INNES Jamieson powered his way to be crowned the fastest man at Etape Loch Ness 2026 as he claimed the title for the first time in his career.
The 38-year-old from Sauchen in Aberdeenshire, proved too good for the chasing pack as the Deeside Thistle Cycling Club athlete recorded the fastest time at the 66-mile sportive with a time of two hours 45 minutes and 41 seconds.
He was 46 seconds ahead of Donald Beaton from Edinburgh who finished in 2:46:27 with Krzysytof Pater of Moray Firth Cycling Club taking third place in 2:48:00.
Innes Jamieson is the fastest man at Etape Loch Ness 2026.
Jamieson, who works for Offshore Water Management in Westhill, says that being crowned the fastest cyclist at the whole event is not something he expected when he set off on Sunday morning.
But he says he is proud and ranks it as the best moment of his cycling career so far.
Etape Loch Ness fastest man Innes Jamieson and fastest woman Leah Cuthbertson. Pictures: Callum Mackay.
He said: “It has got to be number one, I did win a race a couple of years ago which was good fun.
“But this was totally unexpected.
“I guess it is always your objective to do well, but I did not think I would do as well as I did.
“I rode hard and I am happy with what I did.
“I did it last year, so this is my second attempt.
“Last year, I went to the front and rolled out, but I decided to come in later and it paid off quite well.
“I wanted to take it easy today, it is not a race, it is a bit of fun, maybe I was more relaxed and a bit more fun today helped.”
Read: University lecturer is named fastest woman at Etape Loch Ness.
Jamieson said it was cold conditions to cycle in on Sunday morning, but due to the speed he was cycling, said he warmed up quickly.
Etape Loch Ness fastest man Innes Jamieson and fastest woman Leah Cuthbertson. Pictures: Callum Mackay. Pictures: Callum Mackay.
He said: “The conditions were cold and my fingers were frozen, but it wasn’t raining so I can’t complain.
“I took my gilet off when I was on the hill and felt great.”
Read: Check out the Etape Loch Ness 2026 gallery.
Jamieson took up cycling after the Covid pandemic looking for a fun way to exercise. But he has also competed in cycling races in the past.
Fastest man Innes Jamieson receives fastest man award from Provost Glynis Sinclair. Pictures: Callum Mackay.
He said: “I have been cycling with Deeside Thistle for four or five years, I started racing after Covid trying to get fit and every year you get stronger and ride with stronger riders and they push you.”
Jamieson says what he enjoyed about Etape Loch Ness most it that it is a sportive and not a race.
He hopes it inspires anyone thinking about taking part in the future to get involved more in cycling.
His advice is: “Just go out, have fun and ride your bike, it is the most important thing that we all forget.
“You have to move and exercise and some people jump on their bike to ride fast where others just want to enjoy and get out and ride a bike.”
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