Veteran Christopher Gibbard (Bynea CC) posted a new course record on his way to winning the Virtual CC 25, while Emma Wyatt (Hereford & Dist Wheelers) won the women’s event by nearly four minutes.

Gibbard, aged 41, took his seventh open victory of the season by setting a new course benchmark time of 48 minutes and 42 seconds.

The R25/7a course saw riders start near Raglan before heading out on a minor road towards Mitchel Troy before joining the A40 to Abergavenny and then returning to Raglan.

Gibbard won the Welsh 100-Mile Championship on his last outing and showed his speed over the shorter distance to add another victory to his collection.

Ben Jones (Port Talbot Wheelers) won the Bynea CC 25 earlier this season but had to settle for second on this occasion finishing 52 seconds back in 49-34.

Completing the podium positions was veteran Paul Jones (Primera-Teamjobs) who completed the course in 52-18.

“I’ve ridden the course so many times over other distances that I could ride it with my eyes closed,” said Gibbard.

“I know every part of it and the course doesn’t get used enough over 25 miles. Ben Jones started two minutes ahead and I know that he is ranked above me. At the Welsh 25-Mile Championships at the start of May he beat me by eight seconds, so I knew it would be pretty close between us.

“I was super-focused to be as aerobic as possible, railing all of the corners and not being tempted to take a breather at the roundabouts.

“I was pretty pleased to finish almost a minute ahead of Ben [Jones]. It was a decent ride, in the last month I’ve ridden two 100s and a 50, so it was a bit of a shock to the system. A 25 is a different sort of effort.”

In the women’s event Wyatt was a clear winner stopping the clock in 59 minutes and 41 seconds.

The 46-year-old from Hereford finished second in the Ludlow CC 10 on her last outing but was not to be denied this time out.

Roxanne Jones (Hereford Triathlon Club) led the battle behind taking second in 1-03-35 ahead of Lucia Borradaile (CC Weymouth) in third (1-05-57).

The only road bike competitor was Robbie Disney (Ludlow CC) who stopped the clock in a time of 57-31.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

Results:

Men:
1 Christopher Gibbard (Bynea CC) 48.42
2 Ben Jones (Port Talbot Wheelers) 49.34
3 Paul Jones (Primera-Teamjobs) 52.18
4 Josh Griffiths (Fulfil the Potential RT) 53.15
=5 Graeme Boswell (Cardiff Ajax CC) 53.45
=5 Lee Francis (Velo Club Bristol) 53.45

Women:
1 Emma Wyatt (Hereford & Dist Wheelers) 59.41
2 Roxanne Jones (Hereford Triathlon Club) 1:03.35
3 Lucia Borradaile (CC Weymouth) 1:05.57
4 Joanna Knight (Bristol South Cycling Club) 1:10.39
5 Alison Vuagniaux (Bath Cycling Club) 1:16.04

Road bike: Robbie Disney (Ludlow CC) 57.31