The first national title race of the season is here, with the top trios heading to Warwickshire for Sunday’s National Team Time Trial Championships near Southam.

Promoted by Sportfagley, the event has 23 teams including six female teams all hoping for glory on the A423 to Banbury and back.

Last team to tackle the 23-mile course is the HUUB WattShop trio of John Archibald, Simon Wilson and Michael Gill, while there are many others who will challenge them for the title.

Of the women’s entries keep an eye out for the AWOL O’Shea Worx team of Emily Meakin, Kelly Murphy and Hayley Simmonds, with Connie Hayes as their reserve rider.

And Team Bottrill also look strong with Kate Allan, Alex Clay and Emily Martin, with Kim Barfoot-Brace in reserve.

Elsewhere it’s the Tyneside Vagabonds CC 47-mile mountain time trial on Sunday, with riders tackling a circuit up to the beautiful Northumberland National Park and back down to Belsay.

Among those hoping to take the win are Marcel Schubert of Darlington CC as well as Lewis Wake (Team Kirkley Cycles), while Wake’s team-mate Joanna Rea looks likely to be fastest female.

Going slightly further are riders at the Mid-Shropshire Wheelers 50 near Hodnet, with Velotik RT pair Toby Williams and David Williams expected to be pushing for the win along with Joanna Cebrat (360cycling) and Deb Hutson-Lumb (Wrekinsport CC).

In Berkshire there looks to be a good battle brewing for the women’s prize at the Newbury Road Club 25-mile event on Sunday, with national ranking system Spindata predicting the top three females will be separated by less than one minute.

Newbury Velo’s Kerry Hickson is tipped to clock around 58 minutes for the course near Thatcham, while Laura Pittard (Brother UK-Team OnForm) and Celia Brown (Elevate RT) won’t be far away.

Saturday’s events include the Sherwood CC 10 in Nottinghamshire, wigth a strong field of riders expected.

Top juniors Finlay Tarling (Willebrord Wil Vooruit) and Patrick Casey (Anexo Group RT) are down to ride and could challenge the lines of George Fox (George Fox Cycling Solutions) and Oliver Peckover (trainSharp).

A close fight for top honours is expected in Cheshire, at the West Cheshire TTCA 10-mile event near Farndon.

David Williams (Velotik RT) is expected to warm up for the following day’s 50-miler in Shropshire with a ride in the WCTTCA event, while others who could spoil his hopes include Jozsef Evans and Ben Goodwin (both Fibrax Wrexham RC) as well as Tony Greenhalgh (Tactic Sport UK).

Again, it looks close in the female field, but Spindata has Velotik RT’s Lucy Morley down as fastest with Congleton CC’s Lynsey Astles not far behind.

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