Bayley moves up to fifth

Tim Bayley moved up to fifth in the British Best All-Rounder Championship standings following the latest qualifier for the overall title.

The Hythe man was part of the fastest 50-mile time trial field ever assembled.

Staged on a rolling course from near Duxford in Cambridge to Newmarket and back, Bayley finished in 1hr 49min 29sec, clocking an average speed of 27.4mph.

He said: “I couldn’t have asked for more, this was one of the shortest events I have done in the last two years after focusing on the national 24-hour and 12-hour races.

“Although technically 50 miles is a long way, the reality is after focusing on ultra-endurance races, it is like asking a marathon runner to race the 1,500 metres.”

Bayley, the present national 24-hour team champion and twice competition record holder, decided on the step down in distance, as a key to his pursuit on the all-round title.

He said: “Conditions were not ideal as light rain and wind greeted us on the exposed roads. Despite the start, which was into a short four-mile headwind section, the first 25 miles was fast. I was passing riders from six miles in and my average speed slowly increased to 31mph as I progressed to halfway but when you are riding that fast for that long you know at some stage you have to turn back into the head wind.

“On the return section back we were all visibly trying hard as the conditions made the riders make squeeze every effort to maintain the advantage.”

“I reached 43 miles in just over one and half hours and knew I was clearly heading for a fast time.”

Bayley’s next qualifying event is the last 100-mile time trial of the year at Derby in September.

Tim Bayley moved up to fifth in the British Best All-Rounder Championship standings