Multi-time national women’s champion Kate Allan (Team Bottrill) took an emphatic victory by almost five minutes in the Cambridge CC 25, while Matthew Smith (DRAG2ZERO) won the open event.

Allan, aged 39, has the National 10, 25, 50 and 100-mile titles to her name this season and arrived in Cambridgeshire hoping for a quick 25-mile time to boost her chances of winning the British Best All Rounder competition.

However, the roadworks at the Caxton meant that the fast F2A/25 was out of action.

Instead, a new course, the F2C/25 was used for the first time. The course utilised most of the same section of the A428 as the A-course but turned at Cambourne junction, requiring two-and-a-half laps but increasing the number of roundabouts to eight in total.

The forecasted light south-westerly wind, which suits the course, unfortunately became stronger and more southerly so times were generally slower than expected. 

Allan stomped to victory in a time of 51-39 which would have also placed her ninth in the open category.

Veteran Louise Robinson (Shaftesbury CC) took a close battle for second in 56-25, which was 25 seconds quicker than Chris Murray (Army Cycling)   (56-50).

Meanwhile, Evelyn Field (Solas Race Team) was the fastest junior woman with her time of 1-01-33 good enough to place eighth woman.

“It was windy, it wasn’t supposed to be as windy,” said Allen.

“The outward leg towards Cambourne and the far roundabout was like riding through treacle and really hard work.

“Then the other leg was really fast so it was about managing the conditions. I also hit a pothole which meant by front wheel was no longer perfect and started to run on my brake blocks.

“Considering the wind conditions weren’t perfect I was happy with my output and my power was way up. I also focused on being aerodynamic and enjoyed it.

“I was trying to improve my BBAR result as I haven’t done a fast 25 this year. I want to finish the season with a few races as I’ve not done a lot of racing this year.”

Veteran rider Smith was the only rider to beat the 49-minute mark to win the open event in a time of 48-10.

Smith also won the East Anglian VTTA 10-mile event on his last outing in July and added another open win to his collection.

Finishing second was John Wingfield (Elysium Kalas Race Team) in 49-06, while Adam Baker (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) took third (50-34).

A combination of the weather conditions and altered course meant that several of the pre-race favourites were non-starters.

“It was quite hard and windy,” said Smith. “It was tough into the headwind on the outward leg which made for quite slow conditions on that part of the course.

“You had to fight with that and then it was quick on the way back. It was still really good to do it, it was a shame some of the younger riders lads didn’t turn up to battle against.

“A lot of the DNS riders were at the end of the field, but it was a good field otherwise. For a new course with a lot of roundabouts, I was pleased to still do a reasonable time.”

Quickest youth rider was Roch Morgan (Derby Mercury RC) who stopped the clock in an impressive time of 54-15.

The road bike category was keenly fought with Paul Beattie (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) winning the category in 56-12, ahead of Michael Weaver (Rockingham Forest Wheelers) in second (57-25) and Chris Sidney (Coalville Whs) in third (58-14).

Kerry Brennand (Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club)      was quickest woman on a road bike in 1-05-12 ahead of Kat Robinson (Royal Air Force Cycling Association) in second    (1-10-37).

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

 

Results
1 Matthew Smith (DRAG2ZERO)    48.10
2 John Wingfield (Elysium Kalas Race Team)           49.06
3 Adam Baker (Royal Air Force Cycling Association)           50.34
4 Matthew Uttley (Team Bottrill)       51.01
5 Adam Robertson (RIDE REVOLUTION COACHING)    51.08
6 Robert Willcocks (Royal Air Force Cycling Association)   51.26
7 Graham Waller (Team Bottrill)        51.35
8 Samuel Woodfield (Rule 28 x ATP Performance)   51.45
9 David Halliday (Team Bottrill)        51.49
10 Chris Jones (Bynea Cycling Club) 51.55

Youth: Roch Morgan (Derby Mercury RC)   54.15

Women
1 Kate Allan (Team Bottrill)   51.39
2 Louise Robinson (Shaftesbury CC) 56.25
3 Chris Murray  (Army Cycling)        56.50
4 Kim Barfoot-Brace (Team Bottrill)  58.11
5 Lucy Griffin (Cambridge CC)         59.49
6 Claire Emons  (...a3crg)       1:00.01
7 Sarah Harrison  (Trek Sheffield)      1:00.44
8 Evelyn Field  (Solas Race Team)     1:01.33
9 Maria Sparks  (Ashford Whs)          1:02.10
10 Sarah Kelman (St Ives CC)           1:03.25

Junior woman: Evelyn Field (Solas Race Team)        1:01.33

Road bike
1 Paul Beattie (Royal Air Force Cycling Association)            56.12
2 Michael Weaver (Rockingham Forest Wheelers)    57.25
3 Chris Sidney (Coalville Whs)          58.14
4 Mark Greenhow (St Neots CC)       1:02.18
5 Daniel Upton (CC Sudbury)            1:04.17

Women
1 Kerry Brennand (Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club)   1:05.12
2 Kat Robinson (Royal Air Force Cycling Association)         1:10.37