CYCLING — First Race Of The Season For Local RidersTHE 2019 cycling race season started for four local riders at the CTT (Cycling Time Trials) 10-mile event hosted by GTR – Return To Life race team on the popular Eglinton course just outside Irvine.
The 94 riders began with a tailwind which changed to a head cross-wind just before they reached the five-mile turn. On the return leg the riders had to negotiate the cross-wind until the last mile where they had to really dig deep to keep the speed up into the headwind.
Inverclyde Velo riders Patricia Baird, above, left, and Lewis Beck, above, right, both had early starts. Patricia, who has been recovering from a nasty crash in the velodrome, rode strongly to a 24:04, narrowly missing a personal best (PB) for the course.
Having recently joined Inverclyde Velo, Lewis Beck was riding his first 10-mile time trial and, despite being unfamiliar with the Eglinton course, he rode a solid race and crossed the line in an excellent time of 22:42.
Dooleys RT rider Douglas Nicholson came out of retirement to take advantage of the early season conditions. The former Scottish time-trial champion, who hadn’t raced for more than two years, stopped the clock at 23:32, an encouraging performance which bodes well for a good season.
Matt Hennon, left, and Douglas Nicholson
Matt Hennon, now riding for the GTR – Return To Life racing team, was also out to blow the cobwebs off his time trial bike. Matt was one of the last riders to set out and was hoping the conditions remained stable. He averaged 29mph and crossed the line with a very fast time of 20:45, which was a course personal best for Matt by 29 seconds and the fastest he had ridden in a Scottish time trial.
The fastest female of the day was Dooleys RT rider Lynsey Curran who crossed the line in an amazing 22:38.
The race was won by GTR – Return To Life rider Douglas Watson who stopped the clock at a blistering time of 19:11, nudging out closest rival, youngster Adam Wild of GS Metro, by just one second. Both Douglas and Lynsey donated their prize money to the Return to Life charity.
