Romei edges home as Fletcher strikes gold

Just one second split winner from runner-up in round 14 of the SB Sports Injuries Series.

Simon Romei has only appeared in the 2026 Series twice, but took his second win by the narrowest of margins from Tomos Hales.

Romei stopped the watch on 21 minutes 31 seconds on the ‘Tiddly Triangle’ 10 mile course, on a day when three further medals were won.

Romei also took Veterans' honours with a strong +5:04, 1:08 ahead of Phil Knupfer, visiting from Manchester Bicycle Club.

The Paramount rider stated: “Really pleased to have secured the overall win and Veterans' win in the second SCCA autumn 10.

"I controlled the effort up to the turn at the island, then pushed super hard all the way to the finish line. A close call with my racing buddy Tomos as I managed to roll over the finish line a second quicker!"

Hales had a new toy to play with in the shape of a new time trial bike that certainly looks at the sharp end of the technological arms race.

However, he rode it just as it came, having had no time to optimise it to fit him perfectly, and this was the one second difference:

“A test for the new time trial bike on the ‘Tiddly’ course. It was straight out the box, so I wasn’t fully set-up," said Hales.

"I put out some good power and felt quick, but didn’t quite have the upgrades to beat Simon, so well done to him.”

Knupfer (22:35) took third overall, making his journey worthwhile to one of a handful of regions still promoting anything other than hill climbs this late in the season.

In the SB Female Series, Hafren CC’s Jan Davies moved to just two points behind Helen Tudor, setting up a final event tussle for bronze.

Davies stopped the watch on 26:50, 26 seconds ahead of Evie Fletcher.

Fletcher didn’t go home empty-handed, however, as she did enough to distance herself from Hayley Wells, who was not racing, to win SB Female gold, and consign Wells to the silver medal.

This is Fletcher’s first full season, and she has seemingly got better as it has progressed. She was delighted at winning gold, stating: “For my first proper time trial season I am super happy to have secured gold.

"Shropshire and the SCCA clubs have some amazing female riders that have pushed me all season, so to come out with gold is more than I ever expected.

"I feel I am finding some good form at the end of the season, and am ready to build on it throughout the winter off-season and come back stronger."

When told she had won silver, Wells added: “The SB Series is always an enjoyable one to add to the calendar, especially with the spring and autumn 10’s being held on some honest courses. Huge congratulations to Evie on taking the gold this season."

There was cause for a double celebration in the Fletcher household as Evie’s husband, Mitchell, did enough to capture the overall SB Series bronze thanks to finishing joint fourth in 23:32.

In the SB Road Bike Series, Aerologic RT’s George Coombes took victory on the afternoon from Allan Henderson by 1:11 on handicap in 24:32.