Entries are now open for the 2023 Merlin Cycles Classic Time Trial Series, with all six events offering something different and covering all corners of the country.

New to the Series for 2023 is the historic Tour of the Meldons in Scotland which combines beautiful countryside with a testing 25-mile course for round four.

Sponsored once again by Merlin Cycles, the Series has various categories for men, women, veterans, juniors, paracyclists and road bikes, with riders’ best four performances from the six rounds counting towards their overall score.

The action begins on March 26 with a3crg promoting a 23-mile event on the P887 course near Minsted in West Sussex, which takes riders round through Elsted, Chilgrove, West Dean and finishing in Midhurst after 22.5 picturesque miles.

The Merlin Cycles Classic Series continues a couple of weeks later with Buxton CC and Sett Valley Cycles staging round two on the popular J8/3 Buxton mountain time trial near Longnor in Staffordshire on Good Friday, April 7.

It uses an 11-mile triangular circuit out to Flash and down the A53 Leek Road, with the senior men covering three laps and all other categories just two.

Beacon Roads CC promote round three, a 39-mile loop based on Great Witley in Worcestershire which takes riders down to Martley before heading east to the outskirts of Worcester and anti-clockwise through Little Witley, Great Witley, over through Upper Sapey and down to near Bromyard, before heading back up through Martley and on to the finish in Great Witley.

As well as being round four the Tour of the Meldons incorporates the CTT Scottish District Olympic TT Championships, which is sure to attract riders wanting to combine a sporting challenge with a visit to a beautiful part of the country.

The Edinburgh Road Club event is on May 7, and is a hilly time trial over the Meldon Hills near Peebles taking in Blyth Bridge. The event dates back to the 1930s and, with a few breaks, has been run by Edinburgh RC every year since 1975.

The Merlin Cycles Classic Series heads back over the border for round five on May 28, with Border City Wheelers hosting the 28-mile Circuit of Greystoke Forest, another event which always proves popular for the scenic but testing nature of the roads.

The sixth and final round of the series heads to Devon this year, with Mid-Devon CC organising a 23-mile event which doubles up as the National Circuit Championships near Bovey Tracey.

Details of all the six events are available on the Cycling Time Trials website, from where you can find more details and get your entries in.

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