Sam Harrison wins British under-23 time trial championship

Under-23 podium, British time trial championships 2013

Sam Harrison (100% ME) turned in an impressive performance on what he described as a "flowing" course around Stewarton near Kilmarnock to win the 2013 Under-23 time trial championship on Thursday.

Harrison pushed recently-crowned National ‘25' champion Joe Perrett (IG Sigma Sport) into second place with his 100% ME team mate George Atkins in third.

"I heard that I was fastest on the PA at the end of the first lap," said Harrison later, "and I looked at my computer and reckoned I had about 25 seconds. Plus I could see the (IG Sigma) car in the distance at some points, so I knew I was going OK."

Harrison has had a tricky season so far, crashing and injuring himself in the Under-23 Tour of Flanders, then picking up a infection that required antibiotics and crashing again in the Fleche du Sud stage race.

"I seemed to spend a lot of this season going to stage races playing catch up, going to some races a bit short of form then finishing them tired. I was meant to go to the Thuringen Rundfahrt stage race but I opted out because I wanted to prepare properly for this. I suppose I was taking a bit of a chance but it's worked out OK," smiled Harrison.

In fact, Harrison declared that he had been on a really good day, something he realised from the start. "I glanced a couple of times at my SRM but I ignored it to be honest - that could have been a disaster - but I felt good and was riding a bit above what I thought I could do. The thing is, if you don't sometimes push yourself, how do you really know what your limits are? I was sprinting up the rises and recovering a little bit over the top, but, like I said, I just felt like I was on a good day and when I knew I had a lead I held a little back for the last few kilometers."

Harrison will ride the Elite road race on Sunday, then have a five days off before he starts the preparation for the Under-23 European championships, via the Tour of the Czech Republic. Between this win and input from his new coach Paul Manning, the second half of his season has started a lot better than the first.

"Hopefully I'll get selected for the World's under-23 World's in Verona, I hear the course is a bit hilly, which would probably suit me OK." On his Stewarton form, it probably would.

Result

Under-23 men time trial

1. Sam Harrison (100% ME) 35.2km in 44-47.965

2. Joseph Perrett (IG- Sigma Sport) at 23 secs

3. George Atkins (100% ME) at 1-25

4. Daniel Mclay (Lotto-Belisol U23) at 2-04

5. Jonathan Dibben (100% ME) at 2-42

6. Jon Mould (UK Youth) at 2-56

7. Joshua Teasdale (Terra Footwear-Bicycle Line) at 3-26

8. Liam Glen (Wheelbase Altura MGD) at 3-41

9. Elliott Porter (Rapha-Condor-JLT) at 3-42

10. Edward Laverack (Rapha-Condor-JLT) at 3-42

George Atkins

Joe Perrett

Sam Harrison

Twitter: @KenBobPryde

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