Alf Engers's historic '25' record falls twice

Revered road bike TT mark takes a double beating

- James Shrubsall Photos: David Collard Berry, Gary Main, Getty Images

When former pro cyclist and Olympic team pursuit medallist Casper Folsach checked the clock as he crossed the line at the Port Talbot Wheelers 25 last Sunday, he was delighted to see that he had broken a time trial record that had stood for 47 years.

And not just any old record. Alf Engers's 49.24, set in 1978, was the first 30mph-plus ride over the distance and remains one of the most celebrated marks ever set in the sport. Until last Sunday, it also remained the fastest official '25' time on a road bike.

For Folsach, though, the only catch was that the Engers record had already been broken, just a few minutes before - 150 miles away in Hampshire.

Paceline RT rider Paul Burton, a 44-year-old company director, had ridden his own Paceline RT Autumn 25 event on the P881/25 course. It was fast, but not as fast as the famous R25/3H used in the Port Talbot event - and by his own admission, club rider Burton was not as quick as Huub-Wattbike rider Folsach, who also works as performance manager for the Uno-X Mobility team.