With major cycling events around the country both last weekend and the coming one, many of the regular competitors at Carlisle were resting so numbers for this week’s round of the summer series were somewhat lower than recently.
That didn’t stop the riders enjoying some good quality racing on yet another dry and sunny evening.
A brisk easterly wind made riding conditions quite challenging however, with the riders battling a strong headwind in the finishing straight,
The competition began with a Veterans’ race, for riders aged 40 years and above.
Carlisle Cycling Association Chairman Neil Withington was the first over-40 home and overall winner of the race, with Dan Kendall of Wolf Cycles and Beacon Wheelers rider Alan Strong completing an all Cumbrian podium.
The winner of the over-50s competition was Jesse Vernon who rides for Edinburgh Road Club but hails from the United States originally. The international flavour of the race was continued by Welshman Tony Jones who won the over-60s race.
Some of the Veterans took to the circuit again to compete alongside younger riders in the second race of the evening.
A strong field of British Cycling first, second and third category riders were on the start line and a small group soon managed to break away and lap the rest of the field. Ed Hindmash of Wolf Cycles came out on top in the final sprint, showing no signs of fatigue despite a stellar performance in the weekend’s Fred Whitton Challenge where he was the sixth fastest rider, completing the gruelling course in under six hours.
His team mate Jossy Wright finished third, with first category rider Keir Gaffney of Scottish team Vanelli- Project Go splitting the two local riders. Another Vanelli rider, Archie Findlay narrowly missed the podium and last week’s winner Oliver Halliday put in another strong ride to finish fifth.
Next week’s event includes races for all youth age groups and third and fourth category adults. New competitors and spectators are always welcome.
