Hayden and Kirchel have a very Good Friday in Essex
James Hayden (Rapha Cycling Club) won the Eastern Counties CA in Leaden Roding by the narrowest of margins from David Veitch (Lea Valley CC), while Lauren Kirchel (Chelmer CC) was fastest female.
The 27-year-old picked up his first win since 2016 and his second podium in 2018 after a close race in the Eastern Counties CA 10 in March.
The race was ultimately decided by a mere three seconds from Lea Valley CC’s David Veitch with a time of 55-33. Christopher Smith (Southend Wheelers) finished only 44 seconds behind Hayden to fill the top-three with a good time of 56-17.
27-year-old Lauren Kirchel (Chelmer CC) spearheaded the female class with a time of 1-04-27, exactly four minutes ahead of the next female rider Claire Lee (Momentum CC).
In the two-up event Steve Kaye and Paul Lilley took the win for Fenland Clarion CC with a time of 57-45. Mixed duo Julia Freeman (Easterly Road Club) and Terry Garlinge (Team Vision Racing) finished nearly three minutes behind with a time of 1-00-03.
Sam Wrightman (Chelmer CC) took the plaudits for being the quickest veteran with a time of 58-45 in a close battle with Gray Turnock (Finsbury Park CC) who trailed by only 15 seconds with a 59-minute flat for the 49-year-old.
The course starts in the Essex village and riders follow the B184 towards the turn at Dunmow back to Leaden Roding. Then they take the A1060 to Writtle, again, making a U-turn towards the finish. The course in itself offers a relatively flat route for riders to hit high speeds.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.