Davies and Fennell fastest in East Anglian VTTA 25
Conditions were less favourable than last year, but it didn’t stop Chris Fennell (Team Independent Pedaler-Nopinz) and Laura Davies (Jadan Vive le Velo) taking victory at the East Anglian VTTA 25-mile event near Cambourne on Saturday.
Blustery cross winds and a heavy shower gave riders something to think about, and Fennell was over a minute and a half slower than his winning time in the same event 12 months earlier.
Only eight riders beat 50 minutes including 16-year-old Patrick Casey with 48:15.
Oscar Nilsson-Julien and Oliver Peckover were equal second both 35 seconds behind Chris Fennell.
Oscar’s run of bad-luck continued – today his chain fell off at the last roundabout – costing him 42 seconds (according to Garmin). Two weeks ago, on the E2/10 he recorded 17:40 compared to James Jenkins 17:42 but was subject to a six minute late start penalty after being stuck in traffic on the M11 on the way to the event.
Oliver spent the first half of the event marshalling the roundabout, along with his mum. He had a triathlon on Sunday, and we expected him to have the fastest bike-split!
Evergreen local veteran Matt Smith, returning after a recent shoulder injury, was fourth and fastest veteran with 47:17.
In the ladies race Laura Davies was a convincing winner with 52:47 – almost two and a half minutes ahead of Anastasia Bowler (AS Test Team) with 55:14. Rachel Brown recorded 56:38 including a 30-second late start penalty with Louise Robinson fourth.
Organiser Michael Martin commented that last year numerous non-starters were caused by the petrol panic. This year most DNS were caused by coughs and sneezes (often brought home from school).
There was also the bomb-shell news from 92-year-old Peter Horsnell that this might be his last ever event!
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