A road bike test awaits competitors in the a3crg 17.6-mile sporting event near Petersfield in Hampshire on Sunday, one of a host of events taking place this weekend.

The Rogate Rumble course contains 1,168 feet of climbing finishing on the 1.77-kilometre Rogate climb with an average gradient of 4.8 per cent.

Veteran Larry Wiltshire (Chichester City Riders) is scratch rider having picked up five podiums last season including wins in the Chichester City Riders’ Fontwell Ten and Maidenhead & District CC two-up.

Spindata predicts Wiltshire to win the road bike event while Peter Allan (Team Velo Sportif), Thomas Willan (Elevate RT) and Matt Phipps-Taylor (Paceline RT) could also challenge.

Amongst the women’s field is veteran Louisa Cooper (PDQ Cycle Coaching) who won the first round of the Merlin Cycles Classic Series last season.

A climbing test also awaits riders at the Darlington CC/VTTA (North) hill climb event on the Brusselton Lane Hill Climb with a 1.3-kilometre test with a 6.2 per cent average gradient.

Marcus Cram (Muckle Cycle Club) is predicted by Spindata to be top of the pile after winning the Matlock CC event on East Bank Winster last year.

Amongst the podium contenders are Tom Harcourt (Team Judge Tyrekey), Joe House (VENTURE RACING) and youth rider Ezra Bateman (Clifton CC York).

Saint Piran rider Rachel Galler is favourite for the women’s event after winning three from four open hill climb events last season.

An early season 10-mile test is on offer in Scotland on Sunday in the GTR – Return to Life P/B Streamline Mad March 10.

The WW10/03 route near Irvine hosted the National 10-mile Championships in 2018 when the men’s and women’s course records were set by John Archibald (18-18) and Anna Turvey (20-26) respectively.

Veteran Ray Wilson is predicted to bring home victory for the host club after winning the Deeside Thistle CC 25 last year.

Jesse Dawson (Vanelli-Project GO) heads the road bike challenge, while Beth Macrae (Jadan Vive Le Velo) and Carolyn Chambers (North Argyll CC) are amongst the women competitors.

The weekend is opened on Saturday morning with the University of Bristol CC 10 taking place on the U7b out and back course near Berkeley in Gloucestershire.

A busy Saturday afternoon sees the West Suffolk Wheelers & Tri Club event over 21 miles and the undulating Wrekinsport 17-mile event in Shropshire.

The Matlock CC 25 takes in a long loop around the Derbyshire Dales, while the City RC (Hull) two-up team time trial will test pairs on an undulating return leg in Yorkshire.

A more traditional out and back course greets competitors early on Sunday morning for the Kernow Racing Team 10 near Helston in Cornwall.

The Lee Valley CC 25 is a very early counting event in the British Best All-Rounder Competition (BBAR) with organisers also holding a two-up event.

Teams of two are also preparing to take on the Port Talbot Wheelers event over 25 miles between Neath and Glynneath in South Wales.

Finally, the Swindon Road Club & Swindon Wheelers hardriders event is set to provide an early season test near Malmesbury in Wiltshire.

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