Alex Dowsett admitted it was nice to be back in familiar surroundings after reclaiming the British time-trial title on Thursday.
Dowsett set a scorching time of 1:00.11 hours over the testing 44.8km course that combined the open roads of Lincolnshire and the swooping tarmac of the Cadwell Park motor racing circuit.
The win not only saw Dowsett equal Stuart Dangerfield’s record of four British time-trial titles, but it also allowed him to take back the crown after Sir Bradley Wiggins won last year’s edition.
"It's lovely to get it back," said Dowsett. "It's really significant being national champion.
“Now every time I do a time-trial I get to wear this, it stands me out as either the British or Dutch national champion!
"I couldn't have lost it to a more talented guy last year in Brad but it's nice to have it back.
"That was tough. I didn't have a radio so I had no idea where I was in relation to anyone else.
"The course itself – in training I thought it would be easier in the race but it was actually harder, so I had no idea how well I was going out there.”
Hayley Simmonds produced a superb ride to take the British women’s time-trial title, defying the form book and finishing over a minute ahead of silver medallist Molly Weaver and bronze medallist Dame Sarah Storey.
Simmonds, who moved from rowing in 2009, took the lead from early pacesetter Ciara Horne over the 33.6km course and no one could come close as she won in a time of 53:38.31 minutes.
"It's completely overwhelming – I've worked really hard for this," said Simmonds. "I hoped it was going to be really close and I just went out and did the ride that I thought I could, did the effort I thought I could and obviously it paid off.
"I was just trying to focus on getting out the ride that I was capable of and not necessarily concentrating on the other big names that were starting after me.
"After I finished and I was half collapsing over my bike I could just hear the commentator say my time and then say 'will anyone go under 50 minutes'. Dame Sarah and Katie Archibald are both capable of going under 50 and at that point I wasn't even sure that I was in the lead, let alone that I was going to win by a minute."
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