National Circuit Champs

National Closed Circuit Time Trial Championships | Oct 15 | Hampshire

Defending champion Emma Lewis (Bowlphish Racing) had to share the 2017 National Closed Circuit Championship title with Rachael Elliott (Drag2zero) after the pair both clocked 25.18 at the Thruxton motor circuit.

Conditions were much better than 12 months previously with no sign of the rain that blighted the 2016 event, and Lewis — who was off early and had a four-hour wait for the results to be confirmed — covered the 11.8 miles 48 seconds quicker than her winning time last year.

With Elliott posting the same time, they were declared joint winners, with Alice Lethbridge (Drag2zero) taking third.

In-form Emma Lewis, who has been focused on road racing this season and won the Tour of Sussex last month, said: “Obviously I wanted to win, but I was focused on a particular power output and speed.

“I did the last lap in under five minutes, and afterwards I wondered if I could’ve done the other laps in under five minutes too — but I was still pleased with my time.”

And joint winner Elliott — who set a new 30-mile competition record two weeks earlier — said: “This is not my forte, I’m better suited to riding in straight lines! I’ve only ridden one other time trial on a closed circuit and I did well, so I thought I would give this a go.”

Meanwhile Paul Elcock (AS Test Team) was declared the men’s winner in 22.50, 14 seconds quicker than Chris Fennell (Thanet RC), after an early start meant he was not affected by winds later in the event.

“It was a perfect ride for me at last,” he said. “I’ve built up to a peak for this. I thought I’d be competitive if I was set up right and I felt strong and on the day it all just came together.

“The wind did affect some of the later starters, but that’s the lottery of the event.”

In the junior event, reigning national 25-mile champion Cavan Walker (Prologue RT) took the win, despite recent illness and four months out of the saddle with injury earlier in the season.

And national 10- and 25-mile champion Caitlin Peters (I-team CC) won the junior girls’ title.