WCTTCA Open 10 Mile Time Trial, 9 June 2019

It was an early start on Sunday 9 June to arrive in St Asaph, North Wales for my 7:09am start time in the Rhos-On-Sea CC Open TT. Despite the early hour, I was excited for the TT - I had a good feeling, as we traversed empty motorways in the clear morning air, that I could set a good time. A speedy operation ensued on arrival to gather my number and get ready, leaving 12 minutes to make my way from the sign on to the start – this would be the warm up. After the road to the start materialised as a big hill, I arrived with a minute and a half to spare. The start of the course was slightly downhill, allowing for a high initial speed that really instilled confidence for the ride ahead. After a couple of roundabouts, it was onto the A55 North Wales Expressway – certainly a fast road. A gap in the Welsh weather made the morning bright and crisp and the time of day meant there was next to no traffic. The Tarmac was as smooth as a bowling green and I held the speed high as I progressed past the famous Bodelwyddan marble church that was glowing in the sunlight. Despite a couple of slight rises, I reached the Abergele roundabout (halfway), with fantastic pace. The drag after the roundabout on the way back to St Asaph bit at tired legs and dragged out dwindling energy but as the road flattened again, I kept the average speed up. With my energy all but completely run out, I slogged my way up the slip road to exit the A55 - only three roundabouts until the finish. With time seeming to tick away quickly as I navigated the roundabouts, I forged on and mustered a sprint for the line. I am extremely happy with my time of 27:29 - I am very hopeful that I will better my PB this season and am really looking forward to continuing to work hard towards this goal and to become a faster, stronger rider.

Julia Wardley-Kershaw