Evening 10 Rd 5
The fifth of Lewes Wanderers series of Monday night 10-mile time-trials took place on 29th June, and there was a very healthy turnout of 17 riders taking to the start line.
Victor for the fourth round in a row was the host club’s Calum Elms who rocketed round in 22 minutes and 12 seconds. Runner-up and fastest on a TT-bike was Richard Burchett in a time that was just 2 seconds under 23 minutes.
Taking third spot on the podium in a time 4 seconds under 24 minutes and breaking that barrier for the first time was Chris Hurcomb. He was just 7 seconds ahead of third placed road-bike rider Dan Street and Thomas Bowden (Eastbourne Rovers) who took second place in the TT-bike category.
Equalling his personal best set seven days before, was Adam Goward. Adam’s 25:13 gave him 6th place just a lone second ahead of Peter Baker who took 7th overall and third in the TT-bike class.
Darren Haynes (25:36) was 9th, one place and 4 seconds ahead of Ben Gregory. Fastest woman and 12th overall was Maddy Lee-Smith with 26:24, while Alice Gilmore (29:04) took third step on the women’s rostrum and 15th place, one spot ahead of David Wilkins with 31:05.
Destination Gravel
Seven bold Lewes Wanderers signed-up to take part in the inaugural “Destination Gravel” race on Sunday 5th July. The event was promoted by Destination Bike and held in the spectacular grounds of Pippingford Park between Wych Cross and Nutley.
The early morning cloud soon burnt off to leave a warm sunny day with just a light breeze. The sextet were glad they had only committed to the shorter 50-kilometre event rather than the “100” given the amount of steep climbs and sketchy gravel descents on the 4.6-mile lap.
As it turned out, the race of six laps was somewhat short of the 50km billed, not that any Wanderers were complaining. At 9:45 am, they and 38 others set off into a cloud of dust with all seven recording their fastest lap of the race the first time around. Once the cumulative fatigue set in, it became a battle for some just to finish.
Not for all though. Lewes were prominent on the podium at the finish. Second overall and first man in the 18-39 “Senior” age group was Calum Elms who completed the course in 1 hour 58 minutes and 35 seconds.
Runner-up in the same age category and sixth overall was Chris Hurcomb even though he had to carry his bike over the finish line. His chain had come off within sight of the finish line and wrapped itself around the rear hub, destroying the rear derailleur.
Lorna White, in her maiden race as a Wanderer, performed superbly on her mountain bike to finish second woman overall, fastest woman in the Vet-40 age category and 24th overall.
Paul Sweeney by Ryan Machin
She was just behind the first of the quartet of Lewes men in their fifties as, also on debut, Nick Miles was one place off the podium in that category and 18th overall. Fifth in age group and 22nd overall was the third debutant Paul Sweeney with a fine ride.
It was a case of what might have been for Dan Street as he snapped his chain at the foot of the first climb on the fourth lap. Not to be denied, he walked his bike back up the hill to the pits where he fixed it at the cost of effectively a lap. Despite this, he rejoined the fray to finish 24th overall and sixth in age when he could conceivably have taken the victory without the misfortune.
8th of the ten men in the Vet 50 category and 29th of the 39 to finish was Paget Cohen.
All the placings and timings can be found here.