Richard Wood takes a win at the Inaugural Watford Velo Hardriders

Whiteleaf Hill. The backdrop for many a broken dream / cooked pair of legs.

As the principal climb in the Archer Grand Prix of old, its reputation is pretty big, but modern risk assessments and police costs have meant it can no longer be used So, the Watford Velo mob decided to try a Time Trial up it. Twice.

Hardriders is the traditional term for an early season smash up round a not-so-flat circuit, but this is probably the toughest TT climb for a 50 mile radius. No soft pedalling up this one.

Chris enjoying the hill

Darren - head down and focus

Richard - Road Bike Win

We had Darren Powell, Chris Olley and Richard Wood lined up for this painfest.

2 degrees at the start line wasn't ideal, but they all turned out.

Richard was the fastest by some margin in the Road Bike category and only lost out to Danny Axford on the scratch result so a very impressive run by him and a well-deserved win.

Chris was nicely in the top half of the field, whilst Darren was mid field - he's more of a pure speed merchant than a climber.





1st Danny Axford Arctic Tacx 0:36:57
2nd Richard Wood, TMG Horizon CT 0:37:58
3rd Richard Gildea Didcot Phoenix CC 0:38:26
16th Chris Olley TMG Horizon CT 0:43:16
25th Darren Powell TMG Horizon CT 0:44:38