Dowsett claims third straight British time trial title

Alex Dowsett (Movistar) won his third straight British time trial championship today in East Ayrshire, near the Glasgow, Scotland city centre. The 24-year-old Dowsett completed the 49.2km course in 1:02:30, 20 seconds faster than runner-up Matthew Bottrill (www.drag2zero.com) who edged Ben Swift (Sky) for second place by one tenth of a second.

Despite suffering a crash on his first lap of the 24.6km loop, which left him bloodied and requiring a bike change, Dowsett recorded the fastest split time of 31:10, five seconds up on Bottrill and 27 seconds quicker than Swift. Dowsett, who won the stage 8 individual time trial at this year's Giro d'Italia, remained in control through to the finish for the victory.

"I'm really happy - it's not easy to win three times in a row," said Dowsett. "When I claimed the first one, Wiggins told me I had to take care of it, and to be honest, I feel really committed to it and it's becoming my favourite jersey.

"It was a hard one, because even though I got back well after the crash, I had some wounds in my hands and couldn't grab the handlebars well. I don't know what really happened, but it might have been a problem with the front tire. Besides, I lost my power meter and didn't know how I was doing. It's the first time I crashed in a TT, and it's important to look at the watts all the time. I also had pain in my elbow, but my pedal stroke was good, I was going well and had no other option but suffering until the end.

"I did a great Giro, now this championship... this season is being a really great one and I hope to stay like this for the remainder of the year."

For Bottrill, a full time postal worker, placing second amidst a pair of WorldTour riders felt as good as a victory.

"I'm really in shock," said Bottrill. "There was no pressure, it was up to the pros to try and beat me. I didn't know what the time gaps were, I didn't know Alex had crashed. I was being shouted at but didn't know what the words were.

"But 20 seconds, it's a big amount, I couldn't have found any more. It would have been amazing to have won it, the highlight of my career, but coming second is as well."

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Full Results
1Alex Dowsett (Movistar)1:02:30.85
2Matthew Bottrill (www.drag2zero.com)0:00:20.60
3Ben Swift (Sky Procycling)0:00:20.70
4Douglas Dewey (Hennebont Cyclisme)0:00:32.28
5Luke Rowe (Sky Procycling)0:00:48.86
6James Gullen (Hope Factory Racing)0:01:20.60
7James McLaughlin (Team Sojasun ACNC)0:01:50.20
8Benjamin Peacock (Paisley Velo Race Team)0:02:16.15
9Chris Opie (Team UK Youth)0:02:25.25
10Robert Partridge (Team UK Youth)0:02:33.34
11Simon Bridge (Manchester Whlrs Club)0:02:41.26
12Iain Grant (Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk)0:02:44.35
13Alistair Rutherford (Wheelbase Altura MGD)0:03:30.66
14Edward Perry (Ellan Vannin CC)0:03:58.25
15Alan Thomson (Sandy Wallace Cycles)0:04:12.54
16Darren Bell (Ellan Vannin CC)0:04:16.06
17Tom Black (Team Manx Telecom)0:04:22.05
18Arthur Doyle (Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk)0:04:33.25
19Scott Burns (Manchester Whlrs Club)0:05:17.17
20William Bjergfelt (MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling)0:05:37.49
21Gerry McGarrity (Inverclyde Velo)0:05:40.78
22Silas Goldsworthy (Sandy Wallace Cycles)0:06:21.41
23Sean Childs (Roy. Navy & Roy. Marines)0:06:41.79
24James Cusick (Glasgow Couriers)0:06:49.52
25Gavin Shirley (Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk)0:06:54.93
26Jerry Cross (Manchester Whlrs Club)0:07:17.37
27Graeme Hatcher (Fietsen Tempo)0:07:40.96
28David Watson (Coventry Road Club)0:08:39.32
29Mark Skilling (Ayr Roads Cycling Club)0:08:45.52
30Christopher Staples (Fullarton Wheelers)0:10:29.00

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