Mathilde Pauls and Joe Adlam-Cook proved quickest at the Cambridge University CC hill-climb near Cherry Hinton on Sunday afternoon.

Pauls, riding for FTP Fulfil the Potential Race Team, covered the 938-metre Wort’s Causeway climb up Beechwoods Hill in 2-07.8 to win the women’s category by less than two seconds from Katherine Barnes (University of Bristol CC), while the promoting club’s Nina Haket was third, another 20 seconds back.

Meanwhile Cambridge University CC secured a one-two in the open category with Adlam-Cook clocking 1-39.0 to pip team-mate Jamie Maxen by 3-9 seconds, while Ludo Hirst (Univ of Bristol CC) was third with 1-45.9.

After her win Pauls, who still holds the women’s course record set in 2021, said: “Due to work commitments, making it to this hill climb was a bit of a squeeze for me, but luckily it did work out, and the sun also made an appearance for us all, and there was next to no wind.

“As Cambridgeshire isn’t exactly known for its spectacular climbs, the Worts Causeway is definitely not long or steep, but still isn’t the easiest with a steeper start, then a shallower section, followed by another steeper kick before the run into the finish. So it is definitely possible to do too much early on, and pay for it in the later sections.

“Fortunately for me my legs were willing on Sunday, and I managed to get up to speed on the initial section without going too hard, keep pushing through the flatter section, and then had a good bit left for the second steeper parts.

“As in previous years (and also the experience from other riders) the finish line then does not seem to come soon enough on the almost flat run in to the finish. Thank you CUCC for organising this again!”

This was only her second appearance in a CTT open event this season, having previously ridden the Welwyn Wheelers hilly 50km time trial back in March where she placed second in the women’s category.

Adlam-Cook’s win in this event was the third time in consecutive years he has won the Cambridge University CC annual hill-climb on this course.

His latest victory comes after a season which has seen him place third in the National 12-Hour Championship in August as well as securing a win at the early-season Ely and District CC hardriders 25-mile event.

He also set a new personal best time for ten miles at the Hemel Hempstead CC event near Aston Clinton in Hertfordshire back in June.

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