ST IVES claimed team victory for the second year in a row at the ECCA 10-mile Time Trial Championships.

ST IVES claimed team victory for the second year in a row at the Eastern Counties Cycling Association 10-mile Time Trial Championships.

Despite challenging conditions and a strong wind on the A11 course from Newmarket, Ives riders were able to reproduce their form from last year to take the crown.

Lead rider Lee Desborough also finishing second in the individual timings, though narrowly failed to duck under the 20minute mark of 30mph average.

A strong wind and cool conditions meant riders were averaging more than 34mph to the turn at Four Went Ways roundabout, but suffering on the return leg.

Desborough led his team home with a time of 20mins 17secs to finish second in the 140-strong field, bested only by Chelmer CC’s veteran Richard Evans with a time of 19mins 58secs.

St Ives’ Mick Hodson, last year’s silver medal winner, clocked 21mins 02secs for ninth, with Gary Stevens recording 21mins 32secs for 13th, Neill Coventry 22mins 06secs for a share of 24th, and Paul Davis 22mins 30secs for 36th.

As the fastest three finishers, Desborough, Hodson and Stevens contributed their times to team competition, totalling 1hr 2mins 51secs to win by 78 seconds.

Only Hodson competed in the 25-mile event the following day, meaning St Ives could not defend their team title, but he was determined to make amends for his personal disappointment in the 10-miler.

He pushed himself to the limit to clock an impressive 53mins 56secs in blustery conditions to secure a sixth-place finish, 93 seconds behind winner Peter Balls of West Suffolk Wheelers.