Spanish youngster Cosmo Derangi earned a shock win in the men’s event at the Brighton Mitre CC Steyning hill climb on Saturday, with Iona Mitchell the fastest woman on the morning’s shorter course.

Riding in his first-ever hill climb 18-year-old Derangi, riding for the promoting club, clocked 3-57.9 to win by more than three seconds from Redhill CC’s Matthew Ferguson who set 4-01.1, while a time of 4-05.1 helped Chris McNamara of Sigma Sports RT to the final spot on the podium in third.

Derangi also formed part of the winning team alongside Francis Schofield (4-25.4) and Robb Cunningham (4-43.8) for a combined time of 13-07.1.

In the women’s event, Mitchell (Hastings & St Leonards CC) finished in 5-34.3, comfortably ahead of runner-up Gemma Freeman, riding for Sussex Revolution VC, in 5-48.6, while a time of 6-01.4 helped Horsham Cycling’s Tina Lohr to third place.

Mitchell can add this success to her runners-up finish at the East Sussex Cycling Association 10-mile time trial on September 9 and another second place at the Sussex Nomads Ditchling Beacon hill climb on November 6 2022.

Fourth place in the women’s event went to Rosie Wingate, who at just 13 years old set a time of 6-50.0.

Starting on Bostal Road, just west of Castle Lane Park, riders proceed westbound and ascend the hill for 0.9 miles to finish atop Steyning Round Hill.

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

Results:

Men:

1. Cosmo Derangi (Brighton Mitre CC)         3:57.9

2. Matthew Ferguson (Redhill CC)    4:01.1

3. Chris McNamara (Sigma Sports RT)         4:05.1

4. Richard Cartland (HuntBikeWheels.com)  4:13.1

5. Ben Elliott (Redhill CC)     4:21.3

6. Aaron Franks (Islington CC)          4:21.8

Women:

1. Iona Mitchell (Hastings & St Leonards CC)          5:34.3

2. Gemma Freeman (Sussex Revolution VC) 5:48.6

3. Tina Lohr (Horsham Cycling)        6:01.4

4. Rosie Wingate (Liv CC)     6:50.0

5. Liz Halliday (Sussex Nomads CC) 7:08.8