Marginal gains prove difference for cycling duos
Three seconds was the difference between first and second place in Hafren Cycling Club’s 2-Up 10 as lessons were learnt about marginal gains.
Held on the fast Berriew-Welshpool course, round three of the Mower Mec 2-Up Series saw new series leaders on a glorious summer’s evening.
The visiting duo of Tom Brazier and Keri Parton took the overall win in 20 minutes 48 seconds, with Parton hanging on to her partner’s wheel in a discipline where times are normally faster than those possible for solo events due to the drafting effect.
Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Paul Duncan and Paramount CRT’s Mason Durant took the maximum 20 points on offer for affiliated riders with a fine 20:51.
The round two winners headed to the top of the Mower Mec standings, with Hafren CC’s Chris Lewis and Carl Spencer getting closest with 23:39, showing the high quality at the sharp end.
Duncan and Durant took over from Mark Hill and Jan Davies at the top of the overall standings by four points thanks to their 25:02 effort, but the pair still lead the mixed team standings by 28 points from Wrekinsport’s Ashley Kirkham and Vic Doran, extending that lead by four points despite being outpaced on the night by visiting Oswestry Paragon pairing Adam Riley and Vikki Jones.
