on 10th October 2023
“6 of the Best”
Team Enable-M.I.Racing-McCann’s leading Cyclocross rider, Nick Whitley, won the biggest race of his career at round 1 of the British Cycling Cyclocross National Trophy series held in South Shields. Nick now leads the 2023/4 series for riders aged 50+ and the win marks his 6th race victory this season.
Knowing that he was in good form, having won the first five counting events in the West Midlands series, Nick attacked from the start. Having established an early lead on the very technical course, he was able to dictate the race and stay clear to the finish line.
At the same meeting, Rugby member and former World Masters Champion, Phil Roach, showed that he is quickly getting into top condition after a slow start to the season, when he finished just a few seconds behind the third-placed rider, narrowly missing out on a podium spot. After a quick dash back to the Midlands, Phil was in action again, this time at round 2 of the Leicester Series event, held at Country Park near Corby. He finished 3rd behind team-mate Kirby Bennett. Kirby now leads that series, having won round 1. In the same race, Coventry member Peter Busby finished 8th, Alan Parsons 13th, and Derby-winning Jockey Ray Cochrane 19th. They were all gridded on the back row.
Not to be outdone, team-mate Lindsey Newman won the Ladies 50+ race and, like Kirby, leads the overall series. Ryan Henry chose to ride his mountain bike to finish 4th in the Veteran 40+ race.
Leamington Spa team member and the current Israeli National Ladies Time Trial champion, Didi Egerton-Warburton, ended her Time Trial season on a high by winning the Cardiff 100 Milers Open 10 mile event near Monmouth. She finished with a very fast time of 22 mins 52 secs, just 1 second off her personal best.
First-year member of Team Enable, 19-year-old Oliver Searle, who lives in Hinckley, produced an excellent ride to be the top-placed team member in the Team M.I.Racing Hill Climb Championships, held in conjunction with Coventry Cycling Club. The championships took place on the tough climbs at Burton Dassett and Edge Hill. Oliver will now hold the Mount Etna Trophy for one year. He was also the fastest Senior rider. Coventry team member, Peter Busby, won the team’s Veteran class.