Michael Hutchinson (In Gear Quickvit-Trainsharp) goes for his ninth RTTC National 10-mile Championship on Sunday on the N1/10 course at Sawtry, Cambridgshire. With the 2011 champion Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) not defending this year the way is open for Hutchinson to add to his eight previous successes in time trialling’s `sprint` title.
Matt Bottrill (drag2zero.com) looks likely to be the closest to Hutchinson and drag2zero would seem to be favourite for team honours even with Jeff Jones a non starter through illness. Others to challenge for top spots include Joe Perrett (PCA Ciclos Uno), third last year, and roadmen Russell Hampton (Team Raleigh GAC), Andrew Griffiths (Team IG Sigma Sport) and Erick Rowsell (Endura Racing) along with the rest of the best in domestic time trialling in the 150-strong field.
First of the men, Dave Kendall (Finsbury Park CC) is off at 13.01 with Hutchinson last away at 15.40.
Defending woman’s champion Julia Shaw (drag2zero, unbeaten since 2007, looks set for number six with Michelle King (Team Jewson-MI Racing), Jane Kilmartin (PM Racing), Rebecca Slack (London Dynamo), Lynn Hamel (Team Herbalife Lakes Leisure Bikes) and triathlete and Ironman regular Sian Tovey (dooleys cycles) fighting for the remaining podium places.
Last weekend Shaw rode the UCI Celtic Chrono at the Stormont Estate finishing fifth in the international field. The 22-mile event was won by Wendy Houvenaghel with 48-35, Shaw was credited with 51-09. Kilmartin was 17th with a 54-32.
Jennifer Lake (I Cycle CC) is first woman at 10.01 with Shaw last at 11.00.
Ryan Mullen (Planet X) is another defending his 2011 title, in a 40-strong Junior field. Tom Ward (Team Echelon-Rotor), Jake Thomas (Oxford City CC) Tristan Robbins (Cardiff Jif), best of the 14 year-olds lat year, are among the opposition.
Francesca Morgans-Slader (Lee Valley Youth CC) gets the day’s racing underway at 09.01 with Mullen starting at 09.50.
The events are presented by the South East Midlands District Council of Cycling Time Trials.
Event headquarters are at Sawtry Village Hall, Green End Road, Sawtry, PE28 5UY. Prize presentations take place at 12pm, for Juniors and Women while the Men’s takes place at 4.30pm