Former European junior champion Joe Perrett came of age as he upset the favourites to win Sunday's National 25-mile time trial championship in Lincolnshire.
Fourth last year, the 22-year-old Team IG Sigma Sport rider clocked 49-21 for victory by ten seconds over Matt Bottrill (www.drag2zero.com) with defending champion Michael Hutchinson (In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT) - bidding for a record seventh title - pushed back into the bronze medal position in 49-58.
Perrett's team-mate Ryan Mullen took fourth place in 50-57 ahead of Jeff Jones, 51-38, and Mark Holton, 51-47, who combined with Bottrill to secure the team title for www.drag2zero.com.
The result gave Perrett, from Ilford, his first senior title and a boost in his bid for selection for next month's European Under-23 championships. "I'm very happy with it, and a little surprised," he said.
"I've been slowly improving over the past month, but I hadn't raced these guys all year - I just got my head down and tried to go as fast as possible and not over-complicate things.
"The course was nice and flat, which is great for me, and it had a few twists and turns in it which I think suited me more than Matt and Michael. I enjoyed it as a good test.
"I want to ride the European Championships, I'm doing everything possible to get myself there, and hopefully this hasn't done my chances any harm."
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The halfway check showed Perrett, whose winning time broke Bottrill's course record by just under two minutes, five seconds to the good over Bottrill with Hutchinson a further eight seconds back.
Defending champion and pre-race favourite Julia Shaw (www.drag2zero.com) duly made it six titles at the distance, clocking 56-18 to win from surprise packet Anna Turvey (Tyneside Vagabonds CC), 57-39, who secured her first championship medal after finishing fifth in last month's ‘10'.
Rebecca Slack (Look Mum No Hands) repeated last year's bronze medal with third place in 58-18.
With favourite Scott Davies (Liverpool Mercury Dolan CC) a non-starter, the junior men's title went to Luke Hattersley (St Ives CC) who extended a four-second advantage at halfway into a gap of 46 seconds over Christopher Fennell (PMR@Toachim House) by the finish, 55-38 to 56-24. Third place went to Charlie Lowndes (MG Decor Team Carbon Bikes Solutions), 57-03.
Second in the 10-mile championship, Bryony Board (Glendene CC) moved up one to land the junior women's title in 1-03-58, beating Sophie Dorey (Guernsey VC) by 59 seconds.
Luke Hattersley
Julia Shaw
Joe Perrett
Bottrill, Perrett and Hutchinson
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