Philip Graves (Nopinz) and Kirsty Smith (Team Swift) conquered poor weather conditions to take victory in the Holme Valley Wheelers 25.

Triathlete Graves who is using time trials to prepare for international Ironman events clocked a time of 51 minutes and 35 seconds over the exposed course near the Yorkshire Dales.

Before the start thunder and lightning mixed with rain meant that many of the 150 riders on the start sheet chose not to ride and only 69 finished.

Despite getting caught in a rain storm and battling a headwind for the last six miles Graves clocked an average speed of over 29 miles per hour.

“The conditions were absolutely horrific driving to the event,” said Graves.

“As it was on a single carriageway that is not too busy it still took place but a lot of people went straight home.

“I got quite lucky as at the start there was dry conditions for the first 10 miles before I got caught in a monsoon during miles 15 to 20 which was horrendous.

“I was on for a 50.30 but in the last six miles the wind picked up and I had a massive headwind. The course is massively exposed so in the wind there are some really hard sections.”

Richard Sharp (York Cycleworks) headed the rest of the field and finished second in a time of 52.13 ahead of Mark Thaxter (HD Revolutions) and Christophe Demoulin (York Cycleworks) who were joint third with 53.20.

“I am focusing on Ironman Frankfurt and Switzerland and will be racing in the professional category in Ironman Wales where I hope to finish in the top five to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii,” added Graves.

In the women’s event Smith was ran close but ran out victor by nine seconds finishing in 1:03.20.

Claire Swoboda (Chorlton Velo) finished second while Hope Kerry (Team Lusso) finished third in 1:05.18.

Smith also won the City Road Club 10-mile event earlier this month clocking a time of 21.38 on that occasion.

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