“Great to compare times to legends,” says rider who was 2nd to Wiggins at club 10 TT

A cyclist previously unbeaten on a 10-mile time trial course in Lancashire says he doesn’t mind that run coming to an end on Tuesday evening, given the identity of the rider who beat him – Olympic time trial champion, Sir Bradley Wiggins.

> Bradley Wiggins turns up at a club ‘10’ in Lancashire – and wins

Phil Williams of Liverpool Phoenix CC had been the quickest rider this year in each of the seven previous Tuesday Interclubs 10s organised by his club on the Cycling Time Trials D10/1 course.

On Tuesday, though, his time was bettered by the rider who this time last year sported the rainbow bands of world champion when competing in time trials, and who will be looking for his fifth Olympic gold medal at Rio in two months’ time.

After Tuesday’s time trial, Williams said on Facebook: “Tonight I raced against Sir Bradley Wiggins on the Rainford 10 TT course. First time I’ve not won on my TT bike on the course but I don’t mind losing that accolade to Wiggins.”

He revealed that just last Saturday he’d gone below 20 minutes over 10 miles on the same course for the first time, clocking 19 minutes 50 seconds, and that “tonight I’m made up I done another 19 with a 19:54 with worse conditions and a hard day in work under my belt.

“I wasn’t expecting to go under 20 minutes again as there was a semi tough headwind back and it was much nicer on Saturday.

But I’m even more made up I was only 39 seconds behind Wiggins,” he went on. The winner of time trial gold at London 2012 put in a time of 19 minutes 15 seconds on Tuesday, with Williams the only other rider to go below 20 minutes.

He said it was “great to be able to compare times to legends and I don’t think this kind of thing could happen in many other sports.

“For amateurs to be able to race against someone who’s won Olympic gold medals, world championships, the Tour de France and the current Hour record holder is just amazing.”

Williams added: “I didn’t get to meet Wiggins unfortunately because he was off earlier but great of him to come and race and give the Liverpool Phoenix CC some good kudos. Thanks Wiggins.”