James Jenkins continued his fine start to the 2024 season with victory at the Eastern Counties CA 25-mile time trial in Essex on Friday morning, with Karen Aylen finishing as fastest female.

Riding for Hart Performance Coaching, Jenkins clocked 53-16 to take the win ahead of Elysium Kalas Race Team’s David Glossy in 55-55, while third place was sealed in 56-16 by Alfie Salmon (Hart Performance Coaching).

On his win, Jenkins said: “Unfortunately I made an error before the start and rode in a TT helmet on my road bike as I was unaware of the updated CTT rules for 2024.

“Fortunately my ride was good enough to win the overall after I was removed from the road bike category. The course is on a road I've ridden a lot with a lot of undulations which both play into my hands.

“It's the third time trial I've done this year on my road bike and each one has gone better than the last. I'm very happy with how things are going at the moment and hopefully I keep improving as the season progresses.”

In the women’s event, Maldon & District CC’s Karen Aylen was quickest in 1:06-52, while Jennie Page (Southend Wheelers) was runner-up in 1:09-40 and claimed first female as the highest-ranked affiliated rider, with Louise Kedge (Newhall CC) taking the final spot on the podium in 1:10-59.

In the road bike category, Jamie Bishop finished in 1:05-45 to take the top prize ahead of clubmate Slawomir Puklo second in 1:08-48.

Ramsey Kechacha (Shaftesbury CC) finished seventh overall in 57-58 and quickest on handicap in 38-09 ahead of the adjusted 38-41 set by Kedge, while Michael Beaver (Atghlon CC) took third in 43-30.

Matthew Currie and Sam Swaysland (Athlon CC) were fastest in the two-up team time trial in 1:01-43, beating Ford CC pair Peter Tibbitts and Thomas Platts who set 1:07-33.

Despite worrying overnight forecasts predicting heavy rain and windy conditions, the course remained dry with riders facing strong gusts on parts of the course.

This event, run on the E6/25 course, starts east of Sawbridgeworth and heads east through Hatfield Heath, bearing southeast past White Roding then curving east through Leaden Roding and southbound on the A1360 until reaching the A1060 roundabout on Roxwell Road just before Chelmsford where riders turn and retrace the route back towards the start, finishing in Hatfield Heath.

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