The course record is under threat as GS Stella launch the racing season with a hilly time trial at Funtingdon in West Sussex on Sunday at 10am.

The previous record over the tough 25-mile course is 57min.11sec, set three years ago by Olympic ace Rob Hayles.

Four previous winners have ducked inside an hour since the race started in 1990 and organisers have decided to avoid traffic congestion in Chichester by cutting out the city entirely.

That will shorten the distance to 22.7miles and, if weather conditions are favourable, at least a quarter of the 64 competitors should beat 60 minutes.

Race favourite is Malcolm Cox (VC St Raphael Waite Contracts), from Southampton, who beat 1996 winner Tim Bayley (Artic 2000 Maximusic RT) to triumph last year.

Both will be hard pressed by Cox's clubmate, Chris Birch, while Bayley's ex-clubmate, Malcolm Whitehead (VC Deal Caffyns), is best of the 19 veterans listed.

General secretary Mark Jones, of Storrington, who has missed the event only once since it was first held, leads a squad of six from the promoting club.

Other Sussex clubs represented are Bognor Regis, Brighton Mitre, VC Etoile, Regent, Rother Valley, Southdown Velo, Worthing Excelsior and 21st Century Airports.

Natacha Maes, making her debut for In Gear, is the fastest of four women entrants. Competitors are well provided for with a record prize list worth £600, which includes awards for the best on a mountain bike and a bottle of wine for the slowest.

THE past month has seen renewed interest in pre-season reliability rides which were once considered essential pre-season training.

Lewes Wanderers marked the start of their 50th anniversary year since the club's reformation after the second World War by attracting an increased entry of 50 for their event at Chailey last Sunday.

Split almost exactly in half, participants chose either a 50 or 100km course across the middle of the county and all but ten completed their preferred distance.

Puncture problems accounted for most who failed to finish within the time limits imposed.

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