Ioan Smallwood (Cardiff Ajax CC) and Stephanie Post (Team Bottrill) were the fastest male and female riders in the Welsh CA hilly 21-mile time trial which took place on a revised course near Crickhowell, Powys, on Sunday.

The A479 between Tretower and Talgarth was completely closed, forcing event organisers to move the event to a course using the A40 from Crickhowell to Brecon and back – a slightly more tame but nonetheless equally challenging route.

Thankfully the stormy weather of the previous day which caused the cancellation of several events across the country had abated, leaving a cool but dry day with just a gentle breeze.

Pre-race favourite World Tour pro Scott Davies of Team Dimension Data sent his apologies due to sickness after a gruelling Tour of Turkey, so the anticipated contest between Davies and Smallwood did not materialise.

Smallwood was a clear winner of the men's contest with an impressive 46:09 for the 21.3-mile revised course. Chris Gibbard (Bynea CC) was second fastest with 47:58.

The women’s competition was won by Stephanie Post (Team Bottrill) with 54:20, while Michelle Fishbourne (CES Sport) was runner up with 1:03:11.

Fastest veteran on standard was Lee Perrott (Cycle Specific) with a  +6:21 which was good enough for third fastest overall with 48-21. Second vet on standard was Michiel Vaal (CES Sport) with a +5:08.

Smallwood’s win was not his first of the 2019 season, having been victorious in the Merthyr CC 25 at Rhigos at the end of March, while he was second in the Cardiff Ajax CC 10 the weekend before that.

He will next be in action in an open event at the Welsh 25-mile Championships next weekend.

And for Stephanie Post, the win is her first solo win of the year but comes after she teamed up with colleague Gareth Pymm to place third overall – and top team with a woman – in the Burton & District CA 30km event in early March.

Post has similarly entered the Welsh 25-mile Championships next Sunday.

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