Bryn Lawrence (Tactic Sport UK Race Team) and Debbie Moss (Springfield Financial Racing Team) proved quickest at the Kent Valley Road Club climb to the summit of Shap in Cumbria on Bank Holiday Monday.

The 9.1-mile ascent is one of the longest hill climbs in the calendar, and a unique challenge for all riders who took part.

Junior rider Lawrence covered the climb in a time of 26-50 to take the win by just one second from seasoned Solihull CC rider David Fellows, while third was Wigan Wheelers’ senior Matt Morris, just over a minute further back.

Meanwhile Debbie Moss was fastest female by over three minutes, her time of 32-54 giving her the win ahead of Joanna Cebrat (360cycling) with 36-11, while third was Sue Cheetham (North Lancashire Road Club) in 37-17.

Runner-up Fellows was fastest on a road bike, with second in that category being Paul Roby (Croston Velo) in fifth overall. Top female on a road bike was Cebrat, with second being Mandy Pegman (Kendal CC).

After his win, Lawrence said: “Shap is definitely one of my favourite events of the year, after putting in a decent bit of training with my coach I wasn’t sure how the form was going to be, so it was good to use the race as a test before my racing starts with my team Casano over in Italy.

“The conditions weren’t too great with a bit of rain at the start and a slight headwind up the climb which made it even harder to push up the final steep section.

“On a course with a mix of flat, downhills and uphills it’s always quite a tough one to pace, but I’m happy with the way I rode it all with my power.

“To take the win by just a second from David Fellows who I knew is a strong rider is good for seeing where I’m at for the upcoming races.”

And fastest female Debbie Moss said: “I’ve never ridden a long hill climb before, only short ones, so I was quite nervous beforehand.

“It was an interesting course, it climbs steadily with a couple of downhill sections where I could recover a bit. Then there is the killer section at the end, quite a fast descent and then a short steep bit but then keeps on climbing until almost the finish where there is a bit of relief before the finish line.

“I was really pleased to win this as it was a difficult race, I was really happy to get to the top!”

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