24-hour champs survive epic conditions

Heavy overnight rain at the National 24-Hour Championships tested the mental resolve and bike handling of the hardy competitors

- Ben Goddard & Tom Thewlis

Long-distance specialists Robbie Mitchell and Chris Murray used their experience to regain the 24-hour titles at the weekend - a repeat result from two years earlier. Mitchell, from Berwickshire, won his first National 24-Hour Championship crown in 2021 and then had to abandon last year's event after falling ill.

But he was not to be denied this time, recording an average speed of 21.6 miles per hour to see him cover 519 miles in the 24 hours, beating Mark Turnbull (TORQ Performance) into second (511 miles) and Timothy Welsh (Cambridge CC) into third (501 miles).

The rain fell constantly for the first 14 hours of the event. "Once it got dark it was like a monsoon, the roads were like rivers," said Auchencrow Thistle CC rider Mitchell. "The standing water was quite treacherous, you really had to trust that where you were putting the bike there weren't holes underneath.

"Last year was a huge disappointment - after leading at halfway I had to pull out. I just couldn't keep my eyes open at around 13 hours in and I found myself dozing off.

"That's been in my mind for a year. I think it makes you want it more when you fail."