Muir of Ord policeman claims fastest cyclist title at Etape Loch Ness
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
DANIEL Sutherland powered his way to claim the fastest man’s title at Etape Loch Ness for the first time in his career.
The Ross-shire Road Cycling Club athlete was well clear of the chasing pack as he clocked the fastest time, when he crossed the finishing line in Inverness in two hours 45 minutes and 26 seconds in the 66-mile sportive.
The Muir of Ord cyclist, who is originally from County Durham, recorded a personal best time and was 50 seconds ahead of RRCC teammate Jonathan Forbes who finished in second place in 2:46:16.
Last year’s fastest man Gavin Dempster of Moray Firth Cycling Club was in third place in a time of 2:46:19.
Sutherland (43) who is a police officer, says it was the biggest accomplishment of his cycling career after taking part in Etape Loch Ness nine times previously.
He said: “It is the ninth that I have been in it, so it has been a while and it has been a challenge.
“Conditions were good today, it was a bit cold to start with but it was dry at least.
“There wasn’t much wind which is always good.
“I knew that I would be close, but there was a lot of standing around waiting to see how I got on and how other people had got on as well.
“But I knew that I was quick because it was my fastest ever time and this is the top for me.”
Sutherland has been cycling all his life and got into mountain biking from an early age before adapting to road racing.
He hopes to return next year and defend his fastest man title.
He said: “I’ll be back next year, two in-a-row, I don’t know about that, but certainly, i’ll be back.”
