Conrad Moss (Primera-Teamjobs) was fastest of the men’s field in the Mid-Devon CC 25-mile time trial, while Catherine Hilton (Sid Valley CC) led the women’s event.

46-year-old scratch-man Moss, who most recently had finished second on this exact same course a month ago, improved on his last ride and won this event with a time of 48:47, also being the fastest veteran.

“I generally struggle in the heat,” explained Moss, who admits to a slow start to the season due to illness and vaccinations.

“I took the opportunity to back off in places rather than going full gas,” said Moss, who has had time out this season due to a respiratory illness. However, his winning performance is evidence that he is back to form, especially after winning the Alltrax midweek 10-mile event too.

On this occasion it was Robert Willcocks (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) that took second place, clocking in at 49:38, while the final spot on the podium was occupied by Gavin MacDougall (Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA) who finished in 51:42.

Willcocks was coming into the event in good form, having won his previous two events, but he wasn’t able to out-pace Moss here. He will try to get back to winning ways next week when he is scheduled to ride in the Plymouth Corinthian CC 50.

MacDougall also came into the event looking good, having only finished outside of the top 10 once all year in open events, he claimed his second podium of the month here, after finishing third in the Okehampton CC 10 a few weeks prior.

Moss is scheduled to ride in a 50-mile event next week and then hopes to ride in another the following week if possible, he will be hoping to carry this form into those events and rack up some more victories this season.

The women’s event was clinched by veteran Catherine Hilton who rode the course in a winning time of 1:00:39.

18-year-old Hannah Rainger (Plymouth Corinthian CC) was the rider in second clocking in at 1:01:17, while third was Rose Willis (St Austell Wheelers) with a time of 1:02:24.

Hilton is no stranger to winning as she was on top earlier this month, also at the Okehampton CC 10 where she joined Willcocks as the winner there. She did drop out of the podium spots on her last ride out, finishing fourth, but she was right back on top for this event.

Junior Rainger must’ve enjoyed the sun as she set a new personal best, beating her former fastest time of 1:03:21 by two minutes and four seconds.

46-year-old Willis also set a new personal best; her previous best was 1:02:45 set in 2019.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by Neral Buckley.

Results:

Men:

1  Conrad Moss Primera-Teamjobs 48:47

2 Robert Willcocks Royal Air Force Cycling Association 49:38

3 Gavin MacDougall Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA 51:42

4 Max Churchill Mid Devon CC 52:23

5 Simon Marshall Exeter Wh 52:33

6 Lee Sanderson Mid Devon CC 52:52

Women:

1 Catherine Hilton Sid Valley CC 1:00:39

2 Hannah Rainger Plymouth Corinthian CC 1:01:17

3 Rose Willis St Austell Wh 1:02:24

4 Nikki Toomer Exeter Wh 1:02:28

5 Lisa Crawford Plymouth Corinthian CC 1:04:07

6 Maria Weymouth Mid Devon CC 1:04:59