86th HMT Monsal HC Report

Adam Kenway (Metaltek Kuota) reversed the result from 2015 with a narrow victory over defending champion Joe Clark with Russell Downing 3rd. Lou Bates broke the course record for a big payout in the womens.

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Adam Kenway of Metaltek Kuota

It was yet another sunny day at Monsal head for the hill climb there and there were 186 entries to keep the racing going for three hours in front of a big big crowd. Last year, Joe Clark won by two tenths from Adam kenway. This year, that result was reversed as the times tumbled ever closer to the record held of the special guest at the event, Malcolm Elliott.

The first to get the crowd oohing and ahhing was Russell Downing, who at 38 (still don’t believe you Rus) with his quickest ever time up Monsal Head of 1.17.8. Then Adam Kenway (Metal Kuota) beat that with a 1.16.5 and after Jack Pullar (Pedal Heaven) and Ben Swift failed to beat Kenway’s time it was down to Joe Clark. He went close with 1.16.7 but had to settle for second.

In the Women’s, Lou Bates, favourite for the victory, doubled her winnings to £500 when she broke the course record to win the event ahead of Emily Verroken and Rebecca Goodson.

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Lou Bates, winner and course record holder

You can find the first album of pictures over on facebook and we’ll have full results as soon as we have them.

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Legend – and record holder, Malcolm Elliott

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Awesome to see Ben Swift at the event the day after he rode Tour of Lombardy

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Russell Downing fastest ever for him and was third

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Defending champion Joe Clark was second

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Jack Pullar of Pedal Heaven

 Report and photography by:
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