The world's best cyclists will be heading to Bath in September for the Tour of Britain – and Bristol South CC's latest open road race showed that fans are ready to welcome them with open arms.
A large, knowledgeable crowd thronged the steep slopes of Stowey Hill near Bishop Sutton on Sunday as 80 local cyclists celebrated the start of the amateur season with a 55-mile road race.
Organiser Dave Braidley laid on a tough test, with eight laps of a 6.5-mile circuit finishing with a sprint for the line on the wide, straight road that skirts the southern edge of Chew Valley Lake.
That meant eight leg-sapping ascents of Stowey Hill for riders from Bath University CC, Bath CC and VC Walcot, who were all on the start line at Bishop Sutton FC.
Points were awarded to the first racers to crest each summit, with the coveted King of the Mountains prize going to VC Walcot's Jonathan Fowles.
Bath University's Brian Glynn was runner-up and fifth place went to Peter Giddings of VC Walcot, who was edged into second spot in the main race by former National Cyclocross champion Steven Roach.
It promises to be a stunning summer of biking in Bath, with the thriving Odd Down Cycling Circuit hosting free-to-watch races every Tuesday evening from May to August.
