Storming ride by Ian

National 25 TT Championships - 04/06/2006 - K10/25S - Nr Coventry

Ian recorded one of his best performances in the National 25 TT Championships on Sunday 4th June. After finishing 25th in the National 10 TT a few weeks earlier and already recording a 51 minute 25 just a few weeks ago, Ian was looking in good shape for this championship ride as the sun decided to also shine on the event.

The event incorporated the mens, womens and juniors event and started earlier on Sunday morning, however, Ian didn’t start until 4pm later on the same day near the back of the full field of the top time triallists in the UK. With pre-race favourite and current defending champion Michael Hutchinson looking doubtful for the event after a heavy mid week training accident left him with a heavily bandaged wrist and arm. This then led to one of the most open 25 titles for a few years.

The course was based around the Warwickshire roads just south of Coventry around the former Peugeot factory and was fairly undulating which would suit Ian. Ian knew the course fairly well after have ridden it in the past in the National 10 a few years back.

Starting just one minute behind Ian was former world champion and current professional Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk) who was one of the pre race favourites. Without a minute man to chase, Ian was off to a steady start on the Warwickshire lanes. With the temperature rising as the day went on and the sun temporarily disappearing, this created humid conditions for the later starters which suited Ian as he had been struggling with the colder weather of previous months.

As Ian approached the 16 minute mark of his ride he was caught by Newton who started a minute behind him. Although Newton came past at some pace, he caught Ian on a slight up hill rise and Newton didn’t pull away from Ian and as they raced down the other side on the small decent, Ian started to catch Newton again before they both hit a flat section and Newton pulled away and clear to eventually finish 2nd.

With Newton gone and a distant figure, Ian knew he was going well and could feel himself pushing all the way and getting the speed out of his legs for once. A few miles later Ian caught his 2 minute man and left him and Ian was now ploughing on at a rapid rate to the finish where he crossed the line in a time of 54.35.

As the pre-race favourites crossed the line and the final positions were settled, A happy Ian had eventually finished =19th from a field of the top time triallists in the UK.