UK SCENE
But Leon Atkins says he can go even faster...
Talented teenager Leon Atkins lowered his own national record in Saturday’s Hemel Hempstead CC 10-mile event, despite battling gusty conditions.
The 15-year-old posted a new youth record time of 17-56 but is hoping to improve the record further.
“It was pretty good,” he said. “I didn’t have the best of legs after a week out with illness so I was surprised to get a 17-minute ride.
“It was a bit too windy, the headwind really slowed it down. I’ll be doing that course again in September when if I had the power of yesterday I believe I could get a 17-30.”
After winning the National Circuit Champs last weekend Will Lowden (Cambridge Univ CC) was second here in 18-01, while James Jenkins (Hart Performance Coaching) finished third a further two seconds back.
In just her second event of the season, Kate Allan (Team Bottrill) showed her form ahead of next week’s National Team TT Championships, winning in a time of 20-03.
Laura Davies (Jadan Vive Le Velo) finished just 23 seconds behind the reigning national 10-mile champion, while Lauren Creamer (Velo Fixers) was third. Allan is also taking on the National 50-Mile Championships in two weeks, but says she has taken a different approach to training this season.
“In previous years I’ve been in full coaching mode, but this season I’ve been taking a more gentle approach.” Elsewhere, in the CAMS Yorkshire Classic for female under-23 and junior riders it was Abigail Miller (Tofauti Everyone Active) who tasted victory after seeing off the Shibden Apex RT pair of Ruby Oakes and Arabella Blackburn, who completed the podium positions.
The junior boys’ event was won by Sebastian Grindley ahead of Joshua Jackson and Max Hinds to complete the podium.
CLUB IN FOCUS
MUCKLE CC
Location: North-East England
Website: muckle.cc
Muckle CC’s jersey is striking and
