Russell Hampton (Onimpex Bioracer RT) and Gillian Leech were fastest male and female riders respectively at the Maldon and District CC 50-mile event in Essex on Sunday morning.
Hampton, 33, clocked an impressive personal best of 1:50:30 to lead himself to the top of the podium, taking the win by more than eight minutes on only his second ride of this season.
The Essex course attracted just 19 riders on the day but only 15 finished, two of those being favourite as well as veteran Sam Wightman (Team Bottrill) and Rob Chaplin (East London Velo) who were the next fastest of the bunch with times of 1:59:22 and 2:00:37 to clinch podium spots.
The course begins in Mayland and takes riders through three laps of the Essex area in which they pass through Latchingdon and Tillingham. Although mainly flat, there are a few exposed sections with twisty roads, proving to be difficult as only two riders went the distance in sub two hours.
Hampton took the victory despite it being his first ride over the 50-mile distance and being up against veteran Sam Wightman who had previously clocked a personal best time of 1:44:14.
Leech, the 48-year-old veteran, clocked 2:14:43 to win the women’s prize from Jan Harvey (Southend Wheelers) who finished just under five minutes behind in 2:19:04.
Leech’s victory comes just a week after she claimed a podium spot in a 10-mile event in Stowmarket, she is next due to be in action in the Norwich ABC 10-mile event on July 3.
Meanwhile, winner of the men’s event, Hampton, is due to ride in another 50 next week in Cambridge, as he plans to take on the Viking 50 on June 13.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by Neral Buckley.