Tag: cyclesport

Successful debut for circuit time trial

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There were plenty of questions ahead of the first event. Would time trialling suit the circuit? Would riders enter? And could a 16km (10-mile) race be run safely on a 1km loop?

By the end of the evening, any doubts had disappeared. The event ran seamlessly, and feedback from riders was overwhelmingly positive

What’s more, half of the field was made up of women and girls, with a great cross-section of the cycling community represented.

The format proved simple to run, requiring only a small volunteer team, making it easily repeatable. Shorter race options also provide a strong entry point for riders new to time trialling.

Could events like this help revitalise time trialling in Scotland? With a safe, traffic-free venue, there’s real potential to introduce new riders to the sport and build a thriving time trialling community.

The event was pitched as a coached session with a short drill at the beginning of the evening followed by some coach-led racing which was timed using electronic chips. The format meant that anyone could take part, even if they’re not a member of a club or registered with British Cycling.

Organiser Matthew Ball said:

“I’m really pleased with how the event played out. It showed we can run a safe TT on the circuit, with no issues around overtaking or congestion.

“It didn’t require a great deal of work, and the volunteer team needed isn’t large, which makes the format easy to deliver again.”

Rider feedback included:

“It was a great first event – the system worked well and there was plenty of space on track.”

“Really straightforward from a logistics point of view, with no issues around overtaking at any stage.”

“A great format that worked really well on the circuit – just a shame about the headwind.”

A 5 race series is planned, so the next step is to build an organising committee to develop series.

Please email cyclecircuitwestlothian@gmail.com if you want to help out

Results

16-lap race

  1. Geoff Martin – 00:24:18 (Course record for TT)
  2. Stephen Miles – 00:25:49
  3. Sarah McCormac – 00:25:54
  4. Derek Simpson – 00:26:27
  5. Karen Outram – 00:27:17
  6. Danny Farrell – 00:28:00
  7. Stephen Beecher – 00:28:20
  8. Alex McDonald – 00:28:26
  9. Alison Caldwell – 00:30:17
  10. Alasdair Fulton – 00:31:41
  11. Mike Thomas – 00:36:33

8-lap race

  1. John-Michael Howison – 00:13:33
  2. Jill McGilvery – 00:14:50
  3. Aileigh Easton – 00:15:04
  4. Iona McDonald – 00:15:24

3-lap race

  1. Charlotte Kyles – 00:05:48
  2. Esmeralda Sirey – 00:06:04

Thanks to everyone who came along to race and support the event – and especially to Colin Chisholm for timekeeping, and Scott at InView Images for the stunning photography.

Organising a race at the circuit is simple and it can bring real benefits to your club.

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In 2025, the TCI Friday Race Series and the Richard Moore Youth Race Series showed just how successful, popular, and straightforward it is to run events at our world-class facility.

Looking ahead to 2026, we’re eager to expand the calendar with more adult weekend races and autumn events. With rider numbers growing and demand for racing at an all-time high, this is the perfect moment for more clubs to get involved.

By hosting a race, your club not only contributes to the growth of the sport but also enjoys the rewards of stronger community ties, new networks, and a real sense of achievement.

As Craig Duncan, organiser of this year’s L’Enfer Stage Race, put it:
“Organising at the circuit is simple, rewarding, and fun. It helps build skills, knowledge, friendships, and there’s a fantastic community to support you every step of the way.”

We’d love to see your club on the 2026 calendar. Why not take the next step and bring an event to life at the circuit?

Why it’s great for your club:

Visibility: Hosting a race raises your club’s profile and can attract new members.
Participation: Clubs that organise races often see more members entering events.
Strengthen bonds: Working together on an event builds a stronger, more connected club.
Grow the scene: Your event strengthens the Scottish cycling community.
Experience: Each race adds to your club’s skills and organisational knowledge.

Why it’s easier than you expect:

Proven framework: We provide a robust, easy-to-use risk assessment.
Manageable team size: Events run smoothly with just 12 volunteers, plus timing and comms and first aid
Minimal logistics: With fixed circuit parameters, the setup is straightforward.
Support available: If it’s your first time organising, we can guide you through the process.
Kit: everything you need to run an event is available to use like flags, high viz, tables and numbers, handbook template, costs spreadsheets
Support: Scottish cycling offer event support and are great to work with, especially the advice they offer.

Get in touch to start the conversation — we’d be delighted to work with you.

cyclecircuitwestlothian[AT]gmail.com