South Downs Bikes veteran Simon McNamara took top spot at the 18-mile Redhill CC time trial on Sunday by a margin of 1.05.

McNamara put some of the result down to luck – he had Liam Maybank down as favourite before the race but the Twickenham CC rider suffered a mechanical fault after about 10 miles, quashing his chances of the win.

Simon said after the event: “I think Liam was the man for this one really but his jockey wheel got stuck. He’s been going well so he was the man to beat.

“Having said that, I was happy with how I rode. I had the flu bug up to Christmas and didn’t get going till January. But I did have a solid January with some good rides, I did a 200km epic ride on Wednesday on them roads, just to get my head in the right place. That probably wasn’t the best idea!

“The course is quite up and down and I think that suits me, I’m better on the sporting courses. The ability to climb came into play, gaging effort was important here and there was a bit of handling on the turny descents. I controlled my effort well and I’m pleased to have won.”

Paceline RT took the team prize with three riders in the top ten, the first of them being Thomas Whatley who scooped second prize with a time of 43.37.

Jamie Pine of Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT bagged the final podium place, clocking 43.44, just seven seconds off second place.

Whatley, combining with team mates Ben Elliot who came fourth in 43.51 and Paul Moore who finished 10th in 47.21, made a total of 2:14.49.

It was a cold day for the riders at the course in North Holmwood in Surrey and there was a wind biting at the contestants as they made their way round.

Only two women completed the course with Zoe Bartlett (Folkestone Velo Club) taking the prize with 54.08. Lenka Vackova of Rapha CC completed in 57.48 – although that did include a two-minute late start penalty.

A separate prize was on offer for road bike riders. In fifth overall, Mark Aldred (Kingston Wheelers CC) was the quickest road bike in 45.27 with sixth-placed Ben Hopwood (Just Pedal RT) second road bike finisher in 45.30 and in eighth overall, Neil Harrigan (Gravesend CC) was third in the road bike standings with a 46.49.

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

Results:

1. Simon McNamara (South Downs Bikes/Casco Europe)    42.32

2. Thomas Whatley (Paceline RT)     43.37

3. Jamie Pine (Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT)         43.44

4. Ben Elliot (Paceline RT)     43.51

5. Mark Aldred (Kingston Wheelers CC)      45.27

6. Ben Hopwood (Just Pedal RT)       45.30

7. Paul Barnard (South Downs Bikes / Casco Europe)          45.31

8. Neil Harrigan (Gravesend CC)       46.49

9. Philip Murrell (Finsbury Park CC) 47.08

10. Paul Moore (Paceline RT)            47.21

Woman: Zoe Bartlett (Folkestone Velo Club)           54.08