The fifth of the 2012 RTTC National Championships sees the `distance` riders come into their own with Sunday’s 100-mile title race at Prees, near Whitchurch, Shropshire.
While the women’s defending champion Rebecca Slack (London Dynamo) is present, Michael Hutchinson (In Gear Quickvit-Trainsharp), winner of the men’s championship for the last three years gives it a miss this year.
Promoted by the Shropshire Cycling Clubs Association on the D100/1 course, the event also includes the Tricycle Association Championship, The Brian Mears (Bricks) Ltd. Shropshire Championship `100` and the West Cheshire TT Cycling Association `100` Championship.
Second to Hutchinson last year, Julian Jenkinson leads a strong Contre La Montre challenge backed by Stephen Whitewick, bronze medallist in 2011, and James Gilfillan. The biggest threat to Jenkinson must be Matthew Bottrill, who is backed by his drag2zero teammates Derek Parkinson and Scott Povey.
When it comes to team honours TeamPedalRevolution defend their 2011 medals with Andy Bason, Mark Arnold and Nik Bowdler
Adam Topham heads the High Wycombe CC challenge with Lee Tunicliffe and Jonathan Shubert all on form after their fourth place in last weekend’s RTTC Team Time Trial Championship.
The women’s championship will be as equally interesting with last year’s three individual medal winners back in action, Slack, Christine McLean (Shetland Wheelers) and Ruth Bradbrook (Bike Science) but this year they will be up against former 100-mile champion Julia Shaw (drag2zero). Bronwen Ewing (PM Racing), Sian Tovey (dooleys cycles.com) and the ever-present Lynne Taylor (Born to Bike) can’t be ruled out either when it comes to the medal battle.
The TA Championship leads off the morning’s competitions at 6.01am. The women starting at 6.58am running from number 58 to 80 after the early starting men. Jenkinson is last off at 8.10am with Bottrill off at 8.07am.
Event headquarters are at Tilstock Bradbury Village Hall, Tilstock, near Whitchurch, SY13 3LP, and will be open from 5am where refreshments will be available.