Rob Walker smashed the men’s course record at the Hemel Hempstead CC 22-mile time trial on Sunday morning – despite almost missing the start.

WardPerformanceUK.com rider Walker cut 31 seconds off the existing record to finish in 49-30, almost two minutes ahead of runner-up Josh Crow-Stewart (05/03) who clocked 51-29, while the final podium spot was secured in a time of 53-16 by Leon Atkins of Welwyn Wheelers.

Yet the biggest challenge Walker faced was reaching the start line at all.

He said: “It was really good actually, it was my first time riding the course but I quite like hilly time trials and I used to live around there so it was nice opportunity to ride some familiar roads.

“I almost didn’t make it – my car is currently broken and the trains are a mess at the moment. I had to get the train from Cambridge to Royston then ride out from Royston to the HQ near Berkhamsted and managed to puncture twice en route with all the flooding so it was a success to get to the start line to be honest.

“It was cool to get the course record and, having got the Ely Hardriders record last time, I want to get a nice line of them now with the next round of the North London Millennium at Welwyn Wheelers my next event.”

In the women’s event Maddy Pope, riding for Greenlight PT, finished quickest in 1:11.43, in what was her first event of the 2023 season, while Verulam-Really Moving bagged the team prize and Atkins was crowned fastest Juvenile.

In the road bike category Jack Samways (Watford Velo Sport) finished in 56-35 to take victory, while VeloElite RC’s Michael Burke was second in 58-09 and a time of 59-39 helped Verulam CC rider Davi A. Braga to third spot.

This event, run on the F11/22 course, starts just north of Great Gaddesden and heads north westerly on the B440 past Hudball Common, before reaching Dagnall and turning easterly through Whipsnade and on past Dunstable Downs on the B4541 and turning left on West Street to go south-westerly on the B489 and then the B400 until reaching Beacon hill, with a southerly turn through Steps Hill, veering left at Ringshall before returning to Dagnall and retracing the course to the finish.

Riders faced cool, damp conditions and a northerly breeze out on the course, with 23 competitors completing the time trial, six not starting and a further two not finishing.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by James Ayles.

Results:

Men:

1. Rob Walker (WardPerformanceUK.com)  49.30

2. Josh Crow-Stewart (05/03) 51.29

3. Leon Atkins (Welwyn Wheelers)   53.16

4. Henry Farrell (Full Gas Racing Team)       54.48

5. Matthew Wight (Verulam Really Moving)            55.11

6. Andrew Jarratt (Finchley RT)         58.23

Women: Maddy Pope (Greenlight PT)           1:11.43