Riders looking for an early season test will be heading to the North East this weekend for the Barnesbury CC hilly event over 21 miles.

Set in the Northumberland countryside the course is a challenging one with high speed descents and some challenging road surfaces.

Team Kirkley Cycles come into the event with a two-pronged attack with Spindata predicting that Lewis Wake is favourite ahead of team-mate Adam Smith.

Wake won eight open events last season and opened his winning account for 2024 at the Border City Wheelers hilly 13.5-mile event last month.

But they could face competition from GS Metro with veteran Philip Kennell in the time trial event and Alexander Storey in the road bike category.

The women’s competition sees veterans Louise Burnie (Blaydon CC) and Adele McAleer (Team VC) take on junior Freya Johnson (Gosforth RC).

VTTA Midlands are organising The Welland Trophy Time Trial over 15 miles which has attracted a good field.

Road bike rider David Fellows (Solihull CC) is a firm favourite having won two open events this season and finishing runner-up in the second CTT Classic Series round last weekend.

Veterans Tim Wood (Team Echelon) and Simon Smart (Drag2Zero) are amongst those in the time trial category.

The women’s line-up is also a strong one with Jessica Rhodes-Jones (AeroCoach) likely to face a strong challenge from team-mate Denise Burrows and Lauren Creamer (Velo Fixers).

Over a more traditional distance the Manchester & District TTA 10-mile event takes place in Cheshire near Holmes Chapel.

Veteran David James Williams (Velotik Racing Team) finished runner-up on the same course two weeks earlier clocking 21-07, behind John Archibald, and goes into the event as favourite.

Road bike competitors Casper Von Folsach (HUUB WattShop) and Steven Fidler (Velo6 Racing) are expected to be separated by just three seconds.

Amongst the women’s competitors are Congleton CC – MyWindsock team-mates Alice Taylor and Gail Lowe.

Other events scheduled for Saturday include the FTP ( Fulfil The Potential ) Race Team 10, King’s Lynn CC 25 and Cambridge University CC (BUCS Championship) over 25 miles.

The Circuit of the Dales, hosted by North Lancashire Road Club, provides a tough 50-mile test for competitors on Sunday.

After winning the Anfield Bicycle Club 100 and the Pendle Forest CC hilly 26.2-mile events last season Benjamin Goodfellow (Fibrax Fenwicks Wrexham CC) is predicted to take the victory by Spindata in 2-00-17.

However, he faces competition from road bike rider Jude Taylor (Team PB Performance) and the Velotik Racing Team duo of Toby Williams and David Parkin.

Veteran competitors Deborah Moss (Springfield Financial RT), Joanna Cebrat (360cycling) and Sue Cheetham (North Lancashire Road Club) are amongst the women competitors.

A large field of 94 competitors are set to battle it out on Sunday in the Darlington CC/VTTA North out and back event along the A6055 over 25 miles.

Jack Levick (Rose Race Team) is predicted to go quickest by Spindata in 50-27 after finishing second in last month’s Yorkshire Cycling Federation 10.

Levick was beaten on that occasion by seven seconds by Euan Adam (Durham City Velo) who is amongst his competitors.

Lois Jarvis (Muckle CC) will look to open her account for the season in the women’s event and faces the likes of Sarah Harrison (Trek Sheffield) and Sue McFarlane (Army Cycling).

Sunday also sees the Bynea CC 25, Paramount CRT charity event over 20 miles along with the Colchester Rovers and Kernow Racing Team 10-mile races.

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