FOURTH FASTEST TIME FOR TEACHER KIERON
WEST Wales amateur rider and primary school teacher Kieron Davies of Drag2Zero recorded the fourth fastest 25-mile time trial in British racing history at the Merthyr CC open promotion on Sunday morning.
Davies, who started as the seeded and last rider, posted a time of 45.34 (average speed 32.919 mph) for a personal best time on warm and sunny conditions on the Cefn Rhigos and Glynneath course.
Only three other riders have gone faster over the distance including Polish time trial champion and UK resident Marcel Bialoblocki who broke the competition record on the course in 2016, former world hour record holder Alex Dowsett of professional racing outfit Movistar and young up and coming professional rider James Gullen.
Not even Sir Bradley Wiggins has managed to ride as fast over 25 miles in a domestic 25-mile race in the UK during his own glittering career.
Runner-up on the day included Josh Williams of Team Bottrill/HSS Hire over a minute behind in 46.41 (average speed 32.132 mph) with Rob Pears of Bath Cycling Club in third position posting a time of 48.49 (average speed 30.728mph).
With many of the riders undertaking club officiating duties Merthyr CC still fielded four of their own riders in the 110-strong competition, with veteran rider Mike Portlock posting a time of 53.16 (average speed 28.161 mph) for 30th position followed by fellow veteran Colin Wallace in 54.29 (average speed 27.532 mph) in 40th place. Up and coming club mate Dean Ware was close behind in 42nd place, posting a time of 54.46 (average speed 27.389 mph) followed by current club rider of the year Blaine Phelps in 59.28 (average speed 25.225 mph).
This event had been preceded by another Merthyr CC promotion over 10 miles several weeks previously with Kieron Davies also recording the fastest time on that occasion, winning the race and posting a 19-minute ride in the process.
Several Merthyr CC riders will now be taking advantage of warm and sunny conditions in Majorca over the next week, where they’ll be hoping to get some good training and preparation in for the forthcoming 2017 racing season.