Kate Allan, Ayesha Vose and Aidan Worden took victory in the National 25-Mile Championships in Cheshire, organised by Manchester Bicycle Club and using the sunny country lanes around Lower Withington.
Allan led a clean sweep of the podium for Team Bottrill with a course record time of 55-14, while second was Emily Martin who was just three seconds slower, and third went to Alex Clay with 56-34.
Meanwhile in the junior categories 360cycling’s Aiden Worden was fastest in the junior open category in a new junior course record time of 53-32, almost three minutes better than Liam Hewitt (East Lancashire RC) with 56-18, while third was Davey Allanson (360cycling).
The junior team prize went to 360cycling with Worden being joined by Davey Allanson and Alexander Sutton.
Fastest junior girl was Ayesha Vose of ESV Manchester in 1-04-02, while runner-up was Gosforth Road Club’s Freya Johnson in 1-05-54. Scarborough Paragon CC’s Jasmine Townend clocked 1-06-19 for third in that category.
Allan’s victory adds to the national crowns she has already secured in the National 50, 100, Closed Circuit and Team Time Trial Championships, and with the Closed Circuit and National 10 titles in her sights for later in the season 2024 could turn out to be a hugely successful one for the rider from Maidenhead.
“It was very close today!” she said. “I had a bit of a hold up at a junction with a supermarket where a car was pulling in and I had to stop and unclip, but there was nothing else I could’ve done and I tried to use the hold up as a positive driver and push on.
“I had a good ride and felt great in my legs. It was only three seconds in the end. It’s fantastic to have my team-mates driving me on.
“Conditions were very good with only a bit of wind, and the roads were quieter than they had been earlier in the day when I recce’d the course, it was quite busy with horse boxes and tractors, but it was quieter for the actual event.”
In other categories, High Peak Cycles RT rider Alice Larkin was fastest on a road bike in 1-07-34, Cecilia Ellis (Didsbury CC) was second and Sally Maitland (Ratae RC) third.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.