National competition records are in the crosshairs this weekend, as talented junior rider Finlay Tarling tackles the Ross-on-Wye CC 10- and 25-mile time trials in South Wales.
Saturday’s 10-mile event is on the R10/17 course near Raglan, while on Sunday the 25-miler is near Usk.
Tarling (Team Bottrill) is favourite for victory in both events despite being only 17 years old, and could break junior competition records if conditions are favourable.
National rankings provider Spindata estimates that Tarling could clock 18-38 for Saturday’s 10 which wouldn’t quite be enough to challenge Josh Giddings’ 2021 junior record of 18-48, but Tarling might set a new personal best if he can go faster than his 2022 time of 18-15.
For the 25-mile event on Sunday Spindata has Tarling down for a better chance of breaking records. The current six-year-old mark set by Zak Bridges of 47-27 could fall to Tarling, with Spindata estimating a time of 46-31 which would be a personal best by 1-35 and a new record by almost a minute.
But victory isn’t guaranteed in either event. Sunday’s 25-miler has Tarling’s Bottrill team-mates Jake Sargent and Rob Francis breathing down his neck, while FTP Race Team’s Chris Gibbard also rides both events, along with Anthony Jones (VMCC powered by Y Beic).
AeroCoach rider Jessica Rhodes-Jones and Hayley Wells (Wrekinsport CC) tackle both events too.
Also over 25 miles is the Manchester and District Ladies CA event near Jodrell Bank in Cheshire on Saturday, with Emily Martin (Team Bottrill) expected to take the win ahead of Alice Taylor (Congleton CC).
In the open invitational event Alex Royle (Manchester BC) looks likely to tussle with David James Williams (Velotik RT) and Casper Von Folsach (HUUB WattShop) who will be on a road bike.
Top junior Albie Jones (North Cheshire Clarion) could also find himself on the podium.
St Christopher’s CC are staging the Scottish 25-mile Championships near Bishopton in Renfrewshire on Sunday, which is also the Scottish Veterans TTA Championships.
GTR Return to Life p/b Streamline look set to dominate with Chris Smart, Ray Wilson, Rob Graham and Marc Anderson all gunning for the podium, while Spindata has Deeside Thistle CC’s Margaret Mcmillan and Patricia Baird (Ecosse Performance) in with a shout of the women’s title.
National competition record holder Hayley Simmonds (Doltcini O’Shea Cycle Division) tackles the same 25-mile distance on Saturday at the Verulam CC event near Cambourne, while the open victory could go to Jacob Storey (trainSharp), Jack Levick (Rose Race Team) or Cris Coxon (Brighton Mitre CC).
It’s the Eastern Counties CA 10-mile Championship on Saturday neat Six Mile Bottom, which has James Jenkins (Hart Performance Coaching) and Piotr Zulawski (Cambridge CC) down as the pre-race favourites.
Shaftesbury CC veteran Louise Robinson should take the women’s win, while Frances Lammyman (Ride Revolution Coaching) also competes.
In-form Debbie Moss (Springfield Financial RT) should be quickest female at the Lancashire Road Club 25 on Sunday, with her rivals including Joanna Cebrat (360cycling).
In the open event John Bardsley (360cycling) and Chris Booth (Giant Kendal Sidas.uk) are the favourites.
Elsewhere on Saturday it’s the King’s Lynn CC 15 near Stoke Ferry and the Chorley CC 10 near Brock in Lancashire.
Sunday’s events also include the Sussex CA 30-miler near Steyning, the Houghton CC 25 near Ponteland in Northumberland, the Farnham Road Club 10 near Bentley in Hampshire and a 50-mile event near Minety in Wiltshire which is being jointly organised by Swindon Road Club and Swindon Wheelers.
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