PREVIEWS: May 8-9

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Battling it out on the hills of the Ribble Valley will be a full field of 120 riders in the Rossendale Road Club 10.3-mile hilly time trial on Saturday.

The Bolton by the Bowland Circuit will see riders complete a tough loop which includes the Hunters Hill climb.

Veteran Simon Wilson (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) has started the season in good form but showed a chink in his armour at last week’s Leicestershire Road Club 27.2 on road bikes, finishing seventh.

Young squad Team Inspired have been showing their talent already this season and have a strong squad including Sam Watson, Robert Donaldson, William Tidball, Alfie George, Oscar Nilsson-Julien, Jack Rootkin-Gray, Rhys Britton, Max Rushby and Oliver Stockwell.

Simon Wilson

Fraser Martin (Saint Piran) could provide a surprise package taking part in his first open in over two years but won the event in 2019 clocking 23-42 on that occasion.

In the women’s event Amy Gornall (Pro-Noctis - Redchilli Bikes - Heidi Kjeldsen) finished a close third in the tough Beacon Wheelers 14.9 and will be looking for her win of the season.

However, amongst her challengers will be veteran Erica Booth (Lancashire RC) who was clear victor in the Barrow Central Wheelers 21 last weekend.

After taking two wins in a row so far this season Ashley Cox (Team Bottrill) will be hoping to continue his run in the North Road CC 25 on Saturday morning.

The F14/25 course sees riders complete a looped course including a leg on the B1042.

On his last outing Cox clocked 49-47 to win the Finsbury Park CC 25 and he will be looking to continue his run but will face tough opposition in the 86-rider field.

Rebekah Nash (Will Houghton Racing Team) starts final woman and amongst her challengers are Liz Dickinson (Team Trident) and veteran Alison Fox (Ely & District CC/B&T Motor Repairs).

After setting his mark with a first win last month Christopher Fennell (The Independent Pedaler – Nopinz) will be in action on Saturday afternoon in the Redmon CC 10.

The fast out and back course sees riders head south from Dorking along the fast A24 before making the return journey.

Fennell will face competition from his brother Nicholas Fennell (Thanet RC) while Stuart Bettis (HuntBikeWheels.com) could also provide a threat.

Seasoned campaigner and former 100 Mile and 12 Hour Champion Alice Lethbridge (Drag2Zero) gets her season under way over the short 10-mile distance in the women’s event.

The road bike event will also be well contested with David Hewett (Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT) starting as last man and veteran Jennifer Buckley (BellaVelo.cc) final woman.

Lee Valley CC are hosting their tandem, middle markers and solo 10-mile time trial on Saturday afternoon.

After finishing second in the Leo 30 last weekend veteran Matthew Smith (Drag2Zero) will be hoping to go one better starting as last man in the solo event.

He will face opposition in the form of Lloyd Chapman (Loose Cannon's Conditioning) who won the Velo Club Baracchi 10 and Orwell Velo 20 over the long weekend last week.

Veteran Richard Oakes (Team Ohten Aveas) was denied by just 10 seconds in the Coventry CC 10 on Monday and could also challenge.

Zachary Herrod (AeroLab Ward Wheelz) has two wins to his name already this term and starts a minute before Oakes.

After starting her season on the international road racing scene Hayley Simmonds (CAMS Racing) gets her season under way in the women’s event.

During a disjointed 2020 where she missed most of the national championship events Simmonds did take third in the National Circuit Championships on her last time out.

However, veteran Angela Carpenter (…a3crg) won the Leo 30 last weekend and could bring a challenge to Simmonds.

The E2/10 sees riders head out and back on the A11 near Cambridge and fast times could be posted if the conditions allow.

Meanwhile, in the middle markers event veteran Nicholas Hitchens (Team Bottrill) starts last man and Vida Sutova (Redbridge CC) final woman.

A talented field is set to gather in Yorkshire on Saturday for the Sheffrec CC 25 on the undulating terrain near Hatfield.

Under-23 rider Sebastien Garry (Nopinz Motip Race Team) has honour of starting last man looking for a first win after two podium place finishes.

Liam Bromiley (Team Lifting Gear Products/Cycles in Motion) has also been hitting form and won the Birdwell Wheelers 29km event last month.

Joanna Patterson

In the women’s event veteran cyclocross rider Maddi Smith (Bolsover And District CC) will take on Olivia Neal (Real Fitness RT) and Isabel Ellis (Torelli).

After two second place finishes so far Leon Wright (Race Hub) will be hoping to go one better in the South Pennine RC 25.

Taking part of the fast A25/11 course riders travel out and back between outside Derby and Uttoxeter.

Joanna Patterson (Pro Endurance Coaching) finished top six in the National 10, 25, 50 and Closed-Circuit Championships last season and gets her season started in the women’s race.

A big field of 110 riders are keen to test their form over 50 miles in the Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50 over four laps of a course near Whitchurch.

Luke Pollard (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) won the Coalville Wheelers 10 last month and will be testing his legs over the longer distance.

Kirk Vickers (Holohan Coaching Race Team) will be looking to improve on his third in the Nova Wheelers 25 last weekend while veteran Richard Bott (Pirate Juice CC) could also challenge.

Meanwhile, veterans Emma Sarjeant (Hafren CC) and Janet Fairclough (Liverpool Phoenix CC Aintree) conclude the women’s event.

