Windy wins for Graves and Sharp in East Yorkshire
Philip Graves and Fiona Sharp were fastest male and female riders respectively at a cold and windy East Yorkshire course used for the City Road Club (Hull) 15-mile time trial on Sunday morning.
Graves, the 29-year-old NOPINZ rider from York, clocked 31-34 to win by 35 seconds from City Road Club’s veteran Alex Russell, while 23-year-old Liam Golton of Selby CC claimed the final step of the podium with 32-22.
And Sharp’s win came after she covered the V724 course in 36-02, the 40-year-old from York being 1-10 quicker than second fastest female Sarah Lewthwaite (Team Sportslab), while Clifton CC’s Abi Smith was third.
Graves’ victory was all the more remarkable as the triathlete had trained for five hard hours the day before – and even went for a 5km run straight after finishing his ride.
The cold winds got worse as the event progressed, although riders managed to stay dry.
From 62 entries there were just a handful of non-starters or non-finishers.
The V724 course takes riders from Wallingfen Lane in Newport northwards and on to Gilberdyke before turning at Howden roundabout.
Graves has ridden three open time trial events in 2019 now, but this was his first win after placing third in the Harrogate Nova CC 15 and fourth in the Teesdale CRC 21 last weekend.
Sharp’s only other appearance in a time trial so far this year was in the Yorkshire Cycling Federation 10 three weeks ago, where she was also the fastest female.
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