Tour de France revelation Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) added another championship to his long list of victories when he trounced the opposition to win the 2009 British Time Trial Championship at Botoph Claydon, Buckinghamshire, on Sunday.
Swapping the mighty climbs of the Tour de France for the undulations of the Buckinghamshire countryside, Wiggins gave a grandstand performance for the hundreds who turned out to see him in action on British roads.
The Olympic and World’s medallist did not disappoint giving a virtuoso demonstration of his time trialling skills.
The crowd at the top of the hill in Botoph Claydon roared their appreciation as the stylish Wiggins powered his way up and over the climb already extending the two minutes he had started in front of defending champion Michael Hutchinson (In Gear-Quickvit RT).
At the end of the 31.2 miles Wiggins had put 2-19 in to Hutchinson who later said of Wiggins “he is a class act.” A sentiment that was echoed by Sunday’s many spectators who surrounded Wiggins as they crowded him asking for his autograph at the end of the day long festival of time trialling.
A HOST OF TITLES
With a host of titles to be fought for, from veterans to juniors, espoirs to women and seniors the North Bucks RC and Team Milton Keynes promotion for the joint British Cycling and Cycling Time Trials championship was a resounding success.
The day’s entertainment kicked off at 9am with 126 out of the entry of 149 `Masters` taking to the roads split in to 10 age groups, all racing over two laps of the circuit for a total of 20.8 miles.
Fastest of the lot was `B` category rider Jeff Jones (Chippenham & District Wheelers) with a 45-09 while Danny Axford (Arctic-Premier RT)
won the `A` group with 45-14, Kevin Tye (ODL Securities-Pushbikes) the `D` with 45-34; Steve Walkling (Velocity Bikes CC) the `C` with 45-50 ahead of Richard Prebble (Candi TVMarshals Pasta), 46-02.
“I started with low expectations, hoping I might surprise myself,” Prebble admitted.
The rest of the honours went to Colin Grifiths (Welland Valley CC), `E`, 47-15; `F` Bob Garlinge (Team Quest-The Bike Shop) 48-55; `G` Reg Smith (DCB Kent) 49-18; `H` 
Roger Iddles (Stourbidge Velo) 48-21 adding to his win in the Masters World’s in Austria; `I` the irrepressible Mick Ives (Team Endura), 54-10, notching up his 65th title, and finally his team mate John Bevan was best of the `J` category with 56-59.
Despite his impressive total of titles Ives is still not ready to give in “I am going to make it 70,” he promised.
REFRESHMENT TIME
That took care of the morning’s racing leaving time to sample the refreshments back at the even headquarters in the village hall, efficiently provided by the ladies of Claydon’s Women’s Institute.
As a happy Danny Axford said “it was worth coming here for the tea and cakes.”
Before the afternoon’s events got underway riders had to have their machines checked to make sure they complied with UCI regulations, the event was under that bodies rules with British Cycling’s Commissaire Colin Docker in charge of proceedings.
Juniors were limited to a top gear of 7.93 metres and every machine was checked to ensure they were within the required UCI parameters.
Those that were not faced some quick adjustments and even a hacksaw was taken to some tri-bars.
Like the vets, the Juniors, Espoirs and Women had to cover two laps of the circuit, used for a Rudy Project event a couple of years ago.
JUNIORS FIRST
The Juniors were first to the line with the girls and it was Hannah Barnes (Candi TV-Marshals Pasta) who was the best of them, retaining her 2008 title. Top seed Joe Perrett (Glendene CC-Biketrax) lived up to expectations and he too retained his title with a winning 44-27. His National Championship Jersey makes an addition to the European Junior Time Trial Championship he won earlier this season.
At half distance Jamie Rogers (Scunthorpe Poly CC) was holding second place, six seconds up on Conor Dunne (Hemel Hempstead CC). The second lap saw Dunne wipe out the gap and put five seconds in to Rogers to take second place with 45-47 to Rogers’s 45-52. It will be remembered that Dunne was also second in the RTTC Junior 10-mile championship this year.
