Report: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Time Trial Series

The Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Time Trial Series kicked off on Sunday with their first event of the season, a 3-Up Team TT on the iconic Military Road course.

Report: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Time Trial Series

Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Military Road 25km 3-Up TTT – Sunday, 12th March 2023
Photos John Lampard

The Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Time Trial Series kicked off on Sunday with their first event of the season, a 3-Up Team TT on the iconic Military Road course. After a week of adverse weather, the sun made an appearance and the rain held off until after the event, setting the scene for some exciting racing.

A number of class riders from across the South of England and the Isle of Wight signed up to take on the 25km sporting course on some of the best roads in the country and gave it their best shot at taking the top spot on the podium. With a south-westerly wind, the riders took advantage of a tail wind out, but had to dig in and work hard against a strong headwind on the homeward stretch.

The Wightlink-Wight Wight Mountain CRT trio of Elvis Belton, Kev Chant and James Veal were on top form and on course to set a winning time but their hopes of taking the top spot were scuppered when Chant suffered a puncture with 10km to go and their chance of taking the podium went with him. Belton and Veal pushed on and came home in a time of 34.39, a time which would have been good enough to take 2nd place on the day.

Bournemouth based, Primera-Teamjobs, had two teams in contention and there was some healthy competition between the team mates to bring home a win. The A team which consisted of Thomas Day, Jordan Giles and Joe Staunton came up trumps on the day and proved their class by storming across the finish line in an impressive time of 33.46 with the B team close behind, taking 2nd place in 34.51. Bradford on Avon team, Rogue Racing, took a well-deserved 3rd with Charles Coleman, James Coleman and Tavis Walker taking the final spot on the podium in a time of 36.59.

Prizes on the day were donated by the event’s sponsors, Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries, Wight Mountain, Island Stoves and Nopinz and the stylish trophies were supplied by sponsor Cut Laser Cut (aka Russ Mellor and his team at Kreative Studios). Local photographer Paul Taylor and John Lampard, who had travelled from the mainland for the event, were out on the course taking some brilliant action shots of the riders.

Organisers and Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT members Jerry and Julie Cooper said: ‘For our first Open TTT we were thrilled by the uptake from the local club riders and mainland teams who travelled to the Island to compete. We have our team sponsor Wightlink (Isle of Wight Ferries) to thank for their continued support in supplying ferry concessions as this helps put the Isle of Wight on an even playing field with the rest of the South coast. It was a fantastic start to the season and it’s great to have riders of all abilities competing side by side and especially to see some of the IOW Triathlon Club Juniors keen to take up the challenge, it certainly makes all the hard work worthwhile. Huge thanks go out to our sponsors, Chessell Pottery Café for hosting the event and the amazing volunteers from the local cycling community who gave up their time to help out on the day – we really couldn’t do it without them.’

Over £100 was raised on the day by the team’s event donation and the sale of tickets for the Grand Raffle Draw in September in aid of their local chosen charity, Mountbatten Isle of Wight.