Schubert and Brown go fastest in Merlin Cycles Classic Series R5
Veteran Marcel Schubert (Darlington Cycling Club) was the fastest rider on course at the fifth round of the Merlin Cycles Classic Series, while Rachel Brown (Team Kirkley Cycles) was the quickest woman.
Schubert, aged 40, from Durham, stomped around the undulating course to win the veteran’s category in a time of one hour, six minutes and 36 seconds.
The iconic Circuit of Greystoke Forest in Cumbria hosted the fifth of the six-round series with the 28-mile event hosted by Border City Wheelers.
The two-lap course saw riders head out from Greystoke up to Johnby through the Greystoke Forest to the top section of the course.
On the edge of the Lake District National Park competitors headed back south through Berrier to join the B5288 at Beckses through Motherby to the finish.
Schubert who also won the Hartlepool CC 10 last weekend showed his form over the tougher terrain to take a sixth win of the season.
After finishing first veteran in the opening three rounds Paul Pardoe (Peterborough CC) was rewarded for his long trip north with a second placed finish in 1-08-03.
Completing the veteran podium positions was Sandy Taylor (GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline) who clocked 1-10-08 which was just eight seconds faster than Nicholas Latimer (Team Lifting Gear Products/Cycles In Motion).
The men’s event was won by James Lowden (WattShop) who was the sole competitor completing the course in 1-10-03.
In the para-cycling category David Murphy (Liverpool Mercury CC) was the only competitor finishing in 1-19-37.
Brown was the quickest woman covering the 28 miles in a time of 1-18-02 with an average speed of over 21.5 miles per hour.
The win was Brown’s second of the season after she also won the Kent Valley RC hill climb earlier this month.
Veteran Jan Scotchford (North Lancashire Road Club) was the only other woman on a time trial bike finishing second in 1-29-38.
Junior Patrick Casey (Team Lifting Gear Products/Cycles In Motion) took his second category win of the series finishing in a fine time of 1-10-16.
Edward Quick (Lakes Road Club) was the only other junior finishing in a time of 1-19-41.
Fastest in the road bike category was Shaun Tyson (Protech Velo) with the veteran posting a winning time of 1-13-04.
He was pushed all the way for victory by Richard Nesfield (Beacon Wheelers) who finished 18 seconds back in 1-13-32 while Chris Booth (Giant-Kendal-Sidas.uk) finished third (1-15-22).
The women’s road bike category could not have been closer with veteran Carol Westmorland clocking 1-30-12 which was just a single second quicker than Louisa Cooper (Bournemouth Jubilee Whs) while Caroline Heighton (Ferryhill Whs) was third (2-03-14).
Fastest juvenile on a road bike was Abbey Thompson (Stonham Barns Park – SYRT) in 1-32-16 ahead of Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Whs) in 1-35-39.
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