Hugo Storey began his hill climb season with success in the men’s event at the Protech Velo hill climb in Durham on Saturday morning, while Hannah Farran was quickest woman.

After clocking 3-03 over the course, Muckle Cycle Club rider Storey took victory ahead of Jack Ress (HUUB WattShop) who was runner-up after registering 3-09, while Daniel Keegan (Cestria CC) and Colin Atkinson (Muckle Cycle Club) earned joint-third placing after both stopping the clock at 3-11 – just two seconds faster than fourth-placed Brian Ward, of the promoting club.

Storey managed to upset the pre-race Spindata predictions, which had him finish as runner-up to Atkinson over the one-mile climb.

Storey begins his hill climb campaign off the back of a dominant time trial season, having earned first place in the road bike category in his last six time trials, starting with the Tyne & Wear Fire Service CC on May 13 and including the Zeus CRT 10-mile time trial, North Tyneside Riders 50-mile time trial, Houghton CC 25-mile time trial, Derwentside CC 10-mile time trial and the RTTC National 10 Mile Championships on September 3.

On his win, Storey said: “I rode this morning’s climb hard from the off and hoped for the best.  If I’m honest, I forgot what the course profile was like so I thought the finish would come sooner.  I managed a similar time to last year with the second half being a bit faster due to better pacing.

He added: “I guess I just rode it hard from the off and hoped for the best. If I’m honest I forgot what the course profile was like so I thought the finish would come sooner. Managed a similar time to last year with a bit of a faster second half so paced it better. Absence of the national champion helped a lot.

“The weather on the day was also pretty detrimental to the times, most people were going 5-10 seconds down on their pbs. I think next power climb that suits me is Quarrington hill, anything around three minutes or under really suits me being a heavier rider and allows me to get some power down.”

In the women’s event, Team Boompods rider Farran finished clear in 3-37, ahead of Sarah Wilkinson (Blaydon CC) who managed 3-54 to seal a second-placed finish.

“I’m really pleased with today’s ride,” she said. “My power was good and I paced the climb well.

“My focus is on the National Hill Climb Championship this year so I’m slowly building towards that at the end of next month. I would like to thank Protech Velo, the timekeepers and volunteers for their hard work. It’s much appreciated by the riders.”

Riders faced damp and miserable conditions early on before the weather cleared up in time for the starters.

Brian Ward was the fastest rider from the host Club and for the second year in succession, was awarded the Steve Goodings Memorial Trophy.

This event, run on the MH26 course, starts on Paradise Bank Road and heads southbound uphill, climbing for 04. Miles and passing Ox Close Farm before climbing another 0.4 miles to finish just before the A181.

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

Results:

Men:

1. Hugo Storey (Muckle Cycle Club) 3.03

2. Jack Rees (HUUB WattShop) 3.09

3. Daniel Keegan (Cestria C.C.) 3.11

4. Colin Atkinson (Muckle Cycle Club)         3.11

5. Brian Ward (Protech Velo)  3.13

6. Graham Thompson (Protech Velo) 3.15

Women:

1. Hannah Farran (Team Boompods)  3.37

2. Sarah Wilkinson (Blaydon CC)      3.54