North Argyll cyclists hit the roads and climb the podiums

North Argyll Cycle Club members were in action again over the weekend of September 18/19 with two in particular rising to the top of the crop.

 

"attachment_790597" "" "300"] Matiss in action in Elgin.

 

On the Saturday, Barcaldine's Matiss Robertson claimed a silver medal at the Scottish Road Race Championships in Elgin.

 

Racing in his RT 23 racing colours the 20-year-old faced a strong headwind on the outward runs on the five-lap 85km course but kept his focus to take a well-earned podium spot in his last road race of the season.

 

A sport, exercise and fitness student at UHI Matiss will now head for the hills as he takes up his more favoured discipline of hill climbing but was delighted with his result in Elgin.

 

'Road racing is a lot different from the hill climbs and TTs that I usually do,' he told us.

 

'Hill climb is a more individual event with staggered starts. It's very pure and I know exactly what I have to do. Basically just take off and push as hard as I can.

 

'In road racing you are in amongst other riders and never know what is going to happen. It's a lot more tactical but that just made it all the more pleasing to take a medal.

 

'I do like a good hill though!'

 

"attachment_790594" "" "300"] Ewan Dowd and dad Chris, foreground, competed in the Rothesay Cycling Weekend along with NACC clubmates Alison Roger and Carol Lawson.

 

While Matiss was up in Elgin four of his NACC teammates were over on the Isle of Bute competing in the two-day Rothesay Cycling Weekend.

 

Consisting of a short hill climb, a two-man TT, a 10-mile TT and a road race cyclists accumulated points over the four disciplines to decide the overall placings. After coming second in both the hill climb and 10 mile TT 16-year-old NACC member Ewan Dowd took second overall in the Junior category.

 

"attachment_790591" "" "300"] Ewan Dowd excelled in Rothesay.

 

Ewan competed in the two-man TT with his dad Chris and said that riding as part of a group in the road race was 'a great experience.'

 

NACC members Alison Roger and Carol Lawson also take part in the two-man TT.