Claire Rose (Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling) took victory in the women's time trial at the British Road National Championships as defending champion Hayley Simmonds (Team WNT) missed out on a third successive title.
Rose, who finished second in 2016, was the penultimate rider down the start ramp, and powered around the 22km course in a time of 32-11, enough to put her top of the leaderboard by 19 seconds ahead of Canyon-SRAM.
The only rider left to finish was two-time national champion Simmonds, but she was unable to replicate the form of recent years, finishing 28 seconds behind Rose in a time of 32-39.
Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com 22/06/2017 - Cycling - HSBC UK British Cycling National Championships - Road Isle of Man 22/25 June 2017 - Day 1 Time Trial Championships
(Image credit: SWpix.com)
That time was only good enough for fourth place, with the podium completed by Simmonds' Team WNT team-mate Katie Archibald.
"It’s not quite sunk in yet, but I’m really, really happy. I knew at about the halfway point that I was just up, so I was really gunning it on the second half of the course," Rose said after her victory.
"With time trials, it’s just about your own effort and really thinking about what you can do rather than what everyone else can do, so that’s how I approach it. I’m over the moon to be able to wear the national champion’s jersey."
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The under-23 time trial went to Anna Christian (Drops Cycling), ensuring that there was some Manx representation on the podium for the races on the Isle of Man.
Picture by Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com 22/06/2017 - Cycling - HSBC UK British Cycling National Championships - Road Isle of Man 22/25 June 2017 - Day 1 Time Trial Championships
(Image credit: SWpix.com)
Result
Women's British National Time Trial Championships (22km)
1. Claire Rose (GBr) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling, in 32-11-32
2. Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon-SRAM, at 19 secs
3. Katie Archibald (GBr) Team WNT, at 24 secs
4. Hayley Simmonds (GBr) Team WNT, at 28 secs
5. Elinor Barker (GBr) Matrix Pro Cycling, at 1-18
6. Neah Evans (GBr) Storey Racing, at 1-50
7. Anna Christian (GBr) Drops Cycling, at 2-02
8. Melissa Lowther (GBr) Team Breeze, at 2-16
9. Alice Barnes (GBr) Drops Cycling, at 2-19
10. Elizabeth-Jane Harris (GBr) Storey Racing, at 2-25
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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
