Stretch takes pride of place for Wheelers

MARCH sees the start of the main cycling season and one of the traditional season openers is the Buxton Mountain Time Trial.

Held on Good Friday on a tough circuit that starts in Longnor, climbs to Flashbar Stores and then heads down the A53 to turn just before The Winking Man for the return to Longnor.

The event attracted a record number (181) of entries this year. Riders complete either two (Veterans and Women) or three (Men) laps of the 11 mile circuit. Conditions were dry, but a cool westerly wind made the main climb difficult and the stretch to The Winking Man very challenging. Seven Wheelers finished, with pride of place going to Mike Stretch, right, who finished ninth fastest in the Vets section with 1.03.18.

Also in the Vets race were Mike Knudsen 1.08.42, James Russell 1.11.11 and Roger Wrenn 1.18.31. Ruth Gamwell was the only Wheeler in the Women’s race and finished with a very rapid 1.17.46. In the Men’s race Ben Trotter recorded 1.38.50 and Marcus Fielden 1.45.52.

Another classic season opener is the Eddie Soens Road Race held on a closed circuit at Aintree. This event has been won by most of the biggest names in British Cycling and the Wheelers were represented by Chris Quin for the 55th edition this year. Quin is known as a very aggressive rider who always animates any event he enters. True