Former national hill-climb champion Dan Evans (Team Elite-Paul Bethell Electrical) secured another victory as he prepares for the 2016 national title race in four weeks when he took a convincing win in the Otley CC two-stage hill-climb in West Yorkshire on Saturday.

The national champion in 2014, Evans is aiming to take back the title this year, and showed great form as he broke his own course record for the first of the climbs on the 0.8-mile Guise Cliff, which he covered three and a half seconds quicker than his nearest rival.

In perfect still and warm conditions, the first rider to break Evans’ old record of 3:18.0 was Kieran Savage (Team B38) with 3:17.2, but he only held the record for a short period of time before Evans himself came storming up the hill to win with 3:13.7.

Third spot behind Savage went to another former national champion, Tejvan Pettinger (Sri Chinmoy CT).

The second stage used the longer 1.2-mile Norwood Edge Climb, and riders were greeted by a stiff headwind which meant that Jeff Wright’s 22-year-old course record remained intact.

Evans clocked 4:57.5, 15 seconds short of the record, but it was good enough for the stage two win by 11 seconds, with Savage again second and Pettinger another six seconds back in third.

Overall, Evans took the win by around 15 seconds from Savage with Pettinger another 11 seconds back in third.

Yorkshire Road Club’s Mark Wilkinson was fastest female in both stages, winning that category overall from Jessica Roberts (Team Elite) by almost a minute, while another Team Elite rider, David Watt was fastest veteran by 35 seconds from Huw Spacey (Harrogate Nova).

Eugene Cross (SSLL Racing Team) ninth overall and was the fastest junior rider by eight seconds from Holmfirth CC’s Mason Hollyman.

Otley CC duo James Wordsworth and Ruari Waterworth were first and second respectively in the Under-16s category, while Team B38-Underpin Racing) won the team prize with Kieran Savage, Archie Cross and Patrick Clark being their best-placed three riders in second, fourth and sixth respectively.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

 

Results:

Overall:

1. Dan Evans (Team Elite-Paul Bethell Electrical)     8:11.3

2. Kieran Savage (Team B38-Underpin Racing)        8:26.0

3. Tejvan Pettinger (Sri Chinmoy CT)            8:37.2

4. Archie Cross (Team B38-Underpin Racing)           8:38.7

5. Andy Cunningham (All Terrain Cycles)     8:41.6

6. Patrick Clark (Team B38-Underpin Racing)          8:42.3

7. Jude Taylor (Team B38-Underpin Racing) 8:55.1

8. Joe Norledge (Bristol South CC)    9:04.0

9. Eugene Cross (SSLL Racing Team)           9:13.0

10. Mason Hollyman (Holmfirth CC) 9:20.9

Women:

1. Mary Wilkinson (Yorkshire RC)     10.36.6

2. Jessica Roberts (Team Elite-Paul Bethell Electrical)          11:35.9

3. Lucy Bailey (Ilkley CC)     13:07.7

Veterans:

1. David Watt (Team Elite-Paul Bethell Electrical) 10:14.9

2. Huw Spacey (Harrogate Nova)      10:49.8

Juniors:

1. Eugene Cross (SSLL Racing Team)           9:13.0

2. Mason Hollyman (Holmfirth CC)   9:20.9

Under-16s:

1. James Wordsworth (Otley CC)      10:21.0

2. Ruari Waterworth (Otley CC)        10:46.5

Team: Team B38-Underpin Racing (Savage, Cross, Clark) 25:47.0

 

Stage one (Guise Cliff, 0.8 miles):

1. Dan Evans   3:13.7 (course record)

2. Kieran Savage         3:17.2

3. Tejvan Pettinger      3:23.1

4. Archie Cross           3:26.0

5. Andy Cunningham 3:26.6

6. Patrick Clark           3:27.1

Women: Mark Wilkinson        4:13.7

Veterans: David Watt 4:06.3

Juniors: Eugene Cross 3:34.9

 

Stage two (Norwood Edge, 1.2 miles):

1. Dan Evans   4:57.6

2. Kieran Savage         5:08.8

3. Tejvan Pettinger      5:14.2

4. Archie Cross           5:12.7

5. Andy Cunningham 5:15.0

6. Patrick Clark           5:15.2

Women: Mark Wilkinson        6:22.9

Veterans: David Watt 6:08.6

Juniors: Eugene Cross 5:38.1