Second last year, Guernsey Velo Club’s Marc Cox hopes to go one better at the Welsh 25-Mile Championship in Monmouthshire on Sunday.
The 36-year-old is tipped by national rankings system Spindata to set a new personal best time and take victory by around one minute after tackling the R25/7 course near Usk.
Behind him, Bynea CC’s Chris Gibbard will be hoping to repeat his performance on this same course last August, when he set a PB 46-38, which should be good enough to give him the title. But Sam Wadsley (Primera TeamJobs) and Ben Jones (Port Talbot Wheelers) are also in great form.
Meanwhile, Claire Emons (a3crg) looks likely to be fastest female, with others to watch out for including Emma Wyatt (Hereford & Dist Wheelers) and Pembrokeshire Velo’s Bethan Ousley.
Elsewhere on Sunday it’s the Scottish National 10-Mile Championships at Bishopton, Renfrewshire, organised by Glasgow Nightingale CC.
Wahoo Le Col rider Joanna Patterson is tipped to be fastest in the women’s event, with Kate Richardson (Alba Development RT) not far behind, while Beth MacRae (Jadan Vive le Velo and Alexandra Hayden (Vanelli Project GO) also expected to be pushing for the podium.
The men’s event has Dougie Watson (GTR Return to Life) tipped by Spindata to be fastest, with Alastair McNicol (Dooleys RT) and Watson’s GTR team-mate Marc Anderson not far behind, while Aberdeen Wheelers’ Chris Petrie could also challenge.
The Wigmore CC 25-mile event in Kent on Sunday sees Thanet Road Club team-mates Nic Fennell and Paul Burrows tipped to do well, with Burrows tackling the course near Molash on a road bike.
Distances are getting longer as the season progresses, and Tri Logic Cornwall are hosting a 50-mile event near Bodmin where Penzance Wheelers’ Martina Geraghty and Rose Willis (St Austell Wheelers) are likely to battle for the women’s prize while Conrad Moss (Primera-TeamJobs) and Tim McEvoy (Fulfil the Potential Racing) look likely to do the same in the men’s event.
Leicestershire Road Club are holding a 27.2-mile event neat Twyford on Sunday with only road bikes allowed, and trainSharp’s in-form Oliver Peckover looks set to take the win there.
Saturday’s events include the GS Metro 26 in Northumberland, where Vector Racing’s Jamie Berry and GTR-Return to Life rider Terry Wilkinson are tipped to hold off GS Metro paid Carl Donaldson and Philip Kennell in the men’s event.
Louise Burnie (Blaydon CC) is tipped by Spindata to be fastest female, although don’t write off the chances of Jen McMahon (Jadan Vive le Velo) and Lois Jarvis (Muckle CC).
The Macclesfield Wheelers hold a 25-mile event on Saturday afternoon in Cheshire, while the A5 Rangers are promoting a 17-miler too.
Bank Holiday Monday’s events include the climb to Shap summit in Cumbria, with Kent Valley Road Club on organising duties for the 9.1-mile event. And VC Baracchi are holding a 10 near Harleston.
* All reports and previews are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.