ESPOIRS EVER HOPEFUL
The Espoirs, or under-23s, took the stage next and again it was a defending champion setting the pace, Alex Dowsett (100% ME). Dowsett, one of British Cycling’s Italian based squad, established an early lead with a rapid 20-30 first leg which put him 19 seconds up on nearest challenger Andy Tennant (Halfords-Bikehut).
A further 20 seconds gain left Dowsett in command with 42-37 to Tennant’s second place 43-16. Andrew Grifiths (New Heebra Lombarden), 43-46, filled the final podium place.
Dowsett spends a lot of time helping his squad team mates so a solo time trial gives him his own space. “I have not had too good a year but it is all coming together now,” Dowsett said.
“An 11th place in the European Espoirs TT was pleasing and now I’ve had a good win today so I will be ready for the World’s later this month were I’m riding the time trial,” he added.
The World’s will also give him a chance to show off his new National Champions Jersey.
OLYMPIC LADIES
The Women’s event was eagerly awaited with Olympic and World’s medallists Emma Pooley (Cervelo Test Team) and Wendy Houvenaghel (Science in Sport) challenging domestic star Julia Shaw (Utag-Yamaha).
Shaw was sandwiched between Houvenaghel and Pooley on the start sheet and as the first lap finished Pooley was already in charge with a time of 22-22 to Houvenaghels’ 22-34 and Shaw’s 23-05.
Pooley was in her element on the climb to Botoph Claydon, her diminutive figure storming up the ascent showing the ability that helped her win the recent women’s Tour of France.
Another of British Cycling’s squad, Sarah Storey (VC St Raphael) who excels equally on the track and road, was just two seconds behind Shaw at this point.
Olympic Time Trial silver medallist Pooley continued her progress to cheers and applause as she breasted the climb for the last time and covered the last half-mile to finish with her winning 46-11.
Shaw was next home with 47-15 having lost only a further 21 seconds on Pooley to settle for third place as Houvenaghel raced in with 46-11 for second.
“I’ve got to be pleased with my ride against the professionals, they are the best, Olympic medal winners. It is the closest I have got to Wendy (Houvenaghel) and it is still nice to get a medal.
“I think I did a reasonable ride on what was a fair course for everyone,” Shaw said.
“I still have a few more events coming up, this weekend I am off to France for a 30-kilometre time trial near Reims, it will be an experience for me. I’m after a fast `25` in the Port Talbot event and I’m riding at Blenheim Palace in the time trial and the Brampton World Championship, that should be fun,” Shaw added.
“Emma has had a lot more racing than me at this time of year when I am starting to build towards the track season, so I am pleased with my ride,” Houvenaghel said.
“I am getting a bit of form now with the track World Cup and World Track Championships coming up which will take us through to next March,” she said.
“I have only ridden a few club time trials before,” Pooley admitted as she tried to keep warm awaiting the prize presentations. Pleased with her first National title, Pooley has had a hectic and successful year with Cervelo Test Team. “It is a great team, they really look after you and I am having a lot of fun with them,” Pooley said.
Pooley’s season continues with another stage race, “it is in really nice countryside,” she said, and then the World Championships for the time trial and road race.
Sarah Storey rode well to finish in fourth, 28 seconds behind Shaw, the closest she has been to the multi-champion.
“I’ve got good form and confidence after winning a Masters’ World TT title and following that up with a second in the road race championship,” Storey said.
Storey’s thoughts were already elsewhere. “I fly off from Manchester tomorrow, Monday, for the Para-Worlds in Italy and then I’ve got a couple of Rudy Project Series events and track events,” Storey said.
Chrissy Radon (High Wycombe CC) was not very happy with her fifth place performance. “I went one minute faster in last week’s Aylesbury CC event on the same course,” she said. “I just had an off day.” Radon continued.
Radon should have been pleased with her effort. A Doctor by profession, she has only been racing for five months. “I started out as a swimmer then switched to running from 17 to 21,” she said. She ran for Britain at international level in middle distance events up to 10 kilometres.
“Then I tried Triathlons and now at 30 I’ve become a cyclists thanks to a lot of advice and help from Gordon Wright (the man behind much of Stuart Dangerfield’s success). “Next year I want to have a go at the track and try some road races,” Radon said. British Cycling take note.
