Adam Wild (GS Metro) took victory in the Derwentside CC 40 in a tight finish which saw the top three separated by just 23 seconds, while Joanne Rea (Blaydon CC) won the women’s event.

National 12-hour and 100-mile champion Wild has had a quiet start to 2021 with only a win in the Blaydon CC 19 2-up to his name.

He was pushed all the way for victory on the hilly Northumberland course taking victory by just five seconds in a time of 1-40-34.

Starting in Allendale riders completed a challenging 40-mile loop around the Northumberland countryside with tough climbs and technical descents.

After a freezing cold Saturday which brought torrential rain, snow and sleet on the high fells above Alston which forms part of the course, it was extremely doubtful that the time trial would go ahead.

Luckily, the temperatures rose considerably overnight which allowed for a safe race. 

Unfortunately, a set of traffic lights near the hamlet of Nenthead about 25 miles into the 40-mile course forced a neutral zone of about 600 yards for rider safety, but this did not detract from the day’s racing.

Wild was pushed all the way for the win by Steven Parsonage (Richardsons-Trek RT) who won the Cleveland Whls hilly 25 last month but had to settle for second five seconds back in 1-40-39.

Riding a road bike professional cyclo-cross rider Thomas Mein (Canyon Dhb SunGod) also challenged for the victory falling just 23 seconds short in 1-40-57.

Chris Smart (GTR - Return To Life) was quickest veteran on scratch clocking a time of 1-45-46 which was well ahead of Chris Burns (Reifen Racing) in second in 1-54-17 while

Colin Atkinson (Muckle Cycle Club) took third setting a time of 1-54-52.

1st Junior and 6th overall was John Russell of Team Bikestop Tyrekey, competing in only his second TT of the season.  John set a new Junior Course Record at the Cleveland Wheelers 25M TT 2 weeks ago so looks set to have a strong season.

.“It was really nice to be back racing a mountain time trial again after they were all cancelled early last year,” said Wild.

“I didn’t really know how I’d get on as I’ve had a bit of a shift in focus away from cycling since last season so it was nice to see I can still win. 

“The M40 is always such an exhilarating course, with some crazy descents and it didn’t disappoint today.

“I didn’t have much luck here in 2019 as I punctured, then came second in 2018 so it was especially nice to tick off a long-awaited victory, albeit a narrow one. 

“The temporary lights on the course were really well managed by Derwentside CC so kudos to them for still running the event.”

After the close finish in the men’s event last woman away Rea had a more comfortable victory in her event finishing four minutes clear of her nearest rival.

Rea has had an impressive start to the season including taking victory in last week’s GS Metro 26 and was once again in top form clocking a winning time of 2-11-28.

Blaydon CC team-mate and leading veteran rider Sarah Wilkinson (Blaydon CC) in 2-15-37 while juvenile Elizabeth McKinnon (Derwentside CC) took a fine third place in 2-17-22.

Today is the first time I’ve done the full M40 course,” said Rea.

“The previous time was back in 2018 when there was a diversion in place, so some of the roads today were new territory to me. 

“It’s definitely brutal and the brutality was added to today by the wind.  I am surprised to win as I wasn’t having a particularly good time out there today.  

“We are so lucky here in the North East to have such varying TT courses, some of them really tough, technical courses which lay down quite a challenge. 

“I actually got a QOM (Strava) on the cobbled section in Alston, purely down to a child on a BMX bike on the pavement racing alongside me!”

