Alice Barnes wins British National women's time trial with Henderson top in under-23 race

The younger sister took the top step after scooping a silver medal last year

Alice Barnes (Canyon-SRAM) won the British National Time Trial title, relieving her elder sister of the honours, having come in second place last year.

The younger Barnes stormed through the 16.6 mile course, leaving from Sandringham Estate, in 36 minutes 27 seconds.

The 'out' leg gradually gained elevation, into a strong headwind, with the return journey largely downhill and sped up thanks to favourable wind conditions (see the course GPX here).

The 23-year-old Canyon-SRAM rider was 14s faster than 2015 and 2016 champion, Hayley Simmonds (BTC City Ljubljana), who narrowly defeated Barnes to take the bronze medal just days ago at the European Games in Minsk.

Last year's reigning champion, Hannah Barnes, came in third - in a time of 36-44.

"I got back form the European Games last night, I came away with two fourth places and I was pretty gutted with that. I think I misjudged my TT there, and I wanted to make up for it here. I'm really happy obviously," Barnes said following her win.

"I've not won an Elite title yet, so I'm really happy, and can't wait to get my skinsuit," she added.

See more

In fourth, new recruit to the women's UCI peloton Elizabeth Banks (Bigla) was nipping at the heels of the podium, in 36-52.

The best placed rider from outside of the UCI peloton was Emma Lewis, who took fifth place.

Riding for The Independent Pedaler team, sponsored by the Canterbury based coffee stop location, she was 2-05 in arrears of the winner.

The 2016 and 2017 RTTC National Closed Circuit TT Champion has set multiple course records across the country at Cycling Time Trials (CTT) events in the past few months, making a transition from road racing with Brother UK-FusionRT.

Not far behind was Drops Cycling's newest recruit, Joscelin Lowden. Another rider relatively new to cycling, the result sees the former runner return to racing after sustaining a broken arm and separated shoulder in a crash at the Tour of California, her debut with the team.

>> British National Road Championships 2019 route: all you need to know

Britain's most decorated Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, finished in ninth in 37-53.

The start list include included last year's third placed rider, Neah Evans (Team HUUB), alongside team mate and Olympic track champion Katie Archibald.

The pair finished 12 and 13th respectively, with extensive track programmes not playing out well in the long solo event.

The under-23 women set off, riding the same course, from 5-55pm.

British National Women's Time Trial Championships, 2019 (16.6 miles)

1 Alice Barnes (Canyon-SRAM), 36-12

2 Hayley Simmonds (BTC City Ljubljana), 36-27

3 Hannah Barnes (Canyon-SRAM), 36-44

4 Elizabeth Banks (Bigla), 36-52

5 Emma Lewis  (The Independent Pedaler), 37-01

6 Emily Meakin (The Independent Pedaler), 37-11

7 Joscelin Lowden (Drops), 37-33

8 Victoria Smith (AeroCoach), 37-41

9 Dame Sarah Storey (Storey Racing), 37-53

10 Anna Morris (AeroLab Ward WheelZ), 37-57

Henderson wins under-23 women

Picture by Zac Williams/SWpix.com
(Image credit: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com)

The inaugural under-23 women's time trial was the final event on the day's agenda, with the first rider off at 5.55pm.

Being the first of its kind meant there was no defending champion, but riders were seeded with Anna Henderson the last to leave the ramp.

The 20-year-old put in a solid performance to take the win by a slender margin of 8 seconds, with a time of 37-57, ahead of Drops' Elizabeth Holden.

Pfeiffer Georgi, who joined the UCI ranks at Team Sunweb this year, completed the podium with 38-23.

Henderson emptied the tank to take the win, only discovering her success via a pat on the back as she lay on the grass recovering.

Speaking after the race, the 2019 British National Circuit Race Champion thanked the governing body for allowing the under-23 women their own competition.

"It's so great of BC to put on a stand alone under-23 event. To put on such a great show and have such great competition was good," she said.

"I'm pretty new into time trialling, to get a jersey is pretty sick [good!]."

See more

British National Under-23 Women's Time Trial Championships, 2019 (16.6 miles)

1 Anna Henderson (Brother UK - Tifosi p/b OnForm) 37-57

2 Elizabeth Holden (Drops) 38-05

3 Pfeiffer Georgi (Team Sunweb) 38-23

4 Sophie Wright (Bigla) 38-47.

5 Elizabeth Bennett (Campinense - Velo Performance) 39-22

6 Emily Wadsworth (Brother UK - Tifosi p/b OnForm) 40-07

7 Abigail Dentus (Brother UK - Tifosi p/b OnForm) 40-16

8 Monica Dew (Storey Racing) 40-33

9 April Tacey (Brother UK Fusion RT) 40-47

10 16 Lydia Watts (Cycle Team OnForm) 40-56

Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan is a traditional journalist by trade, having begun her career working for a local newspaper, where highlights included interviewing a very irate Freddie Star (and an even more irate theatre owner), as well as 'the one about the stolen chickens'.


Previous to joining the Cycling Weekly team, Michelle was Editor at Total Women's Cycling. She joined CW as an 'SEO Analyst', but couldn't keep her nose out of journalism and in the spreadsheets, eventually taking on the role of Tech Editor before her latest appointment as Digital Editor. 


Michelle is a road racer who also enjoys track riding and the occasional time trial, though dabbles in off-road riding too (either on a mountain bike, or a 'gravel bike'). She is passionate about supporting grassroots women's racing and founded the women's road race team 1904rt.


Michelle is on maternity leave from July 8 2022, until April 2023.