Elsewhere on Sunday morning the Wigan Wheelers CC 2-up will see a host of teams battling it out with Philip Jones (Drag2Zero) and Samuel Jackson (Cybele Cycling Club) starting as last men.

In the tandem event the North Lancashire Road Club pairing of James Prossor and Gill Craske start last.

Chris Boddy (Aerocoach) is yet to get his campaign under way but is due to start as last man in the Westerley Cycling Club 10.

The event takes place on the A404 between Marlow and Maidenhead.

Ollie Hucks (Nopinz Motip Race Team) clocked 19-15 on his way to third in the Melton Olympic 10 on his last outing and could be a contender.

Kate Allen (Team Bottrill) is one of the challengers in the women’s event after already winning the Farnborough & Camberley 25 this season.

Also taking place on Sunday morning is the Paceline RT sporting 15.4 which in on a looped course near Dorking.

Paul Burton could take victory for the host club and starts as last man after placing third in the Dorking CC 24.9 on his last outing.

Meanwhile in the women’s race Amy Marks (Team LDN) will be looking to add to her win in the Stowmarket & District 20 last month.

Veteran woman Maria David (Serpentine Running Club) starts as scratch rider in the road bike event while Richard Todd (Onyx RT) is last man away.

On the South East coast riders are preparing to battle a tough course in the Maldon & District spoting 25.

George Peden

Timothy Torrie (TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling P/b Trainsharp) will again be one to watch after being pushed into second in last week’s Orwell Velo 20.

Ian Short (Team Salesengine.co.uk) will start as scratch rider while Ann Shuttleworth (Cambridge CC) will be the last of a competitive field away.

After suffering a rare defeat last weekend Adam Duggleby (Chapeau! Vive Le Velo) will be hoping to retain his winning record starting as last man in the 110-rider Drighlington BC 25.

George Peden (Team PB Performance) has been impressing in recent weeks with three wins from four rides and could provide a tough challenge.

Jack Rees (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) got his season under way with a second in the Stockton Whls 23 and will also be a threat.

In the women’s event Carol O’Connor (Calder Clarion) is the last rider away on the out and back course down the A168.

An intriguing women’s event in the Bourne Wheelers 10 will see Sian Botteley (Brother UK - Team OnForm) and Madeleine Gammons (Jadan CycleSpace-Vive Le Velo) go head-to-head.

Gammons won the Melton Olympic 10 on her last outing and will be looking to double her tally on the out and back traditional course on the A52 near Grantham,

James Gelsthorpe ((Velo-One Cycling Team (Staples Vegetables-Great British Farmers) will be looking for his maiden win in the men’s event after placing third in the Stowmarket & District CC 20.

Christopher McNamara (Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT) won the Crawley Wheelers sporting 41.6 on his maiden outing of the season and will be one to watch in the A3crg sporting 15k.

However, McNamara might not have it all his own way on the point-to-point course near Petersfield as Sam Clark (TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling P/B Trainsharp) starts as last man.

Host club rider Lucy Mitchell heads the women’s field which includes hill climber Becca Drake (BellaVelo CC)

 Veteran Jon Hughes (Velo Club Godalming & Haslemere) starts as last man in the road bike event and Catarina Podevyn (Velo Club Godalming & Haslemere) is the final woman starter.

Also on Sunday morning the Newbury RC 25 takes place with riders completing two laps between Reading and Thatcham.

Consistent rider Jacob Storey (Partenza-Nude Espresso RT) is amongst the men’s contenders while Caitlin Peters (Liv AWOL) is part of a strong 16-rider women’s field with Lizi Duncombe (Socks4Watts Race Team) starting last.

Steve Lampier (Saint Piran) has had an unbeaten start to the season with four victories on the bounce and is looking to add another at the Tri-Logic 10.

The out and back route takes riders up the B3275 starting out from near Truro.

Tim McEvoy (FTP Fulfil the Potential Racing) starts as last man while Tom Nancarrow (Nopinz Motip Race Team) has placed second on his last two outings.

The women’s race also has a competitive field with Stacey Ginieres (Penzance Wheelers CC) starting as last rider away.

Last season’s National 12 Hour and 100 Mile Champion Adam Wild (GS Metro) gets his solo campaign under way in the tough Derwentside CC 40.

Wild did take victory with team-mate Carl Donaldson in the Blaydon CC 2-up and will be looking to show his early season form.

The Lakes and Lancs Spoco course sees riders complete a tough loop starting and finishing at Allendale.

Cyclo-cross specialist Thomas Mein (Canyon Dhb SunGod) and veteran Ben Harrison (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) are down to ride, while in the women’s event another international cyclo-cross star rides in the form of Anna Kay (Starcasino CX Team), who will challenge Joanne Rea (Blaydon CC).

The National Youth Championships (Central DC) event is also taking place on Sunday morning with Lucas Jowett (Team Bottrill) starting as last boy.

Another testing event on Sunday is the Westbury Wheelers 26 hardriders event near Frome which includes a loop and tough climb up to the finish.

Oliver Bridgewood (Bath Cycling Club) starts as last man in the event after winning the VC Bristol 10 road bike only event last month.

In the women’s event veteran Liz Kemp (Westbury Wheelers) is the last starter.

Ashley Cox (Team Bottrill) could record a weekend double when he starts as scratch rider in the Team Milton Keynes 20.

Cox who has two wins to his name this season is also riding the North Road CC 25 the previous day.

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