Three of the top four men and women from last year’s title race are returning to vie for honours at the National 12-Hour Championships, which this year is being staged in South Wales.

Fastest last year, Tim McEvoy (Fulfil the Potential Race Team) returns to defend his title in the men’s event, but he will have plenty of challengers according to national ranking system provider Spindata.

Chris Gibbard (Bynea CC) is expected to be the only man to rack up over 300 miles on the course near Abergavenny, while Anthony Jones (VMCC powered by Y Beic) is listed to be second fastest with 295.42 miles.

Others to watch out for include Marcel Schubert (Darlington CC) and Jonathan Shubert (Fulfil the Potential RT), while Richard Sharp (Chapeau! Vive le Velo) and Andrew Whiteside (Springfield Financial RT) who were second and fourth last year are also down to ride.

Similarly in the women’s event, three of last year’s top four are returning with only 2021 winner Kim Barfoot-Brace absent.

Runner up last year, Joanna Cebrat (Bury Clarion CC) returns, but Spindata has long distance legend Christina Murray (Army Cycling) down to take a narrow win with around 245 miles, while Lisa Davis (Drag2Zero) who was third last year won’t be far behind.

1904 RT rider Pip Jenkins and Christina McKenzie (Stirling BC) are also down to ride and will be in the mix.

Elsewhere, National 25 and 50-mile champion Chris Fennell (The Independent Pedaler) is expected to take a convincing victory at the Kent CA 100-mile event near Ashford on Sunday morning.

He’s tipped by Spindata to clocked 3-24-16 and take victory by almost five minutes from Oliver Robinson (Thanet RC), while Stowmarket and District CC’s Lara Franklin is expected to be fastest female.

In Northumberland it’s the district 100-mile championships run by Tyneside Vagabonds, with Lewis Timmins (Vector Racing) and Matty Smith (Muckle CC) riders to watch, while in the women’s event Vicky Gibbs (Reifen Racing) looks a good bet for the win.

Burton and District CA stage their 100-miler on Sunday too with Tom Hutchinson, the Team Bottrill rider who was third in last season’s National 12-Hour, down as fastest on paper, while he will be challenged by a host of quality riders including David Parkin (Chorley CC) and Tim Wood (Team Echelon. The women’s field is led by Weaver Valley CC’s Emily Martin.

Hill-climbing also comes to the fore, with Dursley RC hosting an event on Lampern Hill in Gloucestershire on Saturday as well as Kingston Wheelers promoting an event on Leith Hill in Surrey.

And Sunday’s climbs  are the CC Basingstoke event on Holybourne Hill in Hampshire, while Team Bikestop Tyrekey have an event on Billy Lane near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

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