Mattis Robertson wins Time Trial Championships
Mattis Robertson was crowned the Scottish Student Time Trial Champion in St Andrews in his first “big” win of the cycling season.
The Barcaldine native was the sole representative of the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI) at the race on Saturday March 26, tackling a rolling time trial near St Andrews. He raced around the nine-mile course in 19 minutes, 58 seconds.
There were 29 students from a total of 60 riders competing across different categories, with each rider to setting off at one-minute intervals, as the weather stayed dry in Fife.
Robertson not only won the student gold medal, but he was also the fastest rider on the day, in what he says is his first “big” win this season.
He said: “This was a big aim of mine at the start of the season, especially because this is my last year at university. So, it was really nice to be able to go there and win after I got a bronze medal last year.”
Describing the course, he added: “There was a false flat on the way out of St Andrews and a technical descent, before a kicker of a climb and another false flat on the way back. It was quite windy, so there was a bit of a headwind at points, but the tailwind made for a fast finish. I was scheduled to leave last, which means I was the favourite, but you don’t know how you’re doing during the race, so there was a nervous wait at the end.”
It was also the first event that Robertson has won in his new Ribble Rechrg Race Team kit and last week he travelled to Belgium after spending a three-week camp in Spain in February.
“It was a good result for the team because it counts for them as well. When I land in Brussels I’m spending two weeks with the team and then competing in three races over there,” he explained.
“It’s going to be challenging, but it’s will also be a very good experience.”