WATCH - Inverness cyclist wins fastest man title at Etape Loch Ness
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Gavin Dempster says he used his years of experience of cycling the course roads to claim the fastest time at the 2023 Etape Loch Ness.
The 34-year-old from Inverness took the title of fastest rider for the first time when he crossed the line in a time of 2:45.22 on Sunday.
The Moray Firth Cycling Club athlete was the fastest cyclist by over six minutes, with Daniel Sutherland of Ross-shire Roads Cycling Club and Scott Davidson of Moray Firth Cycling Club in joint second with 2:51.43.
Dempster, who works at Bikes of Inverness, says he was delighted to take the fastest rider title.
He says he trains regularly on the roads which formed part of the 66-mile course, so knew what to expect.
"It is my first time winning it, but the second time riding in it," said Dempster.
"The climb was hard, but the rest of it was ok.
"But that is my training roads, those are the roads I train on all the time and I wanted to win the race. A win is always nice, whatever race it is."
Dempster was at the venue 24 hours previously helping to prepare some of the bikes used by his rivals in the sportive on Sunday.
"It is massive, I work in a bike shop and I was working at the venue yesterday for Bikes of Inverness I was on the tools in the bike repair tent.
"This is one of the busiest times of the year for us."
He says after claiming the fastest time, he would like to try it again in 2024.
"I am going to give it a go."
The 31-year-old Torvelo Club athlete regained the women's title with a time of 3:02.43.
Inverness cyclist Martha Gates of MFCC was second in a time of 3:06.36 with Charlotte Dewdney from Edinburgh third in a time of 3:09.18.
Dewdney won the Queen of the Mountain stage in a time of 26 minutes and 54 seconds.
Andy Cunningham from Ilkley in Yorkshire won the King of the Mountain Stage in a time of 21:20.
