Scottish Cycling crowned two new National Champions in this weekend as Andrew Underwood (Carse of Gowrie Velo) and Catriona MacGillivray (RT23) produced two outstanding rides in the National 100 mile Time Trial Championships to win their respective titles over two laps of a testing highlands course.
Based predominately on the A9, north and south of Invergordon and organised by George Findlater from Moray Cycle Racing Team and enthusiastic volunteers from across the North of Scotland, it was a testing circuit for all.
With conditions relatively settled throughout, only the latter part of the race suffering from a few rain showers, just a handful of minutes separated the top three in the men’s standings.
Andrew Underwood (Carse of Gowrie Velo) traded in his bronze of last year for the gold, taking 5 minutes off the time of his previous attempt, stopping the clock in a time of 3:50:14. He beat David Ross (Falkirk Bicycle Club) to the top spot by just 82 seconds, Ross completing the 100 miles in a time of 3:51:36. Local rider, Mark Dryburgh (Ross-Shire RCC), came in just under 3 mins slower to take third, setting 3:54:26, one of only 4 riders to break the 4 hour barrier.
Speaking after the event, Underwood was happy with his ride:
“It was enjoyable, the course was really good and reasonably easy to break up in your mind. All in all, it was an enjoyable course, apart from the last hour which got a bit tough. I’ve done PB’s for 25, 50 and now a hundred so I’ll be pretty pleased if I call it a day for this season”
In the women’s race Catriona MacGillivray (RT23) smashed the Scottish National Women’s 100 Mile Time Trial record to add yet another championship title to her already impressive palmares. MacGillivray has stood on every Scottish National TT championship podium this year, taking the win in the 25, 50 and now the 100 mile TT’s along the way.
A remarkable record for a new mum and it’s regrettable for her to tell us that today’s 100 would be her last race for the foreseeable future:
She explained: “It was hard, but I did a better time out there than I expected, so I’m delighted with that. If you get a good time on the day you soon forget how hard it was. The 100 miles was always on the to do list so today was my first attempt… Thats me now to be honest, I’m going to take a wee break from the racing for a couple of years and just focus on the wee one, spend some more time with her. I do love my cycling, but this will be my last competitive race for the foreseeable future.”
She leaves an impressive legacy having shaved off an incredible 17 minutes and 3 secs from the previous record, recording 4:00:53.
There was also a fleeting chance that she may have ducked under the 4 hour barrier, but explained that she suffered a minor mechanical, which she had to stop the bike and check out in the closing stages of the race.
Behind her the race for silver and bronze was decided by just 87secs, with Jen Stewart, riding her first competitive National 100 Mile TT recorded 4:32:28, taking the second position ahead of Patricia Baird (Inverclyde Velo) with 4:33:55
MacGillivray also claimed the women’s team prize with RT23 team mate Pamela Craig while Allan Ross led the Fruin Road Club with Gary Bratt and Stuart Whitelaw to the men’s team prize, completing the podium line up for another fantastically organised Scottish National 100 Mile Time Trial Championship.
