Dan Bigham led a one-two for Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling in the fourth round of the Merlin Cycles Classic Time Trial Series hosted by Border City Wheelers CC.

Bigham, aged 29, from Stone, suffered mechanical problems on the second of two laps but still took victory by over three minutes posting a time of 1-00-08.

It was Bigham’s first victory of the season reversing the tables on team-mate James Shaw who had beaten him in the Leicestershire RC road bike event.

However, Shaw who finished second on this occasion took on the time trial event on his road bike.

 The Circuit of Greystoke course saw riders start and finish at Greystoke before heading out on an unclassified road through Johnby and then circling the Greystoke Forest and then completing the 14-mile loop on the B5288 via Motherby, which the men completed twice.

Bigham also won the Border City event in 2019 posting 1-00-11 and despite his technical problems went three seconds faster on this occasion.

Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling team-mate Shaw led the charge behind clocking 1-03-19 for second while Cameron Richardson (RT 23) took third on his first outing of the season (1-04-42).

“It was quite good, it’s a good honest and genuine time trial which is why I like doing it,” said Bigham.

“My first lap was really good and I was about a minute up on my time from 2019 and felt like pressing on.

“I don’t know how I did it but somehow managed to screw up my Di2 so it was then not shifting and jumping gears.

“I need to figure out what has gone on there. So the second lap was a good bit slower as I couldn’t ride without my gears jumping and ended up dropping my chain a couple of times.

“It was a bit frustrating really as I wanted to press on and see what was in the tank. I’ve not had the opportunity to measure myself on the time trial bike yet.

“On the whole It was proper challenging course and conditions were like a couple of years ago, very windy and wet. It was quite technical so climbing, descending, breaking and cornering which is everything I love in a time trial.

“I have big time trial goals later in the year on similar course to this so I’m pretty happy. I should be at the open circuit championships in a couple of weeks and then as much as I can squeeze in.”

Ben Harrison (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) won the veteran’s event taking his second victory of the season clocking 34-07 over the one-lap course.

Just 19 seconds behind Harrison was second veteran Craig Horseman (Beacon Wheelers) in 34-26 ahead of team-mate Simon Dighton in 37-22.

The juniors’ event saw Patrick Casey (Team Lifting Gear Products/Cycles In Motion) take a clear victory clocking 35-36 over 14 miles ahead of Emil Howell (Matlock CC) in 38-43.

David Murphy (Liverpool Mercury CC) was quickest paracyclist in 36-37 ahead of Graeme Church (Team Milton Keynes) clocking 57-28.

Veteran Richard Butler (Giant-Kendal RT) took victory in his first race of the season in road bike event clocking 34-17.

Butler won the Emergency Services Championships 10 and 25-mile event last season and get his season off to a perfect start.

Under-23 rider Tom Stephenson (Lakes Road Club) finished second in 34-42 while veteran Richard Helm (Barrow Central Wheelers) was third (35-07).

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