Record tumbles up Monsal

Reigning champ sends out warning shot in Nationals build-up

- Snowdon

Reigning women’s national hill-climb champion Bithja Jones sent a message out to her rivals for this year’s title by setting a new course record on her way to winning the prestigious Monsal hill-climb.

The 41-year-old from Reading has already shown improvement on last season, knocking six seconds off her championship winning ride on the Streatley hill-climb.

But her toughest test so far came on Monsal in the form of National Championship runner-up Mary Wilkinson (Yorkshire Road Club).

Despite a headwind, Jones set a new women’s course record on the 675yard climb of 1:37.5 seconds – beating Wilkinson by four seconds (1:41.6). The previous course record held by Lou Bates was of 1:42.8. Meanwhile, Rebecca Richardson completed the women’s podium, clocking 1:49.9.