Rob Carter earned a third win of the season with a narrow victory at the Allen Valley Velo 24.8-mile time trial on Sunday morning, with Rachel Galler triumphing in the women’s event.

Riding for Cleveland Wheelers CC, Carter finished top of the standings in 1:07-13, just four seconds ahead of runner-up Alexander Storey (GS Metro) in 1:07-17, with John Bowman (Muckle Cycle Club) clinching the final spot on the podium in 1:08-58.

On his win, Carter said: “I really like this course. I last did it in 2022 so I’m delighted to take the win, even if it was by a very close four seconds over Alexander Storey, who started a minute before me. 

“I could see Alex ahead of me on the climbs, but it is really difficult to judge how far he was away due to the gradients. The timing was probably around 50 seconds at the top of Killhope Cross so I knew it would be tight, particularly as Alex is going so well.”

In the women’s event Galler, riding for the promoting club, was out in front in 1:22-43, with a time of 1:24-18 ensuring Sarah Wilkinson took second place and clubmate Louise Burnie taking third place in 1:27-08.

After victory, Galler said: “This is my first CTT event since 2021 so I came for a bit of a hit out today and wanted a hard ride.

“I’ve been nursing an injury for the past couple of weeks so it’s always good to gauge where you are at, post-injury. 

“Being local and held in the North Pennines the course is set in stunning hilly countryside, helped by the fact that the weather held out.”

Riders, of which seven were on time trial bikes, enjoyed a dry morning on the course but the heavens opened just as the final rider crossed the line.

The event, held on the M24.8 course, is an anti-clockwise looped circuit that starts just south of Thornley Gate and heads southbound, curving round at Nenthead to turn just before Cowshill and then turning northbound to head up past Allenheads and finishing just south 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. Rob Carter (Cleveland Wheelers CC) Road Bike  1:07.13

2. Alexander Storey (GS Metro) Road Bike   1:07.17

3. John Bowman (Muckle Cycle Club) TT Bike        1:08.58

4. David Hill (Giant-Kendal-Sidas.UK) TT Bike       1:11.03

5. Marcel Schubert (Zurbaran Racing) TT Bike         1:11.38

6. Colin Atkinson (Muckle Cycle Club) TT Bike      1:13.43

7. Nick Badcock (Allen Valley Velo) Road Bike       1:15.03

8. Noel Stoddart (Allen Valley Velo) Road Bike        1:15.31

9. Stephen Boxall (Houghton CC) TT Bike   1:16.06

10. Ian Gallon (North Tyneside Riders CC) Road Bike         1:17.36

Female:

1. Rachel Galler (Saint Piran) 1:22.43

2. Sarah Wilkinson (Blaydon CC)      1:24.18

3. Louise Burnie (Blaydon CC)          1:27.08

4. Sarah Wann (EMC Cycling)           1:29.12

5. Carolyn Pfalzgraf (VeloElite RC)   1:29.33

6. Deborah Stockley (Albarosa CC)   1:35.34

7. Diane Chaney (Derwentside CC)   1:24.44