Tom Roper was just two seconds away from a new personal best time as he powered to victory in the Beacon Wheelers 10-mile time trial in Cumbria on Saturday, while Rachel Brown (Carlisle Tri Club) was fastest female.

Roper, 22 and from Penrith, clocked 20-03 to win by 35 seconds on the day from veteran Mark Holton (Drag2zero), while there was a tie for third between Tom Broadbent (HD Revolutions) and Nick Badcock (Team Kirkley Cycles) who both covered the course in 21-05.

Rachel Brown clocked 23-45, which was good enough for the 35-year-old to win by more than a minute from Joanna Cebrat (Bury Clarion CC), while Roper’s girlfriend Isla Aimee Rush (Liv AWOL) took third.

“It’s good to get a win under my belt, after last week didn’t go to plan,” said Roper. “My brake cable snapped just before the event and I had to ride on my road bike so only got third. This time it went well though.

“The conditions weren’t favourable; there was a strong tailwind on the way out to the roundabout, and a headwind back. Normally you want a bit of a push up that bit.

“So I kept something back and kept my watts slow on the way out so I had something left for the second half to get up the return leg.”

The L108 course uses the A685 starting west of Newbiggin-on-Lune and heading towards Tebay and the junction with the M6. Before the motorway the riders turn and head back east up the valley, finishing just before the start point.

Outside of the podium places fifth spot went to Ben Harrison (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) with 21-07, while vet Keith Murray (Drag2zero) was sixth, another six seconds back.

Beacon Wheelers’ own Adam Bent was fastest junior with 21-55, just four seconds better than Syd Brown (FTP Fulfil the Potential Racing), while Fergus Robinson (Team HUUB) was another 29 seconds back in third in that category.

There was also a cracking performance from 15 year old Patrick Casey (Lifting Gear Products/Cycles in Motion) who finished joint seventh overall and in doing so equalled the junior course record. His time was almost two minutes faster than the National Youth Series winners time too.

While Rush was the fastest female Espoir, the top female junior was Emma Jeffers (JRC Shutt Ridley RT) with 26-13.

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