THE first race of the 2016 road season takes place on Ayrshire roads on Sunday - a two-up team time trial. Fullarton Wheelers have promoted the "icebreaker" for many years and as always the Irvine club are sure to put on a good event.

Ayr Roads/Harry Fairbairn Cycling Club has fielded the most teams in the event. Out of sixty teams, the Ayr Club has entered seven, including their ladies team of Toni McIntosh and Janet Erskine, both Scottish gold medallists.

In addition the Ayr club have two riders in composite teams. Scottish Circuit Road Race gold medallist Simon Woodliff of Ayr is paired with Chris McConnell of Loudoun RC and Michael Robb is paired with Mark Skilling of Icarus CC.

The event has attracted a full field of 120 riders from all over Scotland.

It will be run over the Irvine bypass course on the A78, with the start and finish at Eglinton Park.

All leading Ayrshire Cycling Clubs will be represented with, Fullarton Wheelers, Velo Club Vitesse, Walkers CC and Loudoun Roads clubs representing the north of the county and Ayr Roads and Ayrodynamic Triathlon club representing South Ayrshire.

As always there will be some friendly rivalry amongst the finest cyclists in Ayrshire.

Based on best performances, Ayrshire clubs are expected to do well, with the Loudoun pairing of Tony Scott and Marc Anderson hopefully among the top finishers. Likewise, Ayr Roads pairing of Kevin Brown and Michael Curran should be equally good, as should the Walkers CC pairing of Ian Anderson and David Baird.

The overall winning team may however come from the composite pairing of Mark Skilling and Michael Robb of Ayr Roads. Both are Ayr Roads club record holders. While Mark, had an exceptionally good year last year, where he took a bronze medal in the Scottish BAR Competition, Michael had a quiet year, due to work commitments. On paper they have the fastest '10' Mile times and are amongst the elite riders, Both have been seeded accordingly and are the last team off.

In the ladies section Toni and Janet should do well, but are up against the Fullarton pairing of Aileen Clyde and Catherine Logan.

The other local composite pairs are the mixed team of Lorna Sloan and Andy Clapperton of Ayrodynamic Triathlon Club and husband and wife pairing of Brian and Jennifer Nicol of the Fullarton.

The Ayrshire clubs will nevertheless be up against strong teams from the Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Provided Ayr Roads riders can refrain from too much celebration at their annual dinner and presentation. scheduled for the night before at the Savoy Park Hotel. they should do well in the overall placings.

On Saturday Ayr Roads will be represented in the fourth and final round of the Cyclo Cross Super Quaich series at West Lothian, where Brian Yates will do his best to enhance his placings in the overall standings. Currently lying 11th out of 230 competitors in the series and the leading Ayrshire rider, Brian willa aim to get within the top 10 of the elite Scottish riders. He will be accompanied by Fraser Tait and Paul Gibson,

Ayr Roads pair of Fraser Tait and Janet Erskine made the trip to Dunfermline on Sunday, where they competed in the St. Valentine's Day MasCXacre cyclo cross, promoted by the Dunfermline CC. Janet finished first in her age group category and Fraser was fourth in his.

Meanwhile, club members continue to enjoy the midweek and Sunday runs at a much leisurely pace. The midweek run took to customary south Carrick roads, by the valleys of the Girvan and Assel Waters to Pinmore, returning by Girvan and Kilkerran.

On Sunday, with glorious weather two groups headed southwards. One rode the Turnberry Circuit and the other headed to Girvan.

Meanwjo;e despite the freezing conditions things are heating up on the Ayr Burners Cycling QTS diary, with the start of group challenges, well-attended Saturday rides, the upcoming Ayrshire Cycle Jumble and even a quiz night.

Last Thursday saw 12 riders battle it out at the Prestwick Oval for the first challenge of the year, the half hour record, with James Edwards clocking an impressive 37 laps to overtake Scott Knox's target of 36.

Harry McGarvie was top youth on 35 laps, while Jo Baxter came out top female ahead of Cheryl Findlay.

Saturday saw 20 Burners meet at the Burns Centre for the regular easy paced "informal". Legs were warmed up on the lower slopes of Glenalla before "route master" Duncan McArthur checked who was up for the Wallacetown climb and the promise of spectacular views at the top.

Next up on the busy Burners schedule is the quiz night at the Meridian on Thursday night.

Saturday sees the Burners - in conjunction with the Ayr Active Travel Hub - host the second edition of the highly popular Ayrshire Cycle Jumble in Prestwick Community Centre. Caeraverock Road. Prestwick, from 1pm to 4pm.

Join the club for a three-hour bike jumble for local cyclists to sell, buy and swap your surplus kit, components, clothing etc. Entry is free, with a £3 charge towards the hall hire for those who want to sell.