IF IT is possible to get Covid at the right time then Alison Kinloch did.

The Burley-in-Wharfedale cyclist came down with the illness just two days after claiming a silver medal in the World Masters Cyclo-Cross Championships at Trinity Park, Ipswich early last month.

Kinloch, who came second in the women’s over-50 category, backed up her prestigious medal by winning the final round of the Yorkshire Points Series at Bradford’s Peel Park.

It was her sixth win in the eight-round series so she was overall champion and she didn’t compete in rounds three and seven.

Kinloch, who rides for Shibden Cycling Club, said of her Peel Park victory: “I had a poor start and crashed on the off-camber section on the first lap, but I have been off my bike for the past three weeks due to Covid.

“I love Peel Park because of the mud, the off-cambers, the hills, the corners.

“However, I did get that second place at the World Masters, where I was hoping to podium but was more than happy with second.

“I was eighth last year but beat the American champion this time.

“My whole season has been about preparing for Ipswich but I came back from there and on the Monday morning I got Covid!

“Now I have just got the National Championships at Milnthorpe in Cumbria on January 14-15, where I would quite like a podium again, but I am still recovering from Covid and am only at 70 per cent.”

Ilkley’s Stefan Macina (Shibden Cycling Club) was third at Peel Park in the men’s over-50 category and said: “All races are tough but that was particularly tough as I was chasing down (winner) Ian Taylor and Andy Peace.

“There was a massive gap to second and it was just a case of seeing if I could hold on for third, which I just managed to do from series winner Paul Nutton.

“I could hear him breathing at one point, but I managed to hold him off.”

As for the course, Macina said: “It was definitely a course of two halves – a lovely flat top half and then a muddy bottom half, but it is a classic course and it was good to get round in one piece.”

Macina is also competing at Milnthorpe and admitted: “I haven’t done any of the National Trophy events but I would be pleased with a top-ten finish.”