Mark Richards sets new VC Baracchi club record for 10 miles TT

Mark Richards of Velo Club Baracchi built on recent strong rides with a club record time of 20:33 in the Lea Valley CC 10-mile time trial near Newmarket on the E2/10 course.

His superb ride was backed up by other superb rides by club-mates; 21:55 by James Moore, 22:15 by Paul Hayward and 23:23 by Chris Womack.  Nick Esser did not finish.

Other riders said it was not a perfect day, with gusting crosswinds at times and a hard slog all the way round, so these results are the more creditable.  The fastest rider was Rhys Howells of Richardsons-Trek RT with an 18:52 ride.

There were 186 riders from a wide area in the scratch event and nine or so were under 20 minutes, which may well be Richards’ next target to achieve. The previous club record was Liam Gentry’s 20:35.

Richards went on to take third place in the St Ives road race at Huntingdon, which he rode with Esser and Moore.

The race of five-and-three-quarter laps covering 90km averaged 24.6mph.  It included two climbs on each lap and a 1km pan-flat run in.

Richards was feeling the effects from his club 10 record the previous day and rode cautiously during the first two laps, leaving Esser to participate in the action.  The previous week’s winner, Elliot Fullerton, was persistent & rode away solo although he was never more than 30-secs ahead.

Richards joined in the action on lap three after finding his legs and duly made a couple of attacks. The second of these stuck and he rode away with five other riders.

Esser spent the next two laps policing the front & trying to put a stop to any form of a chase, followed by a similar performance from Moore on the last lap. All attempts to break away came back including a textbook attack by Zak Coleman (Strada Sport) who was caught by the bunch with the finish in sight.

St Ives RR – Richards

Richards led the break out and Fullerton won, leaving Richards third.  Esser kept his calm in the gallop and turned on the taps with 200 metres to go to claim second place in the bunch sprint for seventh place overall, with Moore just outside the top ten.

The previous week’s Gt Yarmouth CC 10 on the Lound course (sixteen riders) featured a 22:15 win by Richards, 24:14 by Esser for second place and 25:57 by Womack.

The VCB road racers had also ridden in the first Lotus League circuit race of the year on Wednesday, in which Esser took seventh place and Moore and Richards finished lower down the field, in which 98 riders finished.

At Framlingham on the club run

The club run on Sunday was well supported and featured a ride to Framlingham, where on the most beautiful of days the riders relaxed under parasols at a bakery and café, enjoying the refreshments, before setting off for home.

At Framlingham on the club run

This Sunday some of the club’s members will be joining the Beccles Cycle for Life charity ride, which sets off at 10am from the Sir John Leman High school.  Anyone who has not entered in advance may enter do so at the event.