Sophie Holmes and Rob Walker both broke course records on their way to victories in the early-season classic Ely and District CC hardriders 25-mile time trial in Cambridgeshire on Sunday morning.

Holmes, the 22-year-old from Diss who now rides for Saint Piran, clocked 1-01-40 to slice more than four minutes from the old course record for the BS19 near Ely.

And Walker, 25 and from High Wycombe, also lowered a course record. His time of 54-25 took 40 seconds from the previous men’s best time.

Second spot and more than three minutes further back in the time trial bike category was Joseph Adlam-Cook of Cambridge Univ CC with 57-46, while Gary Roberts (Welland Valley CC) was another 2-16 back in third.

Holmes was more than eight minutes faster than the second best female in Maddie Angwin (Cambridge Univ CC) with Sharon Clifford (SheHair Racing Team) third.

“I’ve ridden the Ely hardriders as a season opener a couple of times before, and this year’s race definitely had the best conditions of the times I’ve ridden it with fairly high temperatures for February and only a light breeze so I had a feeling a quick time could be on the cards.

“So the conditions were on for a fast ride, and with a few tweaks to my equipment over the past couple of seasons I’ve managed to find a couple more gains on that front.

“I’m hoping to ride quite a few sporting TTs this year, the hilly course for the National Circuit Championships down in Devon later this year is going to be a key target for me.”

The BS19 begins near Little Downham and heads on an anti-clockwise loop through Coveney, Wentworth, skirting the edges of Ely and heading towards Littleport before turning left again and going out north and cutting back in alongside New Bedford River to wards Pymoor and back in towards Little Downham.

Walker last rode this event in 2019 in Cambridge University colours, where he was just over two minutes slower and picked up third behind Felix Barker and Toby Cowell.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

* A gallery of images from this event is available here.

Results:

Men:

1. Rob Walker (Ward Performance UK.com)            54.25 (course record)

2. Joseph Adlam-Cook (Cambridge University CC) 57.46

3. Gary Roberts (Welland Valley CC) 1:00.02

4. Tom Wade (Cambridge University CC)    1:00.19

5. Damien Wintz (National Clarion CC)        1:00.38

6. Matt Rizzo-Naudi (Cambridge University CC)     1:00.55

Women:

1. Sophie Holmes (Saint Piran)          1:01.40 (women’s course record)

2. Maddie Angwin (Cambridge University CC)        1:09.56

3. Sharon Clifford (SheHair Racing Team)    1:34.11

Road Bikes:

1. Timothy Welsh (Cambridge University CC)         1:01.24

2. Tom Hartwell (TS Racing-OTR)    1:01.53

3. Jolyon Glynn (Cambridge CC)       1:02.05

4. Colin Krawchuk (Cambridge University CC)        1:02.23

5. Matt Davison (Cambridge University CC) 1:04.35

6. James Wylie (Ely & District CC)   1:04.52

Women:

1. Miranda Clements (Cambridge University CC)     1:08.20

2. Nadja Nolte (Cambridge CC)         1:09.36

3. Claire Hall (Dunmow Velo)           1:14.32