Matt Rossiter produced a stunning ride to win the RTTC National Open 10-Mile Championship on Sunday, but the WattShop rider was not the only one to rewrite the record books, with all three riders on the podium beating the previous course record.
Rossiter stopped the clock at 18 minutes 23 seconds, taking an extraordinary 36 seconds off the previous mark of 18:59. Joe Laverick (Lindsey Roads Cycling Club) was just 14 seconds further back in 18:37, while George Peden (Team PB Performance) completed the podium in 18:39.
All three rides were therefore inside the previous course record, underlining the exceptional standard of racing on the fast O10/1 course.
The performance was the headline result from a weekend of championship racing organised by Birdwell Wheelers, with the National Female and Junior 10-Mile Championships taking place on Saturday before the open championship followed on Sunday.
Rossiter leads remarkable open championship
Rossiter's 18:23 was a ride of exceptional quality, dramatically lowering the previous course record and securing the national title.
Behind him, Laverick and Peden produced performances that would themselves have been course records on any other day, with just two seconds separating the pair.
Thomas Lee (Team Bottrill Nopinz) was fourth in 18:58, becoming the fourth rider inside 19 minutes, while Jamie Whitcher (Hubo Scott Cycling Team) completed the top five in 19:08.
The depth of the field was reflected in the fact that 11 riders finished inside 19 minutes 30 seconds, underlining the quality of the racing at the front of the championship.
Team Bottrill Nopinz also took the team championship, with Lee, Rob Francis and Dylan Griffiths combining for the fastest aggregate time.
Carl Dyson (Aerologic RT) was the fastest rider competing on a road bike, recording an impressive 20:58.
Disley takes National Female title and breaks course record
Saturday's championship saw Jessica Disley (AeroCoach) take the RTTC National Female 10-Mile Championship with a superb 21:20.
Disley finished 24 seconds ahead of Emily Martin (Team Bottrill Nopinz), who took silver in 21:44, while Martin's team-mate Laura Davies completed the podium in 21:47.
Disley's winning ride was even more significant as she also lowered the previous female course record, which had been held by Sarah Storey.
Poppy Cooke (Zurbaran Racing) was fourth in 22:16, with Olivia French (Otley CC) just one second further back.
Team Bottrill Nopinz took the female team championship, with Martin, Davies and Laura Pittard combining for the fastest aggregate time.
Leah Cuthbertson (George Fox Cycling Solutions) was the fastest female rider competing on a road bike, recording 23:29.
Bromley takes junior title
The junior championship produced another impressive performance, with George Bromley (Beeston Cycling Club)taking the title in 19:53.
Bromley was the only junior to break 20 minutes and finished 26 seconds clear of Roch Morgan (Utmost-Mezzo Isle of Man Junior Cycling Team), who took silver in 20:19.
Jamie Rabbett (Shibden Cycling Club) completed the podium in 20:40, with Zach Rusling (Royal Dean Forest Cycle Club) fourth in 20:58 and Ewan Whiting (Beeston Cycling Club) fifth in 20:59.
The junior team championship went to Beeston Cycling Club, with George Bromley, Ewan Whiting and Isla Woolf combining to take the title.
The standard of junior racing was particularly encouraging, with the leading riders producing times that would have placed them well amongst the senior field.
Smallshaw takes female junior honours
The female junior championship provided one of the weekend's most eye-catching performances, with Olivia Smallshaw (Secret Training CC) taking the title in an impressive 22:33.
Smallshaw, still a youth rider, produced a time that would have placed her fourth in the senior female championship, underlining the strength of the emerging talent within the sport.
Skye Martingale (Enhance-d Club) took the silver medal in 25:54, just seven seconds ahead of Isla Woolf (Beeston Cycling Club), who claimed bronze in 26:01.
The result completed a strong weekend for the junior riders, with the championships providing an opportunity for some of the sport's most promising young competitors to race for national honours alongside the senior championships.
A weekend to celebrate time trialling
Across the two days, the National 10-Mile Championships provided a showcase for both the established stars of time trialling and the next generation coming through the sport.
The outstanding headline was Rossiter's 18:23 and the remarkable fact that all three riders on the open podium went faster than the previous course record. Disley's course-record performance added another notable achievement, while the close racing and performances of the junior riders provided plenty of other highlights.
The O10/1 proved a fitting venue for the championships, with its fast, predominantly flat profile providing the opportunity for riders to produce some exceptional speeds.
Congratulations go to all of the new national champions and medal winners, and to everyone who took part over the weekend.
Cycling Time Trials would like to thank Birdwell Wheelers, together with the organisers, officials, timekeepers, marshals and all of the volunteers whose work made the championships possible.
The National 10s provided a fitting showcase for the speed, competitiveness and depth of British time trialling, with an exceptional standard of racing across both days and some very encouraging performances from the riders who will form the future of the sport.
