Liam Beaty (Hawick CC) and Christina Wiejak (Jadan CycleSpace- Vive Le Velo) got their seasons off to a flying start by taking the men’s and women’s honours in the Velo Club Cumbria 31.2-mile Circuit of Bassenthwaite Lake.

Scratch rider Beaty battled against windy conditions and snow showers on his way to clocking a winning time of one hour, nine minutes and seven seconds around two laps of the circuit.

The L311 course starts outside Braithwaite and goes through Portinscale and Keswick before heading north on the lumpy A519. It then turns left onto a single track and twisty section and crosses the River Derwent, which leaves the hardy riders exposed to the elements before going past Bassenthwaite Sailing Club.

The fastest section of the course was the return leg home on the A66 for the final five miles, with the loop completed twice.

Beaty also won the South Shields Velo 10 and North Tyneside Riders 10 last season and got his 2020 campaign off to a perfect start with a convincing win.

Taking a clear second - but nearly four minutes behind the winner - was Tom Broadbent (HD Revolutions) finishing in 1:12.57.

Fastest veteran on scratch was Craig Horseman (Beacon Wheelers) who finished third overall in 1:14.19.

In the women’s event 27-year-old road racing rider Christina Wiejak (Jadan CycleSpace- Vive Le Velo) showed her early season form with a winning time of 1:20.05.

Veteran rider Rachel Jeff, of host club Velo Club Cumbria, had set the fastest time of 1:29.46 only to be beaten by Wiejak, while Claire Rushton (Kent Valley RC) finished third in 1:31.58.

Wiejak will be looking to continue her early season time trial form in the North Lancs RC Hilly next week and Pendle Forest CC Hilly later in March.

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

* A full gallery of images from this event by Kimroy Photography is available here

Results:

1 Liam Beaty (Hawick CC) 1:09:07

2 Tom Broadbent (HD Revolutions) 1:12:57

3 Craig Horseman (Beacon Wheelers) 1:14:19

4 Niall Paterson (Velo Club Cumbria) 1:14:50

5 Adam Taylor (Wigan Wheelers) 1:14:56

6 David Hill (Velo Club Cumbria)     1:16:20

7 Thomas Clough (Springfield Financial RT) 1:16:21

8 Chris Watts (Ilkley CC) 1:17:08

9 David Huck (Barrow Central Wheelers) 1:17:11

10 Paul David Fleming (Preston Whs) 1:17:17

Veterans: Craig Horseman (Beacon Wheelers) 1:14.19

Women:

1. Christina Wiejak (Jadan CycleSpace- Vive Le Velo) 1:20:05

2. Rachel Jeff (VC Cumbria) 1:26.49

3. Claire Rushton (Kent Valley RC)  1:31.58