Just 11 seconds behind Radon was Ruth Eyles (Beacon Roads CC) in sixth place, or as she put it “the best of the rest.”
WIGGINS TAKES THE STAGE
The final act of the day was the men’s event where the fans had come to see Bradley Wiggins in action on home roads after watching him on television riding to glory in the Tour.
Wiggins was taking it very seriously. He had been seen going round the course during the week and he had signed on at the event headquarters over seven hours before he faced the timekeeper.
As the day wore on the crowds grew and at the best vantage spot on the course they could be measured in the hundreds.
The main action obviously centred on the top seeds, Hutchinson, Wiggins, Matt Bottrill (I-Ride-MG Décor RT), Rob Hayles (Halfords-Bikehut), Charles McCulloch (Shorter-Rochford RT) and Chris Newton (Rapha-Condor).
Missing from the favourites was Ian Stannard (ISD-Neri), sidelined with a foot injury.
Forcing his way in to the top spots the unseeded Wouter Sybrandy (Sigma Sport) was the early leader with 1-06-33 for the men’s 31.2 miles event, three laps of the circuit.
Newton was first to shift the Sigma Sport rider with his 1-06-14. Then along came McCulloch with 1-07-31 followed by Hayles with 1-06-23 leaving Wiggins and Hutchinson to settle the title race.
The outcome was soon apparent when the split times were relayed back to the event headquarters with the result board set up in the garden village hall.
Hutchinson’s first lap took 20-31, Wiggins 19-52. A lap on and Hutchinson trailed the flying Wiggins by 1-31, the 10, 25, 50 and 100-mile national champion not looking at his best on the climb at Botoph Claydon.
A final 1-02-15 for Wiggins brought the contest to an end as Hutchinson, not looking at his best, finished with 1-04-34 for the silver medal while Newton filled the third step of the podium with the bronze medal.
“I have had heavy legs since riding the Tour or Ireland and as far as training goes I have been between two stools,” Newton said.
“I had to fit in some time trial training along with doing endurance training for next week’s Tour of Britain,” he explained. “I managed a couple of day’s speed work, if I had more time I believe I would have been closer to Hutchinson and Wiggins.”
Newton, like Wendy Houvenaghel, has a busy time ahead of him. “After the Tour of Britain I have the World Cup to think about with events in Manchester, Melbourne, Beijing and Columbia, the World track championships and looking further ahead the Commonwealth Games in India,”Newton said.
Michael Hutchinson expected to end up second, “But I expected to be closer to Wiggins,” Hutchinson said. “Still it is not too bad to finish second to one of the world’s best time triallists, he is a class act after all.”
Not one to stand still, Hutchinson was heading for home to pack a suitcase for a flight from Heathrow on Monday to join up with the British team for the Para-World Championships in Italy.
“I’m guiding the tandem with Anthony Kappes for the 30-kilometre time trial on Friday which should be interesting. At least it will make a pleasant change for me as the season draws to an end,” Hutchinson said.
When he returns he rides the Port Talbot `25` and the Blenheim Palace events in October.
Champion Wiggins had to almost push his way through the crowds to reach the podium, waylaid by autograph hunters and people congratulating him for his fourth place in the Tour de France.
Eventually on the podium Wiggins acknowledged the applause and cheers as he received the National Jersey as champion.
He thanked the marshals and helpers who had given up their day to help run the event.
Being back for the championship “had helped me refocus after the Tour de France,” he said. “My ride in the Tour is at last beginning to sink in with me, it has taken some time.”
“Now I’m preparing for the World time trial championship, Cancellara will be the one to beat, but if he has a bad day and I have a good one, who knows,” Wiggins laughed.
Before that he rides next week’s Tour of Britain with his Garmin-Slipstream team.
Will we see Wiggins defending his National Time Trial Championship next year? “If it does not clash with anything else I may well be back for it,” Wiggins said.
Three riders were disqualified from the championships by British Cycling's Chief Commissaire Colin Docker.
In the Junior's event Daniel Murphy (Team Milton Keynes) was found to be overgeared with 53-12; Laurie Brooking (Sett Valley Cycles) failed to report for a post-event gear check; Matt Bottrill (I-Ride-MG Decor RT) was disqualified for draughting.