THE Circuit of Pendle time trial enjoyed one of its better days for weather, but two sets of roadworks in the first section of the course resulted in the distance being reduced from 27.25 miles to 23.70 miles.

The professional riders showed their superiority over the club riders to claim the top three places, with the fastest time going to Wigan’s Richard Handley of the Rapha Condor JLT team.

He clocked an outstanding 52 minutes 52 seconds for the course that takes in the long climb through Blacko to the 1,000-foot summit, before descending to Gisburn and back to Whalley.

Team-mate Hugh Carthy was a close second, returning in 53 minutes five seconds, and the Rapha squad would surely have won the team award except for their third man Mike Cuming having to miss after having a spill the previous day.

Padiham-based Wheelbase Altura MGD rider Simon Wilson, who had recently won the Clayton Spring Classic road race near Clitheroe, took third place in 54 minutes three seconds.

His partner Rebecca Rimmington, also of Padiham, riding for Trainsharp RT took the fastest lady award with one hour three minutes 32 seconds.

The promoting North Lancashire Road Club took the team award thanks to Ian Cox (58mins 7secs), Mark Haydock (59mins 7secs) and Aidan Holgate (59mins 30secs), while Clayton Velo’s Peter Greenwood took the Vet60+ with 59mins 1sec.

Tomorrow the Circuit of Ingleborough will be promoted by the Pendle Forest Cycling Club and their organiser Danny Davies has 91 entries.

That includes Handley and Carthy, of Rapha Condor JLT, as well as Lancashire’s Ian Bibby, of Longridge, riding for the Madison Genesis squad.

The 26.25mile event starts at 10am from Ingleton, taking in Buckhaw Brow, Settle, Ribblehead and back to Ingleton.

The headquarters are at the Ingleborough Community Centre.