Will Roberts (Saint Piran) earned an impressive win over his one-time mentor Christopher Gibbard in the open category at the Bynea CC 50-mile time trial in Carmarthenshire on Sunday morning, with Lisa Davies the quickest female.

With what seemed like a slight tailwind on the southward run to Carmarthen, fast times were being posted at the marshaling points on the course.

At the turn Roberts held a nearly two-minute advantage over Gibbard, and by the end was able to stretch this out to 3-37, finishing in 1:43-28 to take top spot.

Gibbard held on for second in 1:47-15, while Adam Holt of Dursley RC came home third with 1:55-41.

On his win, Roberts said: “This was my first time trial over an hour, a new experience, but I was keen to do it, just to make nationals team time trial champs in two weeks feel short if anything.

The conditions were pretty good, a bit cold, and a bit breezy, windier on the way out to Carmarthen, but then a bit of morale for the return leg.

“I’m just happy it wasn’t raining so we will take that.

“I set off riding at my 90-minute power pb, and trying to hold 48kph (30mph), but after the headwind out, and a few hills, that was a bit much today, but the power was what I wanted though.

“The return leg was a decent bit faster, and after a couple of caffeine gels, I had some good legs for the last 20 minutes.

“Twenty minutes feels by now, like a sprint to the line which is quite amusing.

“Overall I’m quite happy with it. Slower than I wanted, but when is it not? The main thing for me, over this new distance, is that I felt just as comfortable on the chair in the last five minutes as I did in the first five minutes.”

Lisa Davies (VMCC powered by Y Beic) came home in 2:15-26 to win the women’s event.

First in the road bike category was the impressive junior Mathys Venter (Cardiff Ajax) with an impressive 1:59-42 and second was Russell Andrews of Swansea Vale Tri in 2:06-41

First vet on std was Neil Gregory of Port Talbot Wheelers +25:32 and second was Steven Loraine Legato RT with +21:53.

The weather was bright and sunny, but surprisingly cold, for the start of the Bynea CC Open 50 as 22 riders started the picturesque and rolling, but fast R50/5 in the Tywi Valley out and back from Llandovery in the north to Carmarthen in the south.

This event, run on the R50/5 course, is an out-and-back circuit between Llandovery and Carmarthen that starts a mile west of Llandovery on the A40 and heads westward along the A40 past Manordeilo and Rhosmaen until reaching the Carmarthen roundabout on the B4300 junction, where riders turn and follow the outward route back to Llandovery, where riders finish just east of the start line.

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

Results:

Open:

1. Will Roberts (Saint Piran)   1:43.28

2. Christopher Gibbard (FTP Fulfil the Potential RT)            1:47.15

3. Adam Holt (Dursley Road Club)    1:55.41

4. Neil Gregory (Port Talbot Wheelers CC)   1:56.16

5. Jonathan Sayce (Hereford and District Wh)           1:56.57

6. Mathys Venter (Cardiff Ajax Cycling Club)           1:59.42

7. Chris Jones (Bynea Cycling Club) 1:59.48

8. Phillip Turner (FTP Fulfil the Potential RT)          2:00.36

9. Dave Williams (Celtic Tri)  2:01.09

10. Justin Davies (ATAC – Ammanford Triathlon and Cycling)        2:04.00

Female: Lisa Davies (VMCC Powered by Y Beic)    2:15.25