Battling wet conditions veteran riders Andy Critchlow (Paceline RT) and Sally Turner (HUUB WattShop) showed their experience and battled to victories in the Sussex CA 10.

Despite damp conditions slowing speeds around the roundabouts Critchlow, aged 49, posted a winning time of 19 minutes and 34 seconds – a personal best for the veteran.

Meanwhile, in the women’s event 43-year-old Turner was in fine form taking her fourth victory of the season in 22-08.

The G10/97 saw competitors start and finish north of Steyning before heading out and back along the A283 down to the turn, at the junction with the Shoreham Bypass.

Turner had won three of her four open outings coming into the event and continued her winning form by recording an average speed of over 27.1 miles per hour.

“It was my fourth win this year which is good and it was a good field,” said Turner.

“It started pouring down before I was about to start which was a bit annoying. There was quite good roads and the traffic wasn’t too busy so it felt nice and safe.

“I’m having some aero testing soon as I’m riding for HUUB WattShop now, so hopefully I can get a few gains from that before my next few races.

“I would like to do that course again in drier conditions as the rain was pretty torrential. There is room for improvement. I’m looking at doing the UCI age group world championship and CTT 50 and 10-mile national championships so I’ll see how I get on in those.”

Georgie Little (Stolen Goat Race Team) was second in the women‘s event in 23-13, while Erica Martin (Eastbourne Rovers CC) was third (28-57).

Critchlow also won the Farnborough & Camberley CC 25 on his last open outing and was victorious again recording an average speed of over 30.66 miles per hour.

Christopher McNamara (Sigma Sports-Cannondale RT) was predicted as the pre-race favourite by Spindata but failed to finish following a slow flat front tyre. 

That meant fellow veteran Simon McNamara (Sigma Sports-Cannondale RT) led the challenge finishing second 14 seconds behind winner Critchlow stopping the clock in 19-48, while Howard Shaw (trainSharp) was third (20-08).

“Last year I got distracted by long distanced gravel races, while this year I’m focusing on the shorter distances,” added Critchlow.

“I was really pleased to put it out on that course because as we started it started to chuck it down with rain, it wasn’t a fast day.

“It’s a technical course with three roundabouts which you’ve got to know how to ride on it. There was a stacked field with the McNamara brothers and top local time trailers there. I was really pleased to post a personal best of 19-34, I’ve never gone under 20 minutes.

“It was a bit of a moment for me to be honest.”

Meanwhile, Lucas Houghton (Team TMC) was the quickest junior on a time trial bike in 23-30.

The road bike competition was a closely fought contest with the top three riders separated by just 36 seconds.

Patrick Brown (HuntBikeWheels.com) posted the winning time of 22-21 which was just 14 seconds faster than Mark Day (Brighton Mitre CC) in second (22-35), while 16-year-old Oscar Nisbett (Crawley Wheelers) was third (22-57).

Eline Smit (Laka x Pedal Mafia Race Team) was the only woman road bike competitor posting a time of 24-34. 

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