Results

1             Adam Wild          GS Metro             1:40:34

2             Steven Parsonage            Richardsons-Trek RT       1:40:39

3             Thomas Mein     Canyon Dhb SunGod       1:40:57

4             David Fellows     Solihull CC          1:42:39

5             Chris Smart         GTR - Return To Life        1:45:46

6             John Russell        Team Bikestop Tyrekey  1:47:04

7             Andrew Duggan Muckle Cycle Club            1:47:05

8             Lee Cuthbertson               Muckle Cycle Club            1:50:48

9             Matty Smith        Muckle Cycle Club            1:50:49

10           Mark Duggan     Kendal Cycle Club            1:51:12

11           Shaun Brannan  Muckle Cycle Club            1:51:54

12           Marcus Cram     Blaydon CC         1:52:16

13           Lee Ager              Blaydon CC         1:53:15

14           Nick Munro         Royal Air Force Cycling Association           1:53:32

15           Adam Bent          Beacon Wheelers             1:53:42

16           Jay Pitt  Velo Culture       1:53:57

17           Chris Burns          Reifen Racing     1:54:17

18           Colin Atkinson    Muckle Cycle Club            1:54:52

19           Simon Gibbs       Reifen Racing     1:55:25

20           David Gleave      Velo Club Cumbria           1:55:32

21           Steve Gibson      Peak Road Club  1:55:41

22           Ben Flanagan     Derwentside CC 1:56:04

23           Adam Cooke      Reifen Racing     1:56:13

24           Dan Kendall        Rock To Roll CC 1:56:16

25           Noel Stoddart     Blaydon CC         1:57:19

26           Phil Hall               Velo Culture       1:58:17

27           Christopher Wilcock        Muckle Cycle Club            1:58:33

28           Joseph Wright    Rock To Roll CC 1:59:06

29           Daniel Holmes   Derwentside CC 1:59:18

30           Michael Sloanes               Blumilk.Com       2:00:10

31           Keith Melvin       Rock To Roll CC 2:00:40

32           Ian Gallon            North Tyneside Riders CC             2:01:52

32           David Jones        EMC Cycling       2:01:52

34           Bryan Pool          Border City Whs CC         2:01:58

35           Alan Davies         Born To Bike - Bridgtown Cycles 2:02:00

36           Collin Humphrey               CJ Performance 2:02:31

37           Christopher Wayman      Blumilk.Com       2:03:01

38           Neil Withington Beacon Wheelers             2:03:15

39           Chris Reynolds   Liverpool Century RC      2:03:23

40           Andrew Robertson          Derwentside CC 2:04:22

41           Mark Whaley      Blaydon CC         2:04:32

42           Keith Taylor        Derwentside CC 2:04:33

43           Dougan Collins   Zurbaran Racing               2:05:50

44           Simon Walker    Muckle Cycle Club            2:05:57

45           Paul Richardson Derwentside CC 2:06:24

46           Andrew Shaw     Team Newcastle Triathlon            2:06:43

47           Stephen Walton               Muckle Cycle Club            2:08:25

48           Mal Gray             Reifen Racing     2:08:46

49           Michael Lynch    Derwentside CC 2:09:51

50           Mark Herbert     Derwentside CC 2:10:12

51           Duncan Orme     Kent Valley RC   2:10:33

52           Alan Manson      SVTTA    2:10:40

53           Kevin Hall            Sunderland Clarion          2:10:57

54           Joanne Rea         Blaydon CC         2:11:28

55           Philip Parsley      Muckle Cycle Club            2:11:29

56           Robert Smith      Derwentside CC 2:12:03

57           Brian Johnson    CJ Performance 2:12:12

58           Tom Guy              Sunderland Clarion          2:14:34

59           Sarah Wilkinson Blaydon CC         2:15:37

60           Tim Nichol          Blaydon CC         2:17:10

61           Elizabeth McKinnon         Derwentside CC 2:17:22

62           Terry Parvin        Ferryhill Whs      2:17:39

63           Kate Giddings     Liverpool Century RC      2:19:25

64           Keith Sibbald      Zeus CRT             2:21:04

65           Michael Aspey   Reifen Racing     2:21:05

66           Howie Buckingham          Allen Valley Velo              2:21:13

67           Craig Bell             Allen Valley Velo              2:24:36

68           Becky Sleath       Team Newcastle Triathlon            2:28:16

69           Peter McGlynn   Allen Valley Velo              2:28:35

70           Fiona McDonald               Team Newcastle Triathlon            2:32:59

71           Tracey Sample   Alnwick & District Triathlon Club               2:37:46

72           Richard Cleathero            North Racing      2:44:57

73           Ray Bell Derwentside CC 2:46:32

74           Samantha Fletcher           VO2MAX Race Team       2:51:39