Alex Dowsett, Hayley Simmonds and Scott Davies successfully defended their time trial titles at the 2016 British Cycling National Road Championships in Stockton-on-Tees.
Dowsett’s win gave him an unprecedented fifth British time trial championship – and Scott Davies also made history by winning the men’s under-23 title for a third consecutive year.
Simmonds’s win makes her a two-time champion on a day where national champion jerseys were retained.
Men
Alex Dowsett was the red hot favourite for the men’s title in Stockton – and he didn’t disappoint the north-east crowd.
Dowsett dominated against his rivals, winning by over a minute in a time of 55:38.523, even affording himself time to celebrate as he crossed the line.
Celebration time! The moment @alexdowsett made history with a record fifth elite men's time trial title! #RoadChamps https://t.co/1k7011YHAs
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 23, 2016
The defending champion was last to set off, but his victory never looked in doubt from the moment his first lap time was recorded – a blistering 13.42.
The record winner said it meant a lot to him.
"Win number five, it’s as special as the first. I get to wear this (jersey) for another year. It’s special. It’s always special.
"It’s nice I didn’t have any problems this year, every year, nationals seems to throw something at me but that went very smoothly.
"Fantastic course. Stockton should be hugely proud of what they’ve put on today."
"It's always special"
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 23, 2016
Men's TT champion @alexdowsett says win number five is as special as his first.#RoadChamps https://t.co/7ljQUApeXw
Second place went to Pedal Heaven’s James Gullen in 56:54832 with Ryan Perry of Langdale Lightweights Racing Team in third.
Women
As reigning champion, 27-year-old Hayley Simmonds was last to set off in Stockton in a field which included illustrious names such as Emma Pooley and Dame Sarah Storey.
On a hot and humid afternoon in Stockton, it took until the latter stages for the competition to truly heat up as Julia Shaw became the first rider to dip under the 50-minute mark in a time of 49:39.915.
Just moments later, Podium Ambition’s Claire Rose took over 90 seconds off that time, setting a formidable time of 48:06.315.
Her team-mate, Dame Sarah Storey posted a time of 48:12.465 to move into then-second, with returning former champion Emma Pooley one place further down in 48:33.455.
Congratulations @hayleyrsimmonds on winning @BritishCycling #RoadChamps TT great ride
— Emma Pooley (@PooleyEmma) June 23, 2016
That left just Simmonds to go – and she blew away her opposition to take the title by more than 40 seconds, crossing the line in 47:33.357.
The double champion said:
"It's more special second time around. This year, Emma was coming back and Claire was riding full time this year. Claire is always a big threat.
'More special this time'
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 23, 2016
Hear from @hayleyrsimmonds as she retained the women's time trial title #RoadChamps https://t.co/HTTdsJhxoI
"I had a few time checks but it was hard to hear what was going on. Someone I know was on the middle roundabout of the three as I was coming back towards town and I heard him yell "you're up" but I wasn't sure if he meant I was up against Emma or up against Claire, I didn't know what was going on!"
Under-23 men
Scott Davies conquered the streets of Stockton-on-Tees to claim a historic third time trial title in a row at the 2016 British Cycling National Road Championships.
The Team Wiggins rider held off a strong challenge from Axeon Hagens Berman CT’s Tao Geoghegan Hart and 100% me’s Gabriel Cullaigh to claim the national champion’s jersey.
On a sunny and warm day in the north-east, Pedal Heaven’s Joe Fry had been the long-time leader, setting a time of 45:24.970 in the early wave of riders on the 34.8km course.
Cullaigh finally dethroned Fry in the closing stages, taking more than 40 seconds off his time by finishing the three laps in 44:40.240.
Here is the moment @OfficialWIGGINS's @scottdavies95 made history with a third U23 time trial win at the #RoadChamps https://t.co/j17FPyefpz
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 23, 2016
But the pre-race favourites were the last two to go, with Tao Geoghegan Hart and Scott Davies tipped to top the podium.
Geoghegan Hart won the pre-race Twitter poll, and briefly topped the leaderboard with a time of 44:29.710, but with Davies seeking a record-breaking third title in a row, the 20-year-old from Carmarthen was not to be denied.
He secured a hat-trick of titles, crossing the line in Stockton-on-Tees town centre in 44:10.430.
Here is the moment @OfficialWIGGINS's @scottdavies95 made history with a third U23 time trial win at the #RoadChamps https://t.co/j17FPyefpz
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 23, 2016
After his run, an exhausted Davies said:
"I don't think I've ever gone that hard to be honest, that's how it feels at the moment anyway.
"I've won it for a third time, I've done what I set out to do and I'm really happy to have done it."
Under-23 men's time trial results
Gallery
