Time trialling is back
Tandem pilot takes solo victory in Bramley, report Snowdon Sports and Ben Goddard
With Paralympic gold in his sights later this year, Adam Duggleby used the resumption of open competition to show that an intense period of training during lockdown is paying dividends following time trial victories last weekend.
The 36-year-old tandem pilot won two golds and a bronze in Rio five years ago alongside visually impaired rider Stephen Bate. The pair are set to ride the road race, time trial and individual pursuit again in Tokyo.
With the time trial scene returning to action this month Duggleby (Chapeau! Vive Le Velo) showed his form by taking victory in the Bramley Wheelers 10 last Saturday as well as his club’s 10 on Sunday.
Duggleby finished 18 seconds clear of his rivals in the Bramley Wheelers event, clocking a time of 20 minutes and 53 seconds on the undulating course.
Under-23 rider George Peden (Team PB Performance) finished second in 21-11 while junior Max Poole (Vive Le Velo) took third a further 11 seconds back.
Teenager Lucy Ellmore (Crimson Orientation Marketing) won the women’s event in 26-52 ahead of veteran Helen Goldthorpe (Otley CC) in second and Molly Savill (Albarosa CC) in third.
“My fitness is as good as ever,” said Duggleby. “It’s surprising as I’m 36 now but I keep getting better and better. Lockdown has been really enjoyable as the roads have been quiet and I’ve not had to go to races.
“Last year I trained when I wanted and during the first lockdown it was enjoyable with no horrible traffic. To be honest I didn’t want it to stop.”
“The first lockdown was enjoyable with no traffic”
The following day Duggleby was back in action at the Vive Le Velo 10, winning in 19-25. With the Tokyo Paralympics road course due to be hilly Duggleby will join tandem partner Bate in the sporting Stockton Wheelers 23 next weekend as they continue their preparations.
“I feel good and training is going pretty well and I’m confident,” added Duggleby.
“We’ve gained quite a bit since Rio but everybody moves on and gets quicker so you have to keep moving forward.
“It could be 35 degrees celsius for the time trial while the pursuit is more controllable on the track.
“The time trial is also really hilly in Tokyo and the opposite to Rio [which they won] which was completely flat.”