George Fox (George Fox Cycling Solutions) broke the 10-mile road bike record in the VTTA London & Home Counties 10 - breaking Colin Sturgess’ Competition Record which has stood since 1988.

The 29-year-old from Northampton recorded a new benchmark time of 18 minutes and 41 seconds, beating Sturgess's competition record at the time which set on a road bike and yet was fastest on any type of machine at the time.

The record came on the out and back F11/10 course near Tring in Hertfordshire along the A41 when good conditions made the attempt possible.

Fox says the record has been on his mind for around five years and he has been targeting a record attempt for the last three to four months.

“It’s been a bit of a project to get it to the point where it’s doable, I’m very happy,” said Fox.

“In 2018 I first tried to do a fast 10 on a road bike and did 19-19. It’s been something that I’ve picked up and put down ever since.

“In the middle of the winter me and my coach, James Millard, had the idea of what could we do if we applied ourselves. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. When Colin [Sturgess] did 18-48 he went on to become a world champion and was a phenomenal rider.

“It was never a case of comparing to his ride. It was more the fact there was a record which using technology and science which we think is theoretically possibly.

“That was always the premise that it was breaking a number not comparing to the ride which was done previously.

“It has been three or four months of riding the bike that I’ve ridden today pretty consistently. Everything that I’ve done this year so far was ultimately focusing on today.

“I didn’t think it was necessarily going to happen the first time on a fast course, I’m glad it has. It was a fast day, the temperature was good, it was not too windy but not a total float and by my own standards I had a really good ride power-wise.

“It was a sense of occasion a little bit for me. It all came together on the right day which doesn’t happen that often in time trialling so it’s nice that it has been done.”

Fox’s time was not enough for victory on the day as Richard Oakes (Team Ohten Aveas) recorded a time of 18-12 to take the overall win.

Veteran rider Oakes also won the Coventry CC 10 last weekend in 19-57 but used the good conditions to smash that time on this occasion.

Fox was the only road bike competition and was second overall beating Joel Stewart (Team Ohten Aveas) into third (18-54).

James Richards (WardPerformanceUK.Com) narrowly missed out on the podium positions but was one of the four riders to beat the 19-minute mark.

The quickest tandem pair of Ian Greenstreet and Rachael Elliott (Newbury Velo) also broke the 19-minute barrier stopping the clock in 18-46.

The women’s competition saw the top four riders separated by just 36 seconds led by veteran Lisa Davis (DRAG2ZERO) in a time of 22-22.

Diana Egerton-Warburton (Team Enable-MI Racing) finished second in 22-51 while Claire Emons (a3crg) was third in 22-58.

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

Results:

Men:
1 Richard Oakes (Team Ohten Aveas) 18.12
2 George Fox (George Fox Cycling Solutions) 18.41
3 Joel Stewart (Team Ohten Aveas) 18.54
4 James Richards (WardPerformanceUK.Com) 18.57
5 Oliver Bridgewood (Bath Cycling Club) 19.02
6 Ken Buckley (BPC Race Team) 19.12

Tandem: Ian Greenstreet/Rachael Elliott (Newbury Velo) 18.46

Women:
1 Lisa Davis (DRAG2ZERO) 22.22
2 Diana Egerton-Warburton (Team Enable - M.I. Racing) 22.51
3 Claire Emons (a3crg) 22.58
4 Kirsty McSeveney (a3crg) 23.03
5 Linda Dewhurst (Team Milton Keynes) 23.21