Christie puts bike worries aside, storms to Ulster 50 mile TT gold

Marcus Christie demolished the field to win the Ulster 50-mile time-trial championships (Photo: Toby Watson)

By Brian Canty

A week after having his road bike stolen at the National Championships, former Irish U23 rider Marcus Christie claimed the Ulster 50-mile TT title by almost five minutes.

The ASEA-Wheelworx man has been reeling from the shock of having his road bike – a €12,000 Giant Propel - stolen from the back of his car the night before the road race.

But he put it to one side at the weekend on the Woodgreen course.

Christie’s time of 1:43:11 was easily the quickest, with Chris Hutchinson (Madigan) taking silver in a time of 1:48:03 and John Madden (Inspired Cycling) rounding out the podium in a time of 1:50:57.

Derry man Christie - who finished sixth in the national TT title race - has gone faster than that in the past and his time of 1:40:11 for the 50-mile effort in 2013 is the current national record.

The women's event was won by Joanne Regan (Termoneey CC) in a time of 2:10:23 with Karen Hull (Phoenix) claiming the silver in a time of 2:13:18.

But due to new Cycling Ulster guidelines, the bronze was not awarded as only four women signed on.

The Masters 50 category was scrapped as a standalone title race as only two riders signed on.

Instead, the Masters 40 and Masters 50 fields were merged, with Madden taking it from Paul Carroll (Velo Cafe Magasin) who clocked 1:51:02 and John Barry Hayes of Island Wheelers CC, who recorded a time of 1:54:18.

Similarly, because only four riders entered the Masters 60 category only gold and silver medals were awarded.

These went to recently crowned Masters 60 road race winner Sean Hargan (Phoenix CC) in 1:58:23 and Michael Carroll (BRC) in a time of 2:01:18.