Top junior rider Leon Atkins earned a comprehensive victory at the Hemel Hempstead CC 22-mile time trial in Hertfordshire on Sunday morning, while Elspeth Grace was fastest female.

Aged just 15, the 258 Protégé/Welwyn Wheelers rider Atkins set 34-39 to finish ahead of the field, with Mike Debney (Verulam Really Moving) second overall and fastest road bike in 37-28, and Alexander Herd (Oxford University CC) third overall on a TT bike in 38-20.

In the road bike category Chaingang RT’s Christopher Morrison was runner-up in 39-52 with Roy Chamberlain (Corley Cycles RC) third in 39-54.

The fastest team prize went to Verulam Really Moving trio Mike Debney, John Jones and Benjamin Cousins.

In the women’s event Elspeth Grace (Cambridge CC) clocked 42-34 to finish ahead of Selina Clifford (London Dynamo) in 46-23.

Riders faced cold and bright conditions on the course, with a stiff north westerly breeze making the Icknield Way challenging.

This event, run on the F11/22 course, usually sees riders start just north of Hemel Hempstead, then head northwest to Dagnall where the route branches right and curves east past Whipsnade Zoo, through Whipsnade and then north on the B4541, through Dunstable Downs and upon reaching Tring Road, turning back southwest along Tring Road, then along Icknield Way, through Clipper Down, and turning at Ringshall to reach Dagnall, where riders retrace the initial outbound leg to finish just north of the start line.

However, overrunning roadworks on the course meant removal of the Bison Hill and Dunstable Downs section, reducing the distance to around 16 miles.

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

Results:

Open:

1. Leon Atkins (258 Protégé/Welwyn Wheelers) TT Bike     34.49

2. Mike Debney (Verulam Really Moving) Road Bike          37.28

3. Alexander Herd (Oxford University CC) TT Bike 38.20

4. Oliver Mytton (Verulam CC) TT Bike       39.13

5. Christopher Morrison (Chaingang RT) Road Bike 39.52

6. Roy Chamberlain (Corley Cycles RC) Road Bike 39.54

7. John Jones (Verulam Really Moving) TT Bike      40.18

8. Chris Bradbury (Team Milton Keynes) Road Bike            40.23

9. Sean Bradley (Team Trident) TT Bike       41.08

10. James Lawler (VTTA East Anglia Group) Road Bike     41.10

Women:

1. Elspeth Grace (Cambridge CC) TT Bike   42.34

2. Selina Clifford (London Dynamo) TT Bike           46.23