Clinton is caught cold on a damp weekend of climbing

Saturday morning’s damp and overcast conditions led to Holme Valley Wheelers’ promotion of the infamous Holme Moss climb changing to the much shorter, steeper ascent of Woodhouse Lane

Arriving ten minutes before the start due to a traffic jam on the M1 and with no warm-up, Clinton took the climb steadily to finish in 2min 18.9sec, which was good enough for fourth.

The event was won by Rapha Condor JLT Professional Richard Handley in 2:04.9

Conditions did not improve for Huddersfield Star Wheelers’ Jackson Bridge Hill Climb later on in the day, with rain and poor visibility hampering times.

The Mike Vaughan Cycles rider would be a little off his pace from previous years, with the morning’s effort taking the edge off his legs.

Finishing second in a time of 4:34.6, he was 16 seconds behind winner Tejvan Pettinger.

An ever-so-slightly brighter Sunday morning held Lyme RC’s Mow Cop Hill Climb, just north of Stoke-on-Trent.

The Killer Mile, as it is known, starts off a steady ten per cent before ramping to more than 25 per cent on the run to the finish line.

As last year’s winner and course record holder, Clinton was the last man off.

However, conditions meant he would cross the line some six seconds off his best time in 4:30.6, with Pettinger again pipping him and breaking his course record into the bargain by finishing in 4:22.9.