Alex Dowsett (Movistar) will wear the jersey of national time trial champion for another year after claiming his third successive title in Stewarton, Scotland.
Dowsett, who last month claimed his first Grand Tour victory against the clock on stage eight of the Giro d’Italia, was the last to roll off the start ramp as defending champion but crashed heavily early on the 49.2km course.
But the 24-year-old recovered to stop the clock in one hour, two minutes and 30 seconds, ahead of Matt Bottrill (www.drag2zero.com) and Team Sky’s Ben Swift.
Dowsett later said his crash was due to a faulty tubular tyre. The Essex-born rider suffered significant cuts on his left side and had to change bikes, all but wiping out the lead he had previously built up over pace-setter Bottrill.
“It was my first crash in a time trial,” said Dowsett. “I was racing without any information on power or speed and only had my gears as reference.
“But I knew that as long as I could get settled I could still do a good job. Once I knew I was five seconds up half way round I knew I could do it.
“I was up quick after the crash. My hands were suffering the most, I couldn’t grip the bars. I just had to grin and bear it.
“When I first took this jersey, I think it was Wiggins who said ‘whoever takes this is only looking after this for me.’ But I’m going to have this for three years now and I’m becoming quite attached to it.”
Glad to keep my stripey jumper, growing quite attached to it. Thanks for the support out there. I didn’t make that easy for myself.
— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) June 20, 2013
Meanwhile, Joanna Rowsell (Wiggle-Honda) beat Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans) to the women’s title.
Rowsell, who is concentrating on the road this season having won Olympic team pursuit gold with Laura Trott and Dani King in 2012, clocked 49 minutes and 25 seconds over the 35.2km course.
“I set this as a target quite early in the season just because it was something I knew I could come and do,” said Rowsell. “Initially I was quite worried about the distance being 22 miles, but now I think they suit me actually.”
Armitstead passed Trott, who started a minute ahead of her, en-route to second but eventually stopped the clock 32 seconds short of Rowsell’s time, while Katie Colclough (Specialized-Lululemon) completed the podium.
Armitstead will start Sunday’s road race as favourite and believes she is in the right form to win a second national title after previously pulling the jersey on in 2011.
“The feelings were good,” she said after the time trial. “I couldn’t have gone any harder, but I wasn’t pulling a lung out to do it either so the sensations are getting better which is what I wanted.”
Over the moon to be National Time Trial Champion :D Fantastic support and a great tough course! Thank you for all the messages x
— Joanna Rowsell (@JoannaRowsell) June 20, 2013
Men’s result
1) Alex Dowsett (Movistar) – 1:02.30
2) Matt Bottrill (www.drag2zero.com) +21″
3) Ben Swift (Team Sky) +21″
4) Doug Dewey (Hennebont Cyclisme) +32″
5) Luke Rowe (Team Sky) +49″
6) James Gullen (Hope Factory Racing) +1’21”
7) James McLaughlin (Sojasun ANC) +1’50”
8) Ben Peacock (Paisley Velo) +2’16”
9) Chris Opie (UK Youth) +2’25”
10) Rob Partridge (UK Youth) +2’33”
Women’s result
1) Joanna Rowsell (Wiggle-Honda) – 49:25 minutes
2) Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans) +32″
3) Katie Colclough (Specialized-Lululemon) +1’37”
4) Emma Trott (Boels-Dolmans) +1’56”
5) Laura Trott (Wiggle-Honda) +2’01”
6) Lucy Coldwell (Unattached) +2’15”
7) Elinor Barker (Wiggle-Honda) +2’17”
8) Anna Turvey (Tyneside Vagabonds CC) +2’38”
9) Hannah Barnes (MG-Maxifuel) +2’57”
10) Julia Shaw (www.drag2zero.com) +3’19”
