Emotional Steve Cummings hopeful national time trial win will secure Tour de France spot
Steve Cummings hopes that his victory in the British Time Trial Championships is enough to earn him Tour de France selection - Alex Dowsett admits he couldn't have done anymore to beat the Dimension Data rider.


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
An emotional Steve Cummings has said that his win in the British Time Trial Championships confirms the form he thought he had - and he is now hopeful that he will be selected in Dimension Data's Tour de France squad.
The 36-year-old beat defending champion Alex Dowsett (Movistar) by eight seconds in the Isle of Man on Thursday evening to secure his first senior national stripes.
Remarkably, it was Cummings's first race since he fractured his collarbone, sternum and scapula in a crash at the Tour of the Basque Country in April.
He was a late entrant to the time trial, with Dimension Data only insisting this week that they wanted to assess the Merseysider's form to see if he could ride a three-week Grand Tour on the back of a 10 week lay off.
>>> Steve Cummings edges out Alex Dowsett to win British National Time Trial Championships
After winning, Cummings went backstage on the podium to cry and then shed tear in a TV interview afterwards. The victory, after a frustrating few months, meant a lot, for it proved his condition is worthy of Tour selection.
"Today is the perfect confirmation of what I was seeing in training and feeling," he said. "I said in the morning that I would go full gas. I managed to go faster and I was probably better than what I thought. It's pretty cool to be national champ."
Cummings, who was joined by his Dimension Data DS Roger Hammond, told Cycling Weekly before the race that being picked for the Tour was dependent on his result in the time trial and Sunday's road race. Asked what he needed to do, he joked: "There's no pressure expect I have to win one of them! No, I have to do a good performance, that's crucial."
He is confident that he has done enough to earn a place in the South African outfit's nine-man roster where he is aiming to win a Tour stage for the third successive year.
Who will win the 2017 Tour de France?
"I have to prove myself this weekend because that's what the team want," he added.
"Unfortunately, I can't just say I am ready, I have to prove it. If I am dropped on the first climb [on Sunday] I won't be in the team. But if I am in the final racing for the win, I might be there.
"My mind is alright. I am confident in the work I have done and the process I have done over the years to get me in shape and to get me results.
"I'm always pretty confident. I am a logical guy; I look at the numbers and what I do in training. But it's the Tour and I understand that the team wanted to see me race, because three weeks is a long time if you're not on form."
As for doing the Nationals double on Sunday? "Of course, why not? I'll try me best," he smiled.
Dowsett, meanwhile, was understandably upset at not being able to win a record-equalling sixth national time trial title, and he also doesn't expect to earn a call up to Movistar's Tour squad.
>>> Who are all the new national champions?
"I'm not happy, but I couldn't have done any more," he said. "That was probably one of my best rides I've ever done at the Nationals - I got everything out. I tore myself apart up the climb and on the corners.
"I'm happy for Steve. He's a had a rough year and I'm sure he will do the jersey proud.
"I thought he was going to be either really, really good or nowhere. I've jumped onto Zwift a few times and knew he had been working hard.
"Steve out rode me, but not by a great amount. It was a good race, a good fight, we had to dig deep. I couldn't have done a great deal more."
As for the Tour de France, Dowsett said: "I’ll be surprised if they [Movistar] take me. There’s no team time trial and with two GC guys, they don’t give a monkey’s what I can do in a time trial. I’d have to go as a helper and my team is full of them.”
Thank you for reading 20 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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Chris first started writing for Cycling Weekly in 2013 on work experience and has since become a regular name in the magazine and on the website. Reporting from races, long interviews with riders from the peloton and riding features drive his love of writing about all things two wheels.
Probably a bit too obsessed with mountains, he was previously found playing and guiding in the Canadian Rockies, and now mostly lives in the Val d’Aran in the Spanish Pyrenees where he’s a ski instructor in the winter and cycling guide in the summer. He almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains.
-
-
Best long sleeved cycling jerseys 2023 for fall and spring riding, reviewed and rated
A long sleeved cycling jersey is a riding wardrobe staple, providing protection against cooler temperatures
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
‘Infectious positivity’ helped UK rider earn his first WorldTour ride with EF Education-EasyPost
Jack Rootkin-Gray will make WorldTour debut in 2024 with Jonathan Vaughters managed American team
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'Pure happiness': Pfeiffer Georgi conquers the pressure to take second British national title
The 22-year-old dealt a killer blow with her attack on the final climb
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Josh Tarling and Lizzie Holden storm to victory at British National Time Trial Championships
Dominant Tarling becomes youngest winner ever of TT race while Holden pips Anna Morris and Elinor Barker to title
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I'm on my own, and everyone knows I'm a favourite' - Fred Wright aims for glory at British National Championships
The Bahrain Victorious rider will take to the start line of both the TT and the road race as a favourite
By Adam Becket Published
-
Six riders to watch at the British national championships 2023
Geraint Thomas, Fred Wright, Anna Henderson and Katie Archibald are just some of the stars lining up in Redcar and Cleveland.
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Former pro Dan Martin nominated for prestigious book prize
Irishman’s autobiography Chased by Pandas is up for Sunday Times cycling book of the year
By Cycling Weekly Published
-
Changing of the guard: Seven top cyclists who have retired in 2022
Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde and Tom Dumoulin have all called time on their careers this year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Facing retirement, Alex Dowsett is keeping his options well and truly open
33-year-old Israel-Premier Tech rider says reaction to his retirement has been 'exciting'
By Adam Becket Published
-
Alex Dowsett to retire from professional cycling
33-year-old Israel-Premier Tech rider says his future is still going to be on two wheels, just not in WorldTour
By Adam Becket Published