The pairing of Chris Gibbard and Philip Tucker gave Bynea CC the men’s victory at the Port Talbot Whs 25 2-up TTT, while Hollie Labunsky and Ffion Davies gave the host club the women’s victory.
Gibbard and Tucker were the scratch pairing and showed why covering the undulating 25 miles in a time of 52 minutes and two seconds, over four minutes quicker than their nearest challengers.
The R25/24 saw riders start at Resolven before traveling south on the A465 to Neath before turning back north to Blaengwrach.
Competitors then turned onto the adjacent B4242 back down to Neath on an out and back leg before finishing on the return.
With showers in the area some riders had a dry ride while other pairings faced the rain.
Gibbard won the Welsh Championship events over 10, 50 and 100 miles last season and got his 2022 season underway with victory alongside Tucker who won last week’s Bynea 10 on the opening leg of the same course.
The Swansea Vale Tri pairing of Dewi Slyman and Sion Slyman took second in 56-31 while Michael Portlock and Rhys Deen (Merthyr CC) finished third covering the course in 58-10.
Some riders were left without partners but competed solo and the fastest of these was Lewys Hobbs (UF Rowe & King) who recorded an impressive time of 56-25.
The women’s event was dominated by host club riders from Port Talbot Wheelers.
Hollie Labunsky and Ffion Davies took victory in a time of one hour, nine minutes and 53 seconds ahead of team-mates Shirley Howell and Emma Davies in second.
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Results
1 Chris Gibbard/Philip Tucker (Bynea CC) 52.02
2 Dewi Slyman/Sion Slyman (Swansea Vale Tri) 56.31
3 Michael Portlock/Rhys Deen (Merthyr CC) 58.10
4 Marc Barrow/Alex John (Swansea Vale Tri) 58.11
Women
1 Hollie Labunsky/Ffion Davies (Port Talbot Wheelers) 1:09.53
2 Shirley Howell/Emma Davies (Port Talbot Wheelers) 1:24.30