David Janes (Swift Performance Coaching) stormed to a convincing victory on his first open outing of the year in the FTP Racing 10, while Ellie Mackman (Cheltenham & County CC) took the women’s victory.
Janes’ last victory came in March 2019, and he showed his post-lockdown form to win in a time of 19 minutes and 19 seconds despite windy conditions.
The 38-year-old from Wiltshire also narrowly missed the course record (19-15) by just four seconds.
An unusual wind condition meant that riders battled a headwind out on the A38 between the start, near Woodford, and the turn at Slimbridge.
Riders were then treated to a tailwind home on the rolling A38. Janes took the victory in preparation for the National 10 the following day.
In a close battle for second place Sean Townsend (Magspeed Racing) took his first podium place of the season in 20-02 while Conrad Moss (Primera-Teamjobs) finished third a further three seconds behind.
After finishing second in the City Cycle Couriers RT 10 two weeks earlier Mackman went one better to win the women’s event in 23-30.
She was pushed all the way by Lindsey Lyes (VeloVitesse/ALLCAP/James Barry) who finished 21 seconds behind in 23-51 while Charlotte Davies (University of Bristol CC) took third in 24-44.
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