Riders set to battle it out for gold standard crown

Jun 30 2012 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express

PAISLEY’S top testers head to Stirling tomorrow for the Scottish 25-mile Time Trial Championships.

Across the cycling world, 25-miles or 40 kilometres is held to be the time-trialing gold standard for time trialing.

This year’s race is hosted by the Stirling Bike Club on a course based near Blair Drummond Safari Park.

And with reigning champion Evan Oliphant not riding, there will be a new champion come tomorrow lunch time.

This distance is possibly the most competitive, with a number of riders with a chance to take the gold.

Paisley’s www.dooleys-cycles.co.uk have won both time-trial championships held so far this year with Arthur Doyle conquering the 10-mile championship and Iain Grant lifting the 50-mile title and there is a distinct possibility they could also win the 25.

Dooley’s top riders taking part include Scotland’s current top tester Grant as well as youngster Gavin Shirley and the experienced Davie Gibson and Tam Gordon.

Dooley’s will, however, have to do without Doyle as he is currently sunning himself on holiday in France.

Paisley also has big Ben Peacock of Paisley Velo to cheer on in the event, making his first time trial appearance in over a month and is likely to make a big impact, possibly grabbing a medal in the event.

The main competition in the 25 is the might of the Sandy Wallace Cycles team which includes 2011 50-mile champion Alan Thomson, Silas Goldsworthy, who claimed seventh place in the British 25 a few weeks ago, Peter Ettles and Steve Nutley.

Whilst Dooley’s have won both individual titles so far this season, they are one apiece in the team competition, winning the 10-mile prize but missing out on the 50-mile medals to Thomson, Nutley and Goldsworthy so all the Dooley’s and Sandy Wallace riders will be looking to make it two to one with the only competition really between the two teams.

Dooley’s Gordon is one of the riders who isn’t likely to challenge for the win but is likely to make up one member of Dooley’s three fastest riders and he is confident heading into the event.

He said: “This is a really important distance for us. Over the last few years we have dominated at tens but it has been a mixed bag at twenty-fives so we are looking to assert ourselves in the way we do at tens.

“I don’t see this being a problem this year to be honest. We’ve won the other championships, broken records and our running total for time trial wins this year is better than all other Scottish teams combined, so it is fair to say we have a strong squad and set out as favourites for both the individual and team gold.”

Other riders likely to makeup the top 10 in the event include Jim Cusick of the Glasgow Couriers and Scottish time-trialing legend Carlos Riise of the Shetland Wheelers.

Dark horse Danny McShane of the Glasgow Road Club might pull a top-10 ride out the bag and ruffle a few feathers.

Paisley’s McShane managed an impressive 12th in last week’s gruelling Roseneath road race, claiming a few big name scalps in the process.