sportfagley 3-up TTT 23

Team Bottrill were celebrating victory in both the men’s and women’s categories at the National Team Time Trial Championships in Warwickshire on Sunday.

The event was promoted by Sportfagley on a 23-mile course near Southam, and saw some of the country’s top names in time trialling compete.

The men’s event was provisionally won by the Team Bottrill trio of Matt Bottrill, Jake Sargent and Axel Dopfer in a time of 44-30.

That gave them the win by just 12 seconds from HUUB-WattShop’s Alex Pritchard, Joshua Jackson and Will Lowden, while the trainSharp team of Oliver Peckover, Tim Torrie and Sam Clark were another eight seconds back in third spot.

And in the women’s event Team Bottrill were also victorious thanks to Alex Clay, Kate Allan and Emily Martin in a time of 50-14, which was 23 seconds faster than runners-up AWOL O’Shea Worx team Emily Meakin, Kelly Murphy and Hayley Simmonds.

Third fastest female team was Cambridge University CC’s Jo Matthews, Miranda Clements and Phoebe Barker with 53-56.

“We recce’d the course a week ago and found out our strengths and weaknesses, and it went well on the day so we’re really pleased,” said 33-year-old Emily Martin. “I’m stronger going downhill, and Kate and Alex are much better uphill, so we had to ride cleverly to maintain the speed.”

And 46-year-old Matt Bottrill added: “The team time trial championship is always a massive target, but it’s only my second time trial in two years.

“This event gels everyone together really well and it’s outstanding to win both the men’s and women’s events as the women haven’t done much of this kind of thing.

“The guys were phenomenal, it’s amazing to ride with them. They’ve been doing really well throughout the season and were doing some big turns on the front and dragging this old man along!”

The last team off and pre-race favourites, HUUB-WattShop’s John Archibald, Simon Wilson and Michael Gill, were non finishers after Gill punctured before the turn.

And an unshipped chain for Hayley Simmonds cost the AWOL O’Shea team some time which would’ve made the final women’s result even closer.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

* A gallery of photos from this event is available here