Veteran rider Chris Smart (GTR - Return to Life p/b Streamline) took victory by 31 seconds in the Barnesbury CC hilly event over 21 miles, while Lois Jarvis (Muckle Cycle Club) was the quickest woman.

Smart, aged 42, won the season opener in the North East district in a winning time of 45 minutes and 28 seconds.

The M21 started and finished near Belsay in Northumberland before heading out on an unclassified road for the opening six miles out to Scots Gap.

Competitors then completed a loop firstly heading north on an unclassified road to the junction with the B6342 heading back down to Cambo and then Scots Gap.

Riders then joined the same unclassified road that they headed out on for the final six miles of the event.

Damp and what were described as ‘miserable’ conditions greeted riders for the event. Some of those that did start were later disqualified for cutting right-hand turns on the course - despite the explicit race instructions.

Smart won 12 open time trials last season and opened his account for 2023 by recording an average speed of over 27.7 miles per hour on the hilly course.

Lewis Wake (Team Kirkley Cycles) took second in 45-59, which was 24 seconds faster than his team-mate Adam Smith (46-23).

Quickest junior rider was Harris Hall (Velo Culture) whose time of 50-27 was good enough for 13th overall.

In the women’s event Jarvis recorded an average speed of 22.51 miles per hour on her way to stopping the clock in 55-58. 

Jarvis has made the transition from road bike to time trial bike this season and was delighted to take the female honours.

She said “If I’m being totally honest, I’m absolutely delighted to get the win today.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting it at all!  I’ve not competed on the M21 course before so I was a little nervous, especially with the conditions but I just tried to remain focussed and forget about what everyone else was doing.”

Fellow Muckle Cycle Club rider Natalie Lye completed a one-two for her team stopping the clock in 57-59. Finishing third in the women’s event was Jen McMahon (Jadan Vive Le Velo) finishing in 58-39.