Stockton-On-Tees
Dowsett, Simmonds And Davies Back Up Their Twenty-Fifteen Titles Here In Stockton-On-Tees In The National Time Trial Championships 2016 Defending champion Alex Dowsett [Movistar] successfully reclaims his Time Trial National Jersey in Stockton-On-Tees for an impressive fifth senior title. Setting the quickest first split, Dowsett was the odd-on favorite around the circuit through the High Street, along the Riverside and out of town before returning for another three laps. James Gullen [Pedal Heaven] posted the closest time for Silver over a minute down and Ryan Perry [Langdale Lightweights RT] the Bronze. Talking in-front of the assembled cheering crowd Dowsett praised Stockton Council on their circuit layout and organization.
The whole Town Centre aspect of time-trialing is really something quite incredible. (Last year’s circuit was on a partly closed circuit at Cadwell Park Racing circuit near Louth, Lincolnshire) The atmosphere was really great, even out of town there were a lot of people watching. I think the course suited the spectator crowd, so Stockton should be proud of what they put on today.
For me personally I paced it I’d say, as perfectly as I could.
The gap to second last year was a lot bigger. I’ve seen these guys at 10s this year and it’s great to see British time-trialing really coming up.
When Alex was asked about another hour record attempt in the near future: I hope so, the bar has been set quite high by Wiggins (Bradley). I know I’m capable of it from the numbers from the last attempt. It’s just a question of when. 54k is not a distance to taking lightly. It’s a huge ask from my team [Movistar] as well to set it up. It takes months to set up. I can’t see it happening this year, but possibly for next year.
All images ©CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk
Hayley Simmonds successfully defended her first National title from twenty-fifteen backing up her win having spent most of the year riding abroad riding her first professional contract.
Back on her beloved Cervelo P5, Simmonds put over half a minute on her closest on-form rival Claire Rose [Podium Ambition p/b Club La Santa] who took Silver, with Team-mate Dame Sarah Storey close behind for Bronze.
Cycling Shorts: What have you been up to recently?
Simmonds: With-in the last couple of weeks I’ve recently changed Teams. I was riding professionally for Unitedhealthcare, I made the decision when they offered me, to be let out of my contract, so I accepted that. I made the decision to ride for Aerocoach.
It was a really hard decision to leave the team. I had to weigh-up in my mind, was I prepared to potentially sacrifice defending my title today to remain on the team.
I decided that I wasn’t and that defending my title today probably meant more to me.
I want to return to a UCI team, I want to be a professional bike rider.
Hopefully I’ll be able to find a UCI team for next year.
I’m lucky that I managed to find some guest rides in UCI races for the later part of the year. So I will still be keeping my hand in UCI races.
Cycling Shorts: How did you find the course here in Stockton-On-Tees and did it suit you?
Simmonds: I didn’t think it suited me. When I looked at the course before, I didn’t think it suited me as much as last year’s course did. But it was a good course. It was a really interesting course. It was a course of two parts.
It had a technical bit in the town centre and the dual carriageway section that was more of a traditional time trial course.
The bit in the town centre was actually really good in terms of support from local people and I was lucky enough to meet some of the local people a couple of weeks ago when I first came to look at the course.
The support was great and yeh! It suited me enough.
Interview – Hayley Simmonds 2016 National TT Champion by Cycling Shorts
Haley Simmonds talks to CyclingShorts.cc writer / Photographer Chris Maher after taking the 2016 National TT Champion title in Stockton.
In the U23 Time Trial, Scott Davies [Team Wiggins] also defended his twenty-fifteen title beating Tao Geoghegen Hart [Axeon Hagens Berman CT] for Silver by nineteen seconds with Gabriel Cullaigh [100%ME] a further thirty seconds back off the pace.
- 40 Davies Scott Team Wiggins 44: 44:10.43
- 39 Geoghegan Hart Tao Axeon Hagens Berman CT 44:29.81 @9.38
- 34 Cullaigh Gabriel 100% ME 44:40.24 @29.81
- 35 Hetherington Ben Planet X – Northside Cycling 44:[email protected]
- 38 Baylis Thomas One Pro Cycling 44:53.39 @42.96
- 37 Shaw James Lotto Soudal U23 45:12.22 @01:01.8
- 12 Fry Joseph Pedal Heaven 45:24.97 @01:14.5
- 28 Kelly Jake Team Wiggins 45:42.33 @01:31.8
- 36 Stewart Mark 100% ME 45:54.37 @01:43.9
- 30 Latham Christopher Team Wiggins 45:54.60 @01:44.2
- 50 Hayley Simmonds Aerocoach 47:33.36
- 44 Claire Rose Podium Ambition p/b Club La Santa 48:06.32 @0:32.96
- 47 Dame Sarah Storey Podium Ambition p/b Club La Santa 48:12.47 @0:06.15
- 49 Emma Pooley 48:33.46 @0:20.99
- 45 Hannah Barnes Canyon – SRAM 49:29.28 @0:55.82
- 40 Julia Shaw 49:39.92 @0:10.64
- 48 Molly Weaver Liv-Plantur 49:53.32 @0:13.40
- 11 Elizabeth-Jane Harris Podium Ambition p/b Club La Santa 50:56.20 @1:02.88
- 9 Angela Hibbs Fusion RT Fierlan 51:03.12 @0:06.92
- 42 Abby-Mae Parkinson Servetto Footon 51:13.39 @0:10.27
- 40 Alex Dowsett Movistar Team 0:55:38.52
- 35 James Gullen Pedal Heaven 0:56:54.83
- 38 Ryan Perry Langdale Lightweights Racing Team 0:57:52.53
- 32 Peter Williams One Pro Cycling 0:58:15.36
- 26 Richard Handley One Pro Cycling 0:59:09.39
- 33 Samuel Harrison Team Wiggins 0:59:11.87
- 37 Lloyd Chapman Pedal Heaven 0:59:36.73
- 20 Ashley Cox CC Luton 0:59:45.70
- 36 Andrew Tennant Team Wiggins 0:59:59.87
- 34 Rhys Howells Richardsons-Trek RT 1:00:04.48
