UK SCENE
Dropped chains fail to derail 25-mile champions
The Huub WattShop trio of John Archibald, Simon Wilson and Josh Jackson overcame two mechanicals to take the National Team Time Trial Championship title over a 25-mile course near Gloucester on Sunday.
And defending women’s champions Team Bottrill held onto their title with Kate Allan, Emily Martin and Alex Clay powering to victory – although the latter unshipped her chain early and her team-mates had to wait for her. Team Bottrill’s men were also defending champions, but after Axel
Dopfer’s handlebar extension came loose, he was forced to drop out. Teammates Rob Francis and Jake Sargent continued as a duo and posted the fastest time of the day at 48-49, but without a third man it didn’t count.
“It was very close in the end, as we had quite a few problems,” said Archibald. “The three of us hadn’t ridden together before and with Josh being a Junior, we didn’t know how we would get on. When he lost his chain a second time at the turn we weren’t at all confident that we would be able to pull back enough time to take the win.”
Emily Martin had won the Cambridge CC 50 the previous day, but showed no signs of fatigue.
“We rode really well together and communicated all the way round,” she said. “Alex’s chain came off a few miles in, but she got it back on quickly. It’s great to have a good team win because we’re usually trying to beat each other!”
In the men’s event Addform-Vive le Velo were second and the University of Bath CC were third, while in the women’s event FTP Race Team were runners-up and Tactic UK WRT were third.
TIME TRIALS
Sunday, 23 June lNational Team Time Trial Championships (Maisemore, Gloucestershire):
1. Huub WattShop (John Archibald, Simon Wilson, Joshua Jackson) 49.46 2. Addform-Vive le Velo (J. Owen, D. Brearley, A. Duggleby) 49.53 3. University of Bath CC (H. Codd, D. Griffiths, R. Casale) 50.37 4. GTR Return to Life (C. Smart, R. Graham, R. Wilson) 51.09 5. Huub WattShop (T. Brazier, J. Lowden, G. Bigham) 53.02 6. Poole Wheelers (T. Flynn, T. Clements, S. Pink) 54.31 Women: 1. Team Bottrill (Kate Allan, Emily Martin, Alex Clay) 56.40 2. FTP Race Team (L. Pittard, J. Harcourt, F. Scrafton) 59.58 3. Tactic UK WRT (C. Rawlinson, R. Rimmington, I. Torrie) 1:05.34 4. PDQ Cycle Coaching (L. Fowler, L. Cooper, L. Philp) 1:12.07
1. Christopher Gibbard (FTP (Fulfil the Potential) Race Team) 3:31.53 2. A. Jones (VMCC powered by YBeic) 3:32.38 3. H. Persson (FTP Race Team) 3:33.40 4. K. Blackmore (Port Talbot Wheelers) 3:36.16 5. D. James Williams (Velotik Racing Team) 3:38.15 6. O. Burgess (UF Rowe &King) 3:39.55 Women: 1. Claire Emon
