Cycling: Geran pips Coyle in time trial

The Hastings rider also led home the winning team.

Geran (VC Bayeux) covered the tough 15.5-mile course in 38min.6sec to beat Brighton rider Mike Coyle (VC Etoile) by five seconds.

Richard Gillett (Eastbourne Rovers) was third in 40min.6sec. Bayeux riders Bruce Griffiths (40min.11sec) and Nick Rudkin (40min.28sec) finished fourth and fifth to complete the winning team.

Geran had already ridden two early-season events but Coyle, in his first race of the year, said: "What a way to start the season. I'm shattered."

Newly-married Lisa Griffiths (formerly Thompson), of Eastbourne Rovers, won the women's event in 45min.1sec.

Among the spectators was Eastbourne Rovers member Stuart Greenway who won the second Hardriders event in 1948. He said "The course has been changed over the years but it is always a hard one."

Friston rider James Dear (In Gear), who lost first place in the recent Kingston time trial when he was held up by horses, suffered another cruel blow in the East Surrey time trial at Dawes Green. After leaving the changing rooms on his way to the start, he missed a turning and incurred a 50-second late start penalty.

His time, including the penalty, was 1hr.14min.18sec for the 32-mile circuit. This gave him a creditable third place but without the penalty he would have been second.

The winner was North Ireland's Michael Hutchinson (Team MDT), who recorded 1hour.9min.20sec. Angela Nainby (East Grinstead) won the women's race in 1hr.28min.12sec.

Sussex riders were well placed in the Liphook Cycles 34km time trial in Hampshire. GS Stella's John Limpus (fourth), Mark Jones (sixth) and Andy Payne (seventh) won the team prize, while Dave Shepherd (Rother Valley) finished fifth.

Brighton Mitre's 24-mile club time trial at Henfield resulted in a win for Tristan Court (1hr.3min.47sec). Mark Skinner set 1hr.4min.57sec to pip Nick Haskell by two seconds for second place.

Sussex CA hold their 16.5-mile time trial at Ashurst on Saturday (2pm).