Levett on course for yet another prize

Cycling

THREE members of the Lewes Wanderers Cycling Club have ridden a 12-hour time-trial in 2009 and in so doing have completed the required final qualifying event for the club's best all rounder competition (BAR).

To qualify for the BAR, cyclists need to do rides over 50 and 100 miles, along with the 12-hour.

Simon Yates and Alan Lloyd rode the Kent CA 12 a few weeks back. Last weekend Mike Levett rode the Eastern Counties CA 12. Defending BAR, he was looking a safe bet to retain his title and hoping for personal-best performance. Based on his recent times, this seemed a real possibility.

It didn't quite work out in the end; with Levett having to battle the hot and windy conditions he ended up covering 206.45 miles. The conditions were clearly too much for some, with 12 riders not starting and a further 12 not finishing, which left just 24 finishers.

Dave Shepherd, of Liphook Cycles RT, was first home with 268.44 miles

With Lloyd covering 208.884 on the Kent CA 12, he takes the Cinema De Luxe Cup as club 12-hour champion. Lloyd also wins the handicap and vets awards.

Despite Levett's 12-hour disappointment, his distance was enough to give him the Club BAR for a third time. Levett rode four different Sussex-based 50-mile time-trials, and this is where he really scored over Lloyd, who only completed one.

Levett's best 50 was 2hr 04min 59sec on the Southern Counties CU, while Lloyd did a 2.13.32 on the Sussex CA 50. They both rode the ESCA and SCCU 100s and recorded their best times on the ESCA event. Levett recorded 4.40.16, while Lloyd did a 4.43.22.

When all the maths are done, Mike Levett currently has a BAR average of 20.871mph, with Alan Lloyd on 20.349mph. Technically, the competition isn't over, as there is still a chance to ride another 12-hour, but in reality the above looks like the final result.

Simon Yates was the third qualifier with an average speed of 17.087mph; that said, his main goal for the season was to ride the National 24 Hour and he successfully achieved this two weeks before riding the Kent 12.

Five-times club BAR winner John Mankelow was planning to give it a big go this season in his pursuit of a record-equalling sixth victory. Derek Agg currently holds the record of six BAR wins (1956, 58, 59, 60, 64 and 66).

Mankelow's season was turned on its head earlier in the year when he was involved in an accident with a car which left him with a broken pelvis and unable to ride for several months. He has done really well with his comeback, completing rides over 50 and 100 miles, and can now look to giving it another go next season.

For access to the new club cycling forum and for more information on the Lewes Wanderers, go to www.leweswanderers.co.uk.