National Championships

Men’s British Road Race Championships | June 25 | Douglas, Isle of Man

"I’ve been away for two months. No one knows who I am anymore.” The words of Steve Cummings, at 6:15pm last Thursday.

Exactly three days later, having completed an historic national championships double, everyone involved in cycling in Britain, and no doubt many more in corners all over Europe, were talking about the rider from the Wirral.

He made those comments because he hadn’t raced for 10 weeks since fracturing his collarbone, sternum and scapula in a crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. He had been hidden away in Italy, riding for hours on the turbo and Zwift. He knew he was capable of good form, but didn’t know exactly what to expect from himself.

If he rode impressively against the clock in the time trial, he rode tremendously in the road race on Sunday. It was a masterclass.

The two climbs over Snaefell mountain decimated the field, with three groups making it into Douglas for the final 10 lumpy 7.2km laps.

Cummings was in the second group. By the third lap he had bridged across to the leading six riders.

The size of the group kept changing. Ian Bibby (Jltcondor) kept testing his legs on the short punchy climbs, as did Jon Dibben (Team Sky) and pre-race favourite Ben Swift (Uae-emirates). All to no avail.

Cummings sat back, sometimes being distanced. The 36-year-old, as the most experienced rider in the race, was in control, though. He was letting his rivals for victory expend their energy. Patience was his virtue.

One by one riders dropped off: Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Sky), Scott Davies (Team Wiggins), James Shaw (Lotto-soudal) and Scott Thwaites (Dimension Data).

The group diminished to four, and fatiguing, Cummings — in his typically wily manner — launched his move on the penultimate lap’s last little climb, 10km from the finish.

He looked back to see the chase was futile. He time trialled the next lap alone, calculating his effort perfectly to cross the line 40 seconds ahead of the U23 winner Chris Lawless (Axeon-hagens Berman) and Bibby.

Hidden for the most part, but always lurking, ready to strike. Top condition or not, Cummings can rely on his craft. Everyone knows who you are again, Stevo.