The first of the season’s classic time trials gave Simon Gaywood (Team Corley Cycles), past winner of the Archer Grand Prix and a former national Elite circuit champion, the chance to show that he is also pretty good when it comes to racing against the clock.
Formerly with the Plowman Craven squad, Bedford based Gaywood showed of his new Team Corley Cycles colours to advantage when he claimed victory and the £350 first prize in the North Road CC’s event over the undulations of the testing F7/25 course in Hertfordshire.
Gaywood’s 58-36 gave him a winning margin of 18 seconds over Wouter Sybrandy (Sigma Sport), who improved on his fifth place in last year’s event. Matt Bottrill (De Rosa RT) was another to better his 2008 performance by one place, a 59-20 putting him in third this time out and laying the base for his team’s success in the team race.
Bottrill, was backed by last year’s winner Julian Ramsbottom, who had to settle for sixth this time round, and junior Tom Lackerby. “Julian hasn’t been well, he caught the flu’ and has only been back on the bike for three weeks,” Bottrill explained.
Richard Prebble (CandiTV-Pinarello RT), twice a winner since 1992 finished in fifth, seven seconds ahead of Ramsbottom with 59-51.
The event has not always had the best of luck, last year’s event was shortened to 18 miles because of roadworks and on several occasions snow and icy conditions have caused last minute cancellations. This time the weather was good enough and roadworks kept their distance.
Darren Barclay set the early benchmark with the day’s first under the hour ride, 59-46. Later Barclay admitted that it was his form from a season of successful cyclo-cross that had helped him.
“That has kept me in good shape. I wasn’t too sure how I would go as the last time I rode a time trial was 15 years ago,” Barclay said.
Brighton based Barclay expects to ride “some local time trials” and road races like the Jock Wadley and Wally Gimber events. With his Arctic-Premier RT team mates.
First to better Barclay’s time was Sybrandy with 58-54 then just short of five minutes later Gaywood came in. The top seeds, however, were still to finish.
Bottrill’s 59-20 still left the top two in place. Chris Birch (East Street Cycles), with the Andover Wheelers hilly event to his credit last weekend, went out of the picture after going off course. “He was going very well” according to spectators.
Prebble was the next threat to Gaywood, but his 59-51 was not good enough. “Its my first event so I’m pleased enough,” Prebble said adding that he is looking forward to this year’s RTTC-Rudy Project Series.
It just remained for last man off Ramsbottom to finish and end up sixth. So Gaywood added his name to the illustrious list of ‘Hardrider’ winners that include Alf Engers, Bob Downs, Sean Yates, Darryl Webster, Chris Boardman, Stuart Dangerfield,Gethin Butler, Chris Newton and Michael Hutchinson.
“Being a roadman the hilly course suited me,” Gaywood said. He usually steers clear of time trials. “Criteriums, and there are plenty of them this year, and the Premier Calendar are my targets this year as usual along with the track, especially the Good Friday Meeting at Herne Hill,” he added.
The next time trial appearance could be the RTTC national team time trial championship with Team Corley Cycles an event Gaywood won in 2007 when with Plowman Craven.
“If there is a spare weekend I’ll try to get some racing in Belgium,” Gaywood said before setting out for a 50-mile training ride home on his Cervelo bike. “Its great, it is team issue,” he said.
Simon Gaywood (Team Corley Cycles) 58 36
Wouter Sybrandy (Sigma Sport) 58 54
Matt Bottrill (De Rosa RT) 59 20
Darren Barclay (Arctic-Premier RT) 59 46
Richard Prebble (CandiTv-Pinarello RT) 59 51
Julian Ramsbottom (De Rosa RT) 59 58
Danny Axford (Arctic-Premier RT) 1 00 30
James Perkins (Zenith CC) 1 00 32
Michael Broadwith (Shorter Rochford RT) 1 01 32
B. Harwood (Westbrook Cycles) 1 02 24
Team.- De Rosa RT (Bottrill, Ramsbottom, Tom Lackerby 1-05-40) 3-01-43