Report by Oscar Malletta, VC Glasgow South
June delivered its usual charm for this year’s VC Glasgow South A77 10‑Mile Time Trial: squally showers and wind gusts touching 30 mph. As VCGS rider Vincenzo Severino put it-requiring no translation-“tempo di merda.” Finishing fifth in 23:57, he certainly wasn’t referring to his ride.
The WW10/02B course is a notoriously bleak, exposed ribbon of wide, pock‑marked tarmac somewhere between Glasgow and Kilmarnock, and remains one of the toughest tests on the local calendar. It twists across open moorland as if in discomfort, ensuring that the prevailing westerly and southwesterly winds feel like a cross‑headwind in both directions. This year’s start line moved a few miles further along to the Kingswell Road turn‑off, creating a profile resembling a double “flat” climb and descent-something like a builder’s crack. Now imagine tackling that while curled like a boiled cod on a machine that could topple if a sheep in a nearby field so much as sneezed. Thirty riders accepted the challenge and ventured onto the crack of doom.
The first standout performance came from rider No. 6, Reuben McLardie of Johnston Wheelers. His slight frame hid an impressive engine, powering him to the junior title in 24:24-a satisfyingly symmetrical time that reflected his composure and control.
Diana Farrell of Edinburgh Road Club secured the Female title with a strong 28:13, followed by Valerie Martin of Dooley’s RT in second and VCGS’ own Emma Rodgerson in third.
In the road bike category, Johnston Wheelers doubled up thanks to Ian McTavish, who clocked an excellent 24:39-particularly notable on this course, with no aero aids beyond adopting the classic Wout van Aert breakaway hoods‑grip.
The top three overall were clear throughout the race. Jesse Dawson of Vanelli Project GO delivered an aggressive 22:40 for third place. Colin Dyer of Ace‑YNR Performance bettered that by 19 seconds, posting a commanding 22:21.
But the day belonged to Marc Anderson of GTR – Return to Life p/b Streamline. He made the brutal conditions look almost serene, slicing through crosswinds and floating over rough tarmac as though pulled along by invisible golden threads. His winning time of 21:38 earned him the VCGS 10 TT Cup for 2026.
With that, riders and organisers alike leave the A77 to the mercy of the moorland winds for another year.
