Welshman Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) has delivered an outstanding performance in the British Road Nationals Elite Men’s Time Trial to go a full minute clear of his rivals and duly clinch the gold medal.
“It's a bit weird to have won! Weird, but super happy. Super cool to have won against some big hitters and really nice that I get to wear this in some cool races now," Tarling said. "I think it was important not to go too hard at the start. I didn't want to go too easy when I felt good."
The course for the time trial national championship was held on a 13.7km circuit in North Yorkshire on flat roads adjacent to the Croft Motor Racing Circuit.
A total of 25 starters took the line in the pit lane of the Croft Circuit then rolled across the roads of Dalton-on-Tees for three laps and a total of 41.1km, with less than 50 metres of climbing per lap.
Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ) set the early best time of 52:17:43 and then Michael Gill (HUUB WattShop) went 21 seconds faster from the first wave of riders.
Swift was the first rider to record an intermediate time under 16:33, going under that mark by four-hundredths of a second. His time was then swept away by his Ineos teammate Tarling, who went 37 seconds faster with a 15:56 at the intermediate check.
Gill was still in the hot seat, but would not stay there much longer with the final riders on the course. Although Swift briefly marked the top time at the finish, Tarling then swept across the line to clock a new best course time of 48:50.
Neither two of the top late starters, Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) nor Dan Bigham were able to come anywhere near Tarling’s best time at the intermediate split, with Bigham 37 seconds adrift and Wright at 43. Bigham finally slumped to 2:16 down at the finish, with Wright claiming silver ahead of Swift, with Charlie Tanfield (Saint Piran) in fourth.
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling
-
Seven people arrested after Specialized and AliExpress dismantle major counterfeiting operation
$1.1 million worth of counterfeit Specialized, Roval, Pinarello, Cervélo, Cannondale and Trek product seized -
Puck Pieterse set to return to racing action at UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Namur
Top Dutch riders make cyclocross return in series round four -
Breaking through at the Tour of Bright – The up-and-coming riders who stood out at the club race with a history of highlighting talent
From 17-year-old Neve Parslow's charge up Tawonga Gap alongside Brodie Chapman to the Mount Buffalo triumph of 19-year-old Levi Hone -
Tearful Lucinda Brand dedicates tears and World Cup win to her mother on Sunday on record-breaking day
Dutch cyclocross star sets new mark of consecutive cyclocross podiums stretching back to January 2024
