Cycling: Road racers tackle the Peninsula’s hills

Part of the Scottish Cycling National Alba series, the race took part on a calm morning, starting at Garelochhead, with all of the riders completing four laps of a very hilly 19-mile circuit through Rahane, Clynder, Rosneath, Kilcreggan, Cove, Coulport and Whistlefield.

There were breakaways soon after the start, and the field was well dispersed by the halfway point, when Cameron Richardson, riding for Bioracer- Moriarty Bikes, took the Clean Foods hill prime at the end of the second lap, sprinting away from the front group to claim the prize at the top of the Whistlefield climb.

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Early in the final lap, Alex Luhrs and Zeb Kyffin, both riding for Ribble Pro Cycling, put in a big attack and broke away from the lead group, with Richardson soon joining them.

This group of three remained intact almost until the finish, when the Ribble riders opened a small lead to finish with Kyffin half a wheel ahead of Luhrs (pictured top centre), and a few seconds in front of Richardson.

Riders continued to cross the line, individually and in small groups, with the final finisher, in 39th place, 10 minutes behind the leaders.

Eight veteran riders competed in the race, with Tim Braithwaite, representing Veloclub Edinburgh, taking the Auchentoshan Distillery first veteran prize and a very respectable 10th overall.

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The race commissaires nominated Joshua Jones of ZeroBC for the Williams Bros Brewery combativity award.

A spokeswoman for the Lomond Roads Cycling Club, which organised the annual event, said: “There was plenty of good feedback from the riders who enjoyed the challenging course and great organisation and support.

“There were even some local residents who braved the midges to cheer on the riders, which was great to see.”

(Photos by Louise Walker and Luke Scott)