Both Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) and Emma Pooley (Cervélo TestTeam) have retained their titles at the Great Britain time trial championships in Llandello, Wales. As both riders were defending champions they started last in their respective fields, with the knowledge of their rivals’ times and what they had to beat.
Team Sky sweeps the men’s podium once more
Just as it did in the national road championships in June, Team Sky swept the podium to take all three medals in the elite men’s category. Fifth from last to start Chris Froome set the fastest time of 1h 6’17” over the 52km course, beating the previous best of 1h 09’34”, set by Matthew Bottrill (I-Ride.co.uk). Geraint Thomas, the national road champion, was just unable to beat his teammate by 13 seconds, and went into provisional second, two riders later.
Three-time champion and last year’s silver medallist, the outstanding domestic time triallist, Michael Hutchinson (In Gear-Quickvit-Trainsharp) could only go provisionally third fastest, 28 behind Thomas. Wiggins flew round the course though to finish in a time of 1h 04’55, beating Froome by 1’22” to retain his title and knock Hutchinson off the podium.
Pooley tops the same three medallists but silver and bronze reversed
Emma Pooley completed the 32km course in 44’30”, to go 19 seconds faster than the previous best set by Julia Shaw (Utag Yamaha), who has a number of national fixed-distance titles to her name this season. Pooley has now taken both road and time trial championships this season.
Shaw herself had gone 8 seconds quicker than last year’s silver medallist, and 2007 champion, Wendy Houvenaghel (Bike Chain Ricci). Pooley’s Cervélo teammate Sharon Laws was unable to repeat her 2008 victory, going 37 seconds slower than Houvenaghel to go provisional second with Shaw and Pooley still to finish.
Emma Trott (Moving Ladies) had set the fastest time of exactly 46 minutes before the four favourites started. The 20-year-old’s time was good enough for fifth place and the under-23 championship, almost 5 minutes faster than her nearest rival.
Result elite men
1. Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
2. Chris Froome (Team Sky) @ 1’22”
3. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) @ 1’35”
4. Michael Hutchinson (In Gear-Quickvit-Trainsharp) @ 2’03”
5. Matthew Bottrill (I-ride.co.uk) @ 4’39”
Result elite women
1. Emma Pooley (Cervélo TestTeam)
2. Julia Shaw (Utag Yamaha) @ 19s
3. Wendy Houvenaghel (Bike Chain Ricci) @ 27s
4. Sharon Laws (Cervélo TestTeam) @ 1’04”
5. Emma Trott (Moving Ladies) @ 1’30”