Knights Composite Classic TT
Knight Composites Classic TT Series round one | Mar 30 | Staffordshire
Hayley Simmonds sharpened her form ahead of the Commonwealth Games with a record-breaking performance in the opening round of the Knight Composites Classic Time Trial Series.
The 29-year-old WNT Pro Cycling rider sliced almost a minute from the previous women’s course record for the Buxton CC Mountain Time Trial near Longnor on Good Friday, while men’s winner George Evans (Team Bottrill-vanguard) was just four seconds away from breaking the men’s record.
“I’m really happy with my ride,” said Simmonds, who flew out to Australia on Tuesday. “I’ve had a really hard training week and have started to taper towards the Games, so it’s great to get the win and the record.”
Simmonds broke Katie Archibald’s 2014 record for the tough two-lap 22-mile course by 51 seconds, making the most of reasonably good conditions as well as a tailwind on the toughest climb. She was just over two minutes faster than Melissa Lowther (Team Breeze), while third was former National Road Series champion Nicola Juniper (Njc-biemme).
Third last year, George Evans clocked 1:22.16 for the men’s three-lap 33-mile course, winning by 1.44 from Croston Velo rival Tom Rigby. Evans was just three seconds off Stuart Dangerfield’s course record set 15 years ago.
“I’ve ridden this event for the last two years, so I know the course,” said 20-year-old Evans from Wrexham. “That’s important, because it’s really twisty and there’s an off-camber section that could catch you out.”
The triangular course is an unforgiving one, with several tough climbs and exposed sections as they traverse the Derbyshire border.
“The first climb after the start really kicks up,” Evans added. “It’s pretty tough, and by the top of the climb I had run out of gears and was really grinding. It’s quite exposed and windy across the tops so it was really important to go aero up there.”
While Simmonds targets glory at the Commonwealth Games in Australia next week, Evans has targets of his own.
“I really want to be on the podium at this year’s British Under-23 Time Trial Championships, and defend my Welsh crown too,” he added.