Luke Pollard (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) and under-23 rider April Tacey (Drops - Le Col s/b Tempur) got their time trial season under way with victories in the Coalville Wheelers 10.

Paratriathlon guide Pollard, aged 29 and from Telford, is hoping to compete at the Tokyo Paralympics later this year and clocked a winning time of 21 minutes and 10 seconds to win on the sporting course.

In a truncated season last year Pollock won the Race Rapid (Mallory Park) 10 last year in August, starting his winning tally much earlier this season.

The looped course uses minor roads and passes through Breedon on the Hill before joining the B5324 for the finish.

Pollard was pushed all the way for victory by James Teagle (Team Bottrill) who finished just 15 seconds back (21-25) while Alex Shepherd (Ilkeston Cycle Club) edged a four-way battle for third in 21-42.

“It was good to get back out there and just to be able to ride an event, I’ve been waiting a long time I guess,” said Pollard.

“It’s a tough little course and from the start you go into the red so it’s important to get your pacing right.

“There are a couple of climbs on which you have to get out of the saddle to stay on top of your pace and speed, so it was a good little test.

“It was a great way to start 2021.”

Pollock will be joining Paralympics hopeful Dave Ellis as his guide and the pair will be targeting World Series triathlon events on the way to Tokyo.

Fastest veteran on scratch was Michael Smith (Raw Sport Performance Coaching) whose time of 21-49 was just seven seconds quicker than category rival David Mead (Race Rapid).

Another close battle was in the junior category with Harrison Tacey (Leicestershire RC) finishing seventh overall in 22-24 which was just eight seconds faster than Lucas Jowett (
Team Bottrill).

Meanwhile, fastest juvenile was Oliver Sewell (Beeston Cycling Club) in 25-55.

After an early season road racing in Belgium, Tacey took her opening open time trial win on her first outing.

The 20-year-old, from Leicester, recorded an average speed of 24.67 miles per hour on her way to clocking a winning time of 24-19.

Charlotte Parnham (Storey Racing) had to settle for second in 25-52 while fastest veteran Jennifer Clegg (Team Bottrill) completed the podium positions in 28-31.

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