Mark Walker secured victory in the men’s event at the City Road Club (Hull) time trial on Saturday afternoon in Yorkshire – although he didn’t realise until he’d return home that evening.

Meanwhile, in the women’s event victory went to Pamela Edgar of Barracuda Triathlon Club.

Riding for Velo Sport Racing, Walker took advantage of a puncture for Spindata’s pre-race favourite Benjamin Williams to win the event in 21-46, narrowly edging out 16-year-old Elliot Frazer (Clifton CC) who was six seconds back in 21-52, while AddForm Vive le Velo’s Neil Cleminshaw secured the final podium spot in 22-05 in what was a tight top three.

Yet Walker had assumed Williams had beaten him and left the event – only to find out hours later his opponent had not finished.

Walker said: “I’d done the event and saw the times coming up and there was Ben and two others left. I comfortably beat the other two and thought Ben had beaten me so I went home thinking I had come second.

“Ben has been beating me comfortably for the last 18 months so I took it for granted that he had won and if he’d finished he would have won. My own form has been questionable and Ben has been flying, but to finish first, first you have to finish.”

In taking top spot, Walker secured his first open time trial success since the Bramley Wheelers CC 10-mile time trial in April 2022, a run of nine events having finished third at the Sheffrec CC 25-mile time trial on May 6 in his next best result meaning he has now secured two time trial success.

Walker added: “I was prepared for the 25-mile time trial and saw a board saying it had changed. It needed a different mindset but it was a different. It took some adjustment, you’re prepared for an hour’s effort and suddenly you go from that to 20. It took some mental adjustment but I rode the course beforehand and that got me into the mindset so I knew what I was riding.

“My mixed form has been a mix of things, a full-time job and my house and running my own business. I’m the kind of rider that goes well with races and I haven’t done many so I’m lacking a bit of intensity at the moment.

“It’ll come with time and tweaks to training, you just have to work hard and get back to what you can do.”

In the women’s event, Pamela Edgar, of Barracuda Tri Club, clocked 23-56 on her maiden open time trial event to see off a challenge from Vive Velo’s Sandra Burrows who completed the tricky course in 28-04, with riders fighting a strong headwind on the return lap.

This event, initially run on the V734 course, had to shortened from 25 miles to 10 due to roadworks on the initial route, with riders starting in Gilberdyke and several dropping out due to the change in distance.

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

Results:

Men:

1. Mark Walker (Velo Sport Racing)  21.46

2. Elliot Frazer (Clifton CC)   21.52

3. Neil Cleminshaw (AddForm Vive le Velo) 22.05

4. Melvin Blackford (Vive le Velo)    23.09

5. Martin Gargett (Halifax Imperial Wh)       23.38

6. David Waslin (City Road Club)      23.42

Women:

1. Pamela Edgar (Barracuda Tri Club)           23.56

2. Sandra Burrows (Vive le Velo)       28.04