The decision by Alton CC to bring its Bank Holiday fixture forward by a day to fill a date vacated by Guildford's Charlotteville CC has resulted in a lower entry because of a clash with Salisbury RC's Coronation Cup 25 near Andover.
Bournemouth Arrow Fircroft Hotel set the Easter Holiday racing programme in motion at 7.30am today when the first of 120 competitors came under starter's orders at Oakdale in Poole, on what records show is one of the fastest ten-mile courses in the district.
The 19 minutes 28 seconds Bath triathlete, Richard Hobson took to cover it nearly five years ago has remained unbeaten ever since, but if this week's easterly breeze persists that record could fall.
Though none of today's entrants have beaten the present record in qualifying, Chris Ball (53-12 Multisports) Julian Jenkin-son (Primera Bourne-mouth) and Steve Walkling (VC St Raphael Waite Contracts) are sub-20 minute men.
Walkling is the sole St Raphael survivor of the team which filled the top three places in last year's Salisbury RC race but the individual winner, Neil Coleman, returns as a member of the recently formed Endura Sport Principa professional squad.
A tenth placing in Britain's first Premier Calendar race, the Archer International Grand Prix, earlier this month showed that Coleman is not short of form, but Walkling will be looking to improve on his second place of a year ago.
In the continuing absence of Malcolm Cox, third last year but still out of action though now back in the saddle following his heavy fall two months ago, Walkling will be relying on clubmates, Simon Berogna and Aran Stanton, for team honours this time.
Only doubt surrounding the outcome of Alton CC's hilly 50-kilometre time trial, back on its usual circular course at Privett now that flood damaged roads have been repaired, is whether or not race favourite, Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles RT) can beat the four-year old record of 1h 12m 15s set by the British international, Rob Hayles.
The promoting club's sponsors, First Gear Cycles, are offering an extra £20 if the winner goes faster. But the best 12 of the other 21 entrants can hope for is a slice of awards allocated for veterans.
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