A strong field of riders is preparing for the classic Tyneside Vagabonds Mountain Time Trial this Sunday, with the scenic and challenging 47-mile event one of the highlights of a busy weekend of events across the country.
Two-time event winner and course record holder Adam Wild (GS Metro) is tipped by Spindata to take the win by some margin and might set a new record time if conditions are favourable.
But another two-time winner Lewis Wake (Team Kirkley Cycles) will be hoping to defend the title he took last year in the event around Northumberland National Park.
Others to watch out for include Marcel Schubert (Zurbaran Racing) and Rob Carter (Cleveland Wheelers) as well as Andrew Duggan (Alnwick and District Tri Club) who won the event in 2022 and finished as runner-up in 2023 and 2018.
In the women’s event, Musselburgh RCC’s Madeleine Bell is expected to take the win.
Elsewhere the West Pennine Road Club’s 10-mile event on the fast Levens course on Saturday evening also has a strong field.
Course record holder Simon Wilson (HUUB WattShop) returns to the event, and is expected to be one of two sub-19 minute riders with Dougie Watson (GTR-Return to Life) also pushing for the win.
Wilson’s team-mate at HUUB WattShop Grant Bigham will be one to watch too, while in the women’s event Joanna Patterson (Pro Endurance Coaching) and Rachel Brown (Brother UK Team OnForm) are tipped to be vying for the win.
This weekend it’s also the Inter-Services Time Trial Championships in Somerset, with Saint Piran and Northover VT hosting the 10-mile title race on Saturday and the 25-mile event on Sunday, both near Podimore.
Chris Murray (Army Cycling) is tipped to win both the 10 and 25-mile events in the female category. Tom Scorer (Royal Navy and Royal Marines CA) will be aiming to win both events, but on Sunday he will have competition in the 25-mile event from George Kimber (Embark Spirit BCC) as well as his RNRMCA team-mate Sam Wordley.
The Fontwell Gallop is being held on Saturday morning in West Sussex, with the Southdown Velo event being held over ten miles.
Sigma Sports RT veteran Simon McNamara is pre-race favourite, but also watch out for Howard Bayley (a3crg), Nik Allen (Team TMC) and Malcolm Cox (VC St Raphael).
Longer distances are starting to appear on the calendar as the season progresses, and it is the Eastern Counties 50-Mile Championship on Saturday near Cambourne in Cambridgeshire.
Twickenham CC’s Liam Maybank and Anthony Jones (VMCC powered by Y Beic) are among the fast riders there.
And near Chulmleigh in Devon it is the South West District 100-Mile Championships held by North Devon Velo, with Alex Royle (Manchester BC) being one to watch there.
West Cheshire TTA and Shropshire CCA are combining to held a 30-mile event near Prees on Sunday, with Ben Goodwin (Fibrax Fenwicks Wrexham CC), Dean Callister (Aerologic RT) and Hayley Wells (Wrekinsport CC) all targeting victory in their respective categories.
Elsewhere on Sunday it is the Great Yarmouth CC 25 in Norfolk, the Shaftesbury CC 25 near Mill Green in Essex, as well as the Addiscombe CC 25 in West Sussex and the Virtual CC 10 near Raglan in Wales.
Saturday’s packed calendar also features the Worcester St John’s CC 10 near Seven Stoke in Worcestershire, as well as the VTTA National 10-Mile Championships in South Yorkshire and the Loose Cannon’s Conditioning 10 in Suffolk.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.