Cox happy with ‘not too shabby’ start
A NEW road season sped into motion on Sunday as Marc Cox laid down an early marker ahead of his upcoming Commonwealth Games debut.
Early-season rust and slightly adverse conditions blunted the pace slightly, but Cox dominated the season-opening time-trial over 10 miles, posting a 20min. 23.8sec. victory.
Young Alex Van Katwyk placed second in 21-37.5 to take espoir (age 18-23) honours as Commonwealth Games man Seb Tremlett – who had opted for a road rather than TT bike – clocked 22-34.6 for third.
Simon Rowe won the veterans’ category in 23-55.0 as Josh Saunders took top junior another 24sec. back.
Competing on wet roads and with a fair headwind on the outbound leg from Cobo to Portelet, plus strong gusts throughout, the winner was fairly pleased with his effort.
‘It’s early season, so it’s not about taking risks, and it’s about seeing where you are in your power files,’ he said after finishing 42sec. outside his Guernsey record from last season.
‘The main thing is to get back safe and it’s not ideal conditions, being damp and slippery, so it makes for a bit more of an interesting ride.
‘My peak is the Commonwealth Games, so I’m very much in a steady state of training with a lot of hours – it means you’re never going to set a blistering time, but looking at the time, it’s not too shabby.’
Cox hopes to make his mark in the Birmingham 2022 time-trial but could also be an important cog in Guernsey’s five-strong road team, where his main assignment is to serve as a domestique for Trinity Racing professional Sam Culverwell.
‘As a team, we’ll make a really strong unit for the road race, but it’s not about individual result,’ he added.
‘The time trial is man-on-man and that’s where my focus lies really. My target is to do well among the non-professional guys – there’s obviously the elite, full-time professionals and there’ll be guys coming straight from the Tour de France to race that.
‘If I’m up in the top tier of the non-professionals, that’s my main aim.’
Jamy Petit produced a strong ride of 25-08.2 to come out first woman and also scrape into the overall top 10.
Although also considerably outside her personal best, the improving rider continued her momentum from a strong mountain-bike season to win convincingly from Island Games cyclist Dani Hanley (26-19.0) and the improving Jade Packham (27-06.6).
Junior Helena Duguid, on the comeback from injury, placed fourth another 7sec. back.
A pleased Petit hopes to make the Guernsey 2023 Island Games – for both road and mountain biking.
‘I’m feeling good – it’s the first race and the wind was strong,’ she said.
‘My main goal this season is the time-trial and to have a personal best in the time-trial. I’m really enjoying the mountain biking at the moment, so that will be my main goal as well.
‘I’m going for it and I’m trying to get into the [Island Games] team.’
