Kelly Murphy (AWOL O’Shea Worx) celebrated a successful weekend as she won both stages and the overall at the WattShop 2 Stage time trial, while Dan Bigham (HUUB WattShop) won the men’s 25-mile event.
Murphy won the previous day’s 10-mile event and then backed up her ride the following day to also win the sporting 25-mile race. Meanwhile, Bigham punctured in Saturday’s event ruining his overall hopes as junior Patrick Casey (Anexo Group Race Team) won the overall classification.
The undulating J5/13 saw competitors start near Eccleshall before climbing straight up the “Swynberg” climb to Swynnerton and then completing an undulating loop.
Competitors completed two full laps of the course before finishing on the “Swynberg” on the third ascent.
After winning the previous day’s 10-mile event last year’s National 25-mile Champion Murphy was again victorious stopping the clock in 58-40.
World Tour professional Elinor Barker (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) had to settle for second 16 seconds back (58.56), while Neah Evans (HUUB WattShop) finished third (1-00-35).
“I was really pleased with it,” said Murphy. “The loop on Sunday was a really sporting course, up, down and twisty. I prefer punchy things rather than flat and steady power kind of stuff and that’s what these were.
“I tend to stick to sporting courses because they are fun and interesting, with lots of think about and it’s about who can handle the course best.
“I almost exclusively ride lumpy course, chasing fast times hasn’t really interested me. I’m sure if I lived near a fast course I’d go and do it, but I don’t.”
In the men’s event scratch rider Bigham took victory posting a time of 49-50 which was over four minutes clear of his nearest competitor.
After a close finish to the previous day’s 10-mile event the overall victory was all to race for and junior rider Casey led the way finishing second in 54-57.
Thomas Brazier (HUUB WattShop) finished third in the 25-mile event a further 22 seconds back which was good enough to secure second overall.
“I felt much better on Sunday’s event, it was more my kind of thing with it being a bit of distance and more rolling terrain on it,” said Casey.
“There was 380 metres total in elevation. It was fairly rolling with a steep climb on the back of the course and a quick descent.”
In the road bike category with the previous day’s winner John Archibald not available to start the overall honours were wide open.
Alastair Ribbands (Congleton CC – MyWindsock) put in a strong ride of 1-00-12 and despite missing out on breaking the hour mark took the event and overall victory.
Abdel Kader Allouni (Pocomotion Road Club) was second road bike in 1-08-57, while Steve Price (VC Sevale Malvern) was third (1-18-48).
The only woman road bike competitor in the 25-mile event was Sarah Toms (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) who stopped the clock in 1-38-56.
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* A gallery of images from this event is available here
Results:
Men:
1 Dan Bigham (HUUB WattShop) 49.50
2 Patrick Casey (Anexo Group Race Team) 54.57
3 Thomas Brazier (HUUB WattShop) 56.02
4 Adam Baker (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) 56.24
5 James Lowden (HUUB WattShop) 56.30
6 William Lewis (Royal Air Force Association) 57.05
Overall :
1 Patrick Casey (Anexo Group Race Team) 1:14.51
2 Thomas Brazier (HUUB WattShop) 1:16.11
3 Adam Baker (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) 1:17.01
Women:
1 Kelly Murphy (AWOL O’Shea Worx) 58.40
2 Elinor Barker (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) 58.56
3 Neah Evans (HUUB WattShop) 1:00.35
4 Chris Murray (Army Cycling) 1:07.17
5 Melissa Denman (Velo Bavarian) 1:07.44
6 Laura Sheppard (Royal Air Force Association) 1:10.29
Overall:
1 Kelly Murphy (AWOL O’Shea Worx) 1:20.00
2 Neah Evans (HUUB WattShop) 1:22.11
3 Chris Murray (Army Cycling) 1:30.54
Road bike:
1 Alastair Ribbands (Congleton CC – MyWindsock) 1:00.12
2 Abdel Kader Allouni (Pocomotion Road Club) 1:08.57
3 Steve Price (VC Sevale Malvern) 1:18.48
Women: Sarah Toms (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) 1:12.25
Overall:
1 Alastair Ribbands (Congleton CC – MyWindsock) 1:22.02
2 Abdel Kader Allouni (Pocomotion Road Club) 1:32.39
3 Steve Price (VC Sevale Malvern) 1:47.14
Women: Sarah Toms (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) 1:38.56