National Championships preview
Isle of Man road race and time trial favourites
The British cycling scene is set to demonstrate its depth of talent this week over the course of the National Championships road race and time trials on the Isle of Man. The time trial takes place today while the road races take place on Sunday.
We pick our riders to watch in both the men’s and women’s elite events.
Men’s TT
Alex Dowsett (Movistar) is clearly the biggest name on the entry list but hasn’t ridden any TTS over 25km this season so his form is something of a mystery. Last year’s podium finishers Ryan Perry (Raleigh GAC) and James Gullen (Jlt-condor) should also be strong, with Gullen having strung together several big wins in recent weeks, most notably the overall at the Rás. Perry has been focusing on his road racing this season but has still managed to win three open time trials in that time. However, he didn’t race the National Circuit Champs TT or the London Nocturne in the last fortnight after suffering with a virus, so his run-in to the Nationals has been compromised.
Peter Williams (One Pro), who won the Beaumont Trophy last weekend and John Archibald (Pro Vision), who's had a string of good form against the clock, are also worth keeping an eye on.
Women’s TT
The women’s race is a shorter test of just 22.2km. Defending champion Hayley Simmonds (WNT) is the one to beat, having dominated the Knights Composite Classic series and the National Circuit Championships this season. Olympic track team pursuit champions Katie Archibald — Simmonds’s team-mate — and Elinor Barker (also a former junior TT world champion) will likely be strong challengers.
Rebecca Durrell (Drops) is in form after wrapping up the individual title at the Matrix Grand Prix series last month. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Jane Harris (Storey Racing) has also had a strong string of podiums in the Knights series and was third at the Circuit Champs, showing she could be a force to be reckoned with.
Men’s road race
The field is pretty open and while Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) is the biggest name and is racing on home soil, his battle with glandular fever saw him return to racing just 10 days before this race, so he is not likely to be at his all-conquering best. The course too may not favour a big bunch sprint, which could disadvantage defending champion Adam Blythe (Aqua Blue) as well. Peter Kennaugh (Sky) is also on home turf and in fine form following his win on Alpe d’huez at the Critérium du Dauphiné and a very similar thing could be said of Ben Swift (UAE Emirates), who was second that day.
There are a raft of domestic pros who will be looking to get one up on the sport’s top flight riders, including Erick Rowsell (Madison-genesis), Chris Latham (Wiggins) and Matt Holmes (Madison-genesis). Ian Bibby (Jlt-condor) won the Manx International GP on a similar course last year.
Women’s road race
Lizzie Deignan starts the race as the clear favourite and has shown she has good legs with her victory at the Tour de Yorkshire in April. The Barnes sisters, Hannah (CanyonSRAM) and Alice (Drops), have taken half the podium spots over the last two years and so will be major challengers.
Dani King (Cylance) looked strong against Deignan at the Tour de Yorkshire but fought an uphill battle as Deignan had a team-mate with her in the break. She also put in a solid top-10 performance at the Women’s Tour earlier this month and will be a factor in the race. CW columnist Katie
Archibald has impressed on the road this year and looks capable of winning any race.