Clifton CC’s Philip Graves took a narrow win in round five of the RTTC Classic Time Trial Series in Wales, clocking 42.27 to win by just six seconds and wrap up the overall series victory.

The 27-year-old from York has now won the last four rounds, and with only the final race remaining he has a perfect score and cannot be caught.

His time for the RS/20rev was a new course record by 1-27, while Chris Fennell (Thanet RC) was close behind in second and Jack O’Neill (Mike Vaughan Cycles) completed the senior men’s podium with third, another 38 seconds adrift.

Kelly Murphy (Boot Out Breast Cancer) was victorious in the women’s event, and her time of 48.14 was comfortably a new women’s course record. She was 46 seconds quicker than Emma Lewis (Adalta CC) and now leads the overall women’s standings, although if Clare Rose rides and wins the final round she will have a perfect score and pip Murphy to the title.

There was also a new junior course record, with Jamie Holmes (Mid-Shropshire Wheelers) clocking 49.43.

“It was hard going,” said Graves. “I never felt at ease. I rode round the course in the rain yesterday, and even though it wasn’t raining during the race today it still felt hard.

“I’m very tired, I’ve had three events in eight days, so I’m ready for a break,” added the 27-year-old from York, who won the South Pennine RC 25 the previous weekend where he clocked 46.28, and then stormed to victory in the Team Swift midweek 10 on the V718, stopping the clock in 18.20.

And Murphy’s win comes after she had ridden in the Tour Series in Scotland as well as finishing the women’s Lincoln Grand Prix the weekend before.

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