Weekend Preview, May 25-27

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The penultimate round of the Sigma Sports Classic Time Trial Series is the highlight of a Bank Holiday weekend packed with time trialling action across the country.

Round five takes riders to Cumbria for the Circuit of Greystoke Forest, with men and espoirs covering two laps and 28 miles of the scenic route while the other categories tackle one lap.

Arthur Boulton

It’s close in the overall standings, and the top riders in all categories are heading to Greystoke Village Hall on Sunday morning.

The only two men who have already secured four counting rides, Adam Wild (GS Metro) and David Fellows (Solihull CC) are both entered.

But Wild’s main competition for the title is likely to be Phil Williams (Liverpool Phoenix CC) who is the penultimate senior male rider to hit the road. And the last man off is track ace Dan Bigham (Ribble Pro Cycling).

In the women’s 14-mile event Joscelin Lowden is the favourite, while her team-mate at the Independent Pedaler Emily Meakin also rides. Charlotte Boothman (ABC Centreville) can never be written off.

Nicholas Fairfield (City RC Hull) and Graeme Church (Team Milton Keynes) do battle in the paracyclists category, while in the junior race rivals Fabien Large (NOPINZ) is last man off and will be looking for win number three of the series, but just in front of him will be Arthur Boulton (Vision Innovative Leisure RT) who won round two.

Elsewhere, the Anfield Bicycle Club 100-mile event on Monday has attracted a strong field.

Vicky Gill

Second for the last three years, Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC) will be looking to step up one spot and take victory, but he has stiff competition in the form of last year’s winner Mark Turnbull (TORQ Performance), and last year’s fourth-placed rider Keith Murray.

In the women’s category, reigning national 24-hour champion Crystal Spearman (Born to Bike-Bridgtown Cycles) is down to ride, as is her new team-mate and 2016 national 12-hour champion Katja Rietdorf.

Also worth watching will be their team-mate Lynne Biddulph (Born to Bike) who has two national 12 title and seven National 24 titles, as well as Christina Murray (Army Cycling).

There’s also a 100-mile event near Bentley in Hampshire, where Hounslow and District Wheelers are the promoting club.

Stuart Travis (Team Bottrill) is the last man off, while others in the hunt include Mark Smith (Crawley Wheelers) and Richard Gildea (Didcot Phoenix CC). Of the women, Vicky Gill (Drag2Zero) looks the one to beat.

David Allonby

There are 150 riders plus reserves chasing fast 10-mile times at the Lancashire Road Club event on Saturday night near Levens in Cumbria.

Joscelin Lowden (The Independent Pedaler) is down to ride in preparation for the following day’s Sigma Sports Classic Series event, as is Dan Bigham (Ribble Pro Cycling).

Aside from Bigham, the men’s field includes Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC) ahead of Monday’s Anfield BC 100 as well as Chris Fennell (The Independent Pedaler), David Allonby (Springfield Financial) and Sigma Sports Classic Series round four winner Kyle Gordon (RT23).

Full startsheets from these and other events 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.