Super Searle storms to first success in road race
YOUNG Hinckley-based rider Oliver Searle savoured his first road race victory in the Two Counties Road Race.
The Wolverhampton Wheelers event, ridden on the Enville circuit near Wolverhampton, was shortened to just over 50 miles in length due to Storm Kathleen.
The Team Enablemi Racing-townsend Vehicle Hire rider attacked the bunch on the penultimate lap and had the strength to ride solo to the finish.
The second-placed rider was over one and a half minutes behind Searle and the main peloton went through the finish another 30 seconds after that.
After the race Searle said that he felt like he’s just ridden a wet Paris Roubaix race! Further north, and in similarly tough conditions, the team’s oldest active racer, Mick Allen, rode the API Anglia Sport circuit race at the Darley Moor circuit near Ashbourne.
Meanwhile, midweek club time trials have begun for 2024 and team riders have been out in force. At the Leamington Cycling and Athletics Club 5 mile event held at Gaydon, Leamington-based Mark Wise was third overall on the night but took first place in the road bike category in a time of 12:16.
Coventry-based Andy Jackson, was fifth overall and third in the road bike category in 13:08.
At the Rugby Racing, 10-mile time trial event, held on the K11/10 course at Thurlaston, Rugby-based riders Greg Ashley and Zoe Shepherd both had excellent rides.
Despite battling with strong cross winds on the A45 course, Ashley was fourth fastest on the night in a time of 24:07.
And Shepherd was tenth overall on the night and the second fastest woman in 26:46.
The second-placed rider was over one and a half minutes behind Searle and the main peloton went through the finish another 30 seconds after that.