Richmond Cycling Club riders Lee Kermode and James Dickson raced an Olympic legend at Brands Hatch Race Circuit.
The pair took part in the Revolve 24 event at the iconic race track at the weekend.
The event has various different races from the four man team time trial through to the endurance 6hr, 12hr and 24hr challenges.
The event attracts riders from all over the world and is used as a qualifying round for the Race Across America.
Six time Olympic champion Jason Kenny was racing as part of a 24hr team and won the King of the Hill challenge. James came home in eleventh place two seconds behind him.
The lads competed in the 12hr race which started at 3.30pm on the Saturday and finishing at 3.30am on Sunday morning.
They swapped over each hour as they competed.
Racing at this distance was new to them both as they mainly race time trials and criterium at much shorter distances and durations.
James was first out on the track and came in after the first hour in first place. They held an average speed of 23/24mph and at one point were eight laps ahead of the four-man team in second place.
James said: “After the first three hour-long sessions where we had pushed on and with us having a healthy lead, we decided to drop the pace or should I say their bodies told them us to – it was one of, if not the, hardest race we have competed in.
“Brands Hatch is not exactly a flat circuit so it has a fair bit of climbing,and over the 260 miles we covered during the race we climbed 22,000ft with a fastest lap time of 5:45 set by Lee.”
They finished the race in first place, seven laps ahead of the second placed team.
“We wouldn’t have achieved this if it wasn’t for great team work and pit crew support by Lee’s dad Colin who kept us right throughout the race,” added James.
“Is the 24hr race on the cards for next year – it might well be, but with a bigger team!”
