Andrew Critchlow finished as fastest male at the Farnborough and Camberley 25-mile time trial in Surrey, with Rachel Brown the quickest female on Saturday afternoon.

In the aftermath, Critchlow admitted he was quite emotional at reaching a long-held target and breaking the 50-minute mark for a 25-mile time trial for the first time in his career aged 49.

The Paceline RT rider clocked 49-17 to see off his rivals and take top spot ahead of Hoops Velo rider James Boyman in 50-46, while the final podium spot was sealed by Liam Maybank, of Twickenham CC, in 51-07.

Critchlow has his first win of the season, having finished in third at the Crawley Wheelers CC 41.6-mile time trial on April 7 – with his last time trial success coming at the Sussex CA 50-mile time trial on June 26 last year.

He also switched clubs over the winter, moving from Norwood Paragon to Paceline RT, as well as linking up with old friend Jeremy Hunt as his coach – and he believes he is reaping the rewards already.

On his victory, he said: “It’s a bit of a moment for me. The first bike race I ever did was the day Pete Longbottom beat the course record and went under 49 minutes. I was 16 and I did a 52 that day, and I remember saying to myself that I’ll do a 49. I finally got there at 49. I finally got under 50 minutes.

“I’m very happy. It’s taken a lot of hard work, I’ve been training hard.

“I think there is the potential to go even quicker. I was seventh in the 100-mile National Championships last year, so I am going to target that again as well as the 25-mile National Championships.”

In the women’s event CC London member Rachel Brown took victory in 58-06, 23 seconds ahead of Holly Ramsey (Tofauti Everyone Active) who registered 58-29, while Newbury Velo’s Kerry Hickson’s time of 58-37 helped her to third place.

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

Results:

Men:

1. Andrew Critchlow (Paceline RT)   49.17

2. James Boyman (Hoops Velo)         50.46

3. Liam Maybank (Twickenham CC) 51.07

4. Alan Murchison (HUUB WattShop)          52.13

5. James Fawcett (…a3crg)    52.28

6. Kevin Tye (VeloRefined Rule 5)   52.32

Women:

1. Rachel Brown (CC London)          58.06

2. Holly Ramsey (Tofauti Everyone Active)  58.29

3. Kerry Hickson (Newbury Velo)     58.37

4. Kim Barfoot-Brace (Team Bottrill)            1:00.26

5. Hilary Briggs (Serpentine Running Club)  1:05.50

6. Becca Lewin (BellaVelo CC)         1:08.00