Joe Perrett wins freezing edition of North Road Hardriders

Former European junior time trial champion Joe Perrett (Team IG-Sigma Sport) secured a comfortable victory in a chilly North Road Hardriders in Hertfordshire on Sunday.

The 21-year-old from Ilford in Essex clocked 49-21 for the event at Brookmans Park, which was shortened from 25 miles to 21 miles because of temporary traffic lights near Darnicle Hill.

He enjoyed a winning margin of around two and a half minutes over his nearest rival in a quality full field.

Cambridge-based Polish rider Wojciech Szlachta (Twenty 3C) took second spot with 51-53, while Dutchman Wouter Sybrandy (a London-based team-mate of Perrett at IG-Sigma Sport) completed the podium in third spot, just three seconds behind Szlachta.

Along with Andrew Griffiths, Perrett and Sybrandy secured the team prize, while the pick of the ten women was Karla Boddy (High Wycombe CC) with 1-01-08.

Despite temperatures not going over one degree and patchy ice laying on the course, more than 100 riders turned out to ride. It was the first time since 1998 that the North Road event has had a full field, with the significant increase being put down to the ‘Olympic effect'.

Also winning by a convincing margin was Rob Pears (Bath CC) who clocked 55-16 to win the Severn Road Club 25 at Falfield in Gloucestershire.

Pears was fastest by 2-24, while second spot went to Stourbridge Velo's Karl Moseley. The event also included a two-up, which was won by Sean Townsend and James McGarr of Gloucester City CC with 59-25.

Fibrax Wrexham Road Club dominated the Chester Road Club 14-mile event in Cheshire on Saturday, with David Crawley taking victory, David Williams second and David Jones joining them in the winning team.

Crawley, 37 and from Manchester, clocked 32-39 to win by almost a minute from 33-year-old Williams, while third spot went to Philip Ellison (Ashurst BC) and top woman was Bethan Hughes (Chester Tri Club).

Coalville Wheelers' 10-mile event at Griffydam in Leicestershire was won by Matt Sinclair (Lutterworth Cycle Centre) who clocked 21-29 to win by 19 seconds from Scunthorpe Poly CC rival Julian Ramsbottom.

But while most events survived the cold weather, the Kingston Wheelers 12-mile event at Ripley in Surrey was cancelled because of roadworks on the original Ripley Lane course as well as on the alternative course towards Effingham.