Thornely and Murray take victories at Anfield Bicycle Club 100
Tom Thornely (Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles) came out victorious after a four-way battle for honours at the Anfield Bicycle Club 100, while Christina Murray (Army Cycling) was a clear women’s winner.
Thornely, aged 39, suffered serious injuries last year after being hit by a car but showed his recovery with a third win of the season.
Run by the Anfield Bicycle Club (formed in March 1879), the Anfield 100 has long been regarded as a classic on the time trial circuit.
The first races started in Liverpool with rides against the clock into Cheshire and North Wales, before moving in the 1890s to the roads of North Shropshire, which the club has used ever since.
Due to Covid-19 the event was not held in the last two years with the last staged in 2019.
The Shropshire course sees riders start by heading from Shawbury out on the A41 to Prees Heath before returning to Tern Hill and then to Market Drayton on a second out and back leg to complete the opening 25 miles.
Competitors then laps of a circuit between Shawbury, High Ercall, Crudgington and Hodnet.
Thornely who also won the Dukinfield 50 in a time of 1-48-51 showed his form over the longer distance recording an average speed of over 26.6 miles per hour.
However, the Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles rider was pushed all the way by Alexander Royle (Manchester Bicycle Club) who finished just 45 seconds back in 3-46-00 while David Parkin (Chorley Cycling Club) was a further 10 seconds back.
Also in the mix for victory but eventually finishing fourth was Toby Williams (Velotik Racing Team) clocking 3-47-08.
Quickest veteran on scratch was Daniel McParland (Tri Preston) whose time of 3-53-43 was just seven seconds faster than Chris Standidge (Total Tri Training).
The quickest men’s team was Paramount CRT with Simon Romei, Robert Mcgregor and Christopher Riley all combining.
Meanwhile, the fastest tandem was Tandem Bridget Night and Chris Hanson-Jones (Frodsham Wheelers) in 4-33-52.
In the women’s event Murray took her third victory from as many open time trials this season completing the course in a winning time of 4-17-30.
Last season veteran rider Murray was crowned National 24-hour Champion and showed her endurance again finishing over 40 minutes clear of her nearest rival.
Kimberley Pickett (Bicester Millennium CC) finished second woman in 4-58-17 while veteran Michelle Fairclough (Salford Cycling Club) completed the podium positions (5-05-33).
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