O’Brien sets new course record in Scotland
Natalie Stevenson topped the women’s timings as Alex O’Brien (Garstang CC) smashed the old course record, winning the GTR-Return to Life hill-climb in Gourock, Scotland, on Saturday.
O’Brien’s first recorded open event came two weeks ago where a seventh-place finish hardly seemed to be an omen for the performance he produced on Lyle Hill.
The soon to be 26-year-old sliced eight seconds off David Griffiths course record which was set last year, the new course record now stands at 3-49.68.
He was in a class of his own in great conditions, finishing over half a minute better than second-placed Chris Smart.
Smart, a rider for host club GTR–Return to Life, was a favourite for the event with several wins this season but after clocking a time of 4-24.15, second place was the best he could do.
Calum MacDonald (Ayr Roads CC) also improved on his seasons best finish by finishing third, rising 12 spots from a best of 15th in solo events thanks to a time of 4-32.18.
Natalie Stevenson (Eat Plants Not Pigs CC) was a resounding winner in the women’s category with a near one-minute lead.
Stevenson clocked a time of 5-12.18 whereas next best Patricia Baird (Ecosse Performance Cycling Coaching) could only post 6-04.97.
Glasgow-based winner Stevenson, 35, has had a good season so far winning all four of her recorded open events and will look to make it five-for-five in the Ivy CC (Tour of The Trossachs) event next weekend.
In other categories, Louie Urquhart-Dixon (Johnstone Wheelers) was fastest juvenile, beating his teammates with a time of 4-37.78 which was good enough for fourth place overall.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by Jack Cudworth.