Fiona Burnie (GS Metro) is also down to ride.

On the other side of the Pennines it’s the Border City Wheelers 20-mile event near Lazonby in Cumbria, where Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC) and the promoting club’s Richard Bickley are down to ride.

Medway Velo Club are holding a 21.9-mile time trial near Challock in Kent, where Nick Fennell (Thanet RC) and Seb Dickson (Cambridge University CC) will be pushing for the win.

And in Devon, Rob Scott (City Cycle Couriers) is the scratch man for the Plymouthj Corinthian 13-mile event near Ermington on Sunday.

The Bath CC stage a 24-mile time trial near Frome in Somerset on Sunday, a round of the Western TTA hardriders.

While many riders will be looking for points towards the series, one rider who won’t be taking part is David Janes (Wheels of Dorset) who is out of action following a crash which left him with a broken ankle last weekend.

In Scotland, the Dooley’s Cycles two-up 17 on Saturday has attracted a good field for the event near Bishopton in Renfrewshire. Chris Smart and Douglas Watson (GTR-Return to Life) are the pre-race favourites.

And there’s a real mix of teams for the Bath University CC three-up 22-mile event on Saturday, with the first riders due off at 10.15am.

There’s also a two-up in Lincolnshire, where the LRRA are staging an 18.3-mile event near Osbournby. Last riders off at Team Bottrill pair Daniel Barnett and Neal Parkin.

Full startsheets are available on the CTT website. Remember to keep checking back to the CTT website over the weekend for reports and results.

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