No Steve Cummings at the British Time Trial Championships 2018, saving it for the road race or just no form? – it looked like a shoot-out then between Dauphine winner, Geraint Thomas and chrono specialist Alex Dowsett (Katusha).
The sun was out, our spot on the hill was perfect, the marshal was sound with not a trace of Janitordom and Dave’s cheese and ham pieces were of exceptional quality.
And Britain’s best bike riders were set to scoot past us.
Not much more a man can want in life.
But first, a trip to the start.
We missed the ladies race but did catch winner, Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM) taking the last corner – but what is that team strip about?
The OnePro team bus, ‘did a GreenEdge in Corsica, 2013’ and almost wedged itself under the start/finish gantry – but there were men on hand with ladders to sort it out…
The Wiggins team have the best of kit, the ‘full bifta’ Pinarello Bolides – but we hear that the cable routing is the stuff of premature ageing for mechanics.
You just think the CTT are big into rules – but the UCI are the Daddies and if your bike don’t fit that jig, you don’t start.
We make the best price on Dura Ace ‘bar end shifters’ 65 quid – less though when you hacksaw the ends off them.
Neah Evans produced a strong ride for bronze behind those Barnes Girls.
But it was time for us to ‘head’ – we didn’t want trapped at the start/finish by the road closure.
The u23 riders were first out for two laps of the testing but not too technical circuit.
The man we turn to for information on riders, Harry Tweed, tells us that Adam Wild (GS Metro) is studying at Edinburgh Uni.
We noticed from a Cycling Weekly report that he won a North East ‘10’ with a ‘19’ but a local worthy told us he’s produced an ‘18’ on his local roads.
An ‘18’ or not, 26th was his final place.
Scottish ex-Raleigh man, Fraser Martin is with Saint Piran, this year – the team’s website tells us:
“Saint Piran is Cornwall’s first elite cycling team. Our commitment is twofold: to give talented riders the opportunity to perform on the national stage and, by 2023, to compete as an accredited Continental Professional Squad in the world’s biggest races.”
Interesting – and 24th spot for Fraser on the day.
Former Scottish junior 10 mile champion and ex-Spokes man, Finn Crockett is with Wheelbase Castelli for 2018; he was rewarded for his efforts with 16th place.
Fred Wright may look the part as a ‘tester’ – he was 12th best – but he’s actually a talented track rider and has been European junior team pursuit champion.
More Scottish talent, 2017 British points race champion, Joe Nally is with 100% ME for this year and track man or nae, has to ride the TT champs; 22nd place said the watches.
They don’t lie but I’ll bet the Columbians have a way to fiddle them…
Dooleys’ Alex Macrae was off the tri-bars for the climb and didn’t look to be enjoying the heat – the u23’s rode during the hottest part of the day.
Scot, Andy Brown is with Dan Fleeman’s former club, Metaltek Kuota for 2018; 33rd spot today.
We interviewed the huge talent that is Ethan Hayter, earlier this year – just 19 and he can wear a rainbow jersey in the team pursuit.
He’s also a very capable road rider with fifth overall in the recent Ronde de l’Oise.
He was just out of the medals in fourth spot.
Wheelbase Scot, Angus Claxton was a reserve but got a ride – the road race especially was dogged with DNF, some 30-plus not starting.
We interviewed Angus back at the end of 2016 as a kermis rider – and here he is riding the event that stamp guys like least, a time trial; 27th under that hot sun.
The result was really never in doubt as Commonwealth games pursuit and world team pursuit champion Charlie Tanfield blasted his stylish two laps.
Leopard’s Charlie Quarterman second and multi-talented Tom Pidcock third.
* * *
There was a break in proceedings before the Elites started their three laps.
Scottish hill climb champion, David Griffiths was first out of the traps but not on a good day with health issues compromising his ride – get well soon, sir.
John Archibald was ‘on it’ though and it at the end of the day would be fourth behind TT heavy artillery, Thomas, Tanfield and Dowsett.
And on Sunday past he was the author of the third fastest ‘25’ of all time with 44:41 and with his Ribble team mates took three minutes off the British ‘25’ team record – wow!
When we watched big Madison Genesis rider Connor Swift storm past to an eventual 10th place, little did we realise that come Sunday he’d pull the surprise of the year and win the British Elite Road race Champs.
And just to confirm that VeloVeritas was working hard under that hot sun, here’s a shot of our editor/photog Martin in action.
Aberdeen Wheelers fast man Jamie Davidson enjoyed the experience of competing against some of the world’s premier time trial riders, 22nd spot said the result sheet.
VeloVeritas first chatted to Harry Tanfield a year or two ago when he came up for the Gordon Arms TT – little did we know that he’s be a Commonwealth Games and Worlds contender on road and track in the not too distant future.
Silver here to go with Commonwealth silver in the time trial.
When I watched Alex Dowsett finish eighth in the World time test at Valkenburg in 2012 I was convince that it wouldn’t be long before he was on the podium
And whilst there was that Giro TT win and multiple GB TT champs wins he’s never reached the top of the world stage – third today.
When you see riders of the quality of multiple CTT champion Ryan Perry (drag2zero.com) finish behind John Archibald in 17th spot, it reminds you how much the man from Glasgow has progressed.
Likewise James Gullen (JLT Condor), RAS winner and super-fast 10 miler, fifth behind Archibald.
But with the Dauphine win in his legs it was apparent from early in the day that the Welshman Geraint Thomas was going to win.
Geraint for the Tour podium?
Only if Froome gets eaten by a bear – there’s only one gunslinger in Christopher’s town.
‘Chapeau’ to all the Scots who rode, great to see you in actions, guys – especially in the sunshine…
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