It is known as the race of truth for a reason. There is nowhere to hide in a time trial. Alone against the clock, the rider with the fastest time over the course wins.
It is perhaps that simplicity that has led time trialling to be heralded as something of a national obsession in Britain, a rich history involving secret races, archaic course codes and long stretches of dual carriageway brought to life by almost every rider, no matter their ability, having raced in the discipline at some point in their life.
The National Time Trial Championships are the pinnacle of the event on these shores, four races around Aberaeron on Thursday to crown the best against the clock; 27km of rolling, testing roads ahead for the U23 Men, U23 and Elite Women, another punishing lap for the Elite Men in store as 41km lays between them and the famous blue and red banded jersey.
In these days of marginal gains, aerodynamic advances, and innovative equipment, it is very much advantage to the riders on WorldTour teams as their employers look for every second during vigourous testing. However, there are a number of riders plying their trade on Britain’s domestic scene, some specialists against the clock with their own slippery set up, others among the strongest on these shores, who will be hoping to put in eye catching performances on Thursday.
Featured image: Elliot Keen/British Cycling via SWpix.com
U23 men
Destined for the big time, defending champion Tomos Pattinson (Team Visma-Lease a Bike Development) returns as the hot favourite, with Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco) inheriting his father’s ability against the clock as he looks to avenge his second place finish last year. However, further down the startlist, Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) is a rider who could spoil their party, the time trial specialist in scintillating form this year.
Jamie Whitcher. Image: Joe Hudson Photo
The south coast independent smashed the short road bike test at the recent Ronde van Wymeswold, taking 25 seconds out of his nearest challenger in under 10km, a result which forced everyone to stand up and take notice. Whitcher’s pedigree against the clock is superb, powering his way to the 360Cycling Tour of the Northwest last year after winning the time trial, his 10 mile benchmark of 17:47 among the best of current riders. With that time set last year, he looks to have taken a step up this season and will have genuine podium ambitions in the U23 field.
Saint Piran alumnus Tyler Hannay (Private Member) has had a tumultuous 2025 so far, parting ways with his 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines team and questioning his future in the sport. Back racing, Manxman Hannay is a superb rouleur and has has regular success in CTT competition over the years, taking one victory so far this year. His form is a bit of an unknown with limited recent results to go on, although seeing Hannay towards the top of the result sheets once more will be a welcome sight for all.
Josh Charlton, officially a private member, has been spending his time riding with the Great Britain National Team this season, battling through the Rapha Lincoln GP and taking the final stage of the Rás Tailteann last month. The individual pursuit world record holder, former Trinity Racing recruit Charlton is just as at home on the road, taking a scorching win in the National ’10’ two years ago. Battling back from illness last year, Charlton seems in better shape than ever, and will certainly be in the mix for the top step of the podium as he continues on the path to the LA Olympics.
Josh Charlton of team GB wins the final stage of the Ras Tailteann. Image : Lorraine O’Sullivan
Alex Pickering (Ride Revolution Coaching) is the current CTT National Road Bike Time Trial Champion, and while this test is on different equipment, it does point to a big engine at his disposal. The same can be said of the Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck pairing Alex Beldon and Adam Howell, both strong rouleurs with a string of high class road race results behind them this year, the question is how they can transfer that to an entirely different discipline having emptied to tank when taking a 1-2 at the Tour of the Reservoir on Sunday.
Cormac Nisbet may not be a rider who has graced the domestic scene this year, but is an unattached rider with a fascinating story, a definite joker in the pack of the startlist. Having left the seemingly dream ticket of of the Soudal Quick Step Development Team due to the stress and pressures of cycling last year, Nisbet has taken up middle distance triathlon, the time trial a huge part of his new sport. Can a triathlete take a medal against the specialists?
U23 women
A host of talent takes on Movistar starlet Cat Ferguson for the U23 women’s crown, Noèmie Thomson (BrotherUK-OnForm) first rider off in a small field.
It would be a huge ask for Thomson to get near the podium having only started taking the sport seriously this season, however she has smashed every barrier she has faced thus far, winning the road bike test on the way to the overall win in the Ronde van Wymeswold, coming close to Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir glory on Sunday in a brutal race of power and attrition. Her equipment is an unknown with no background in CTT events, however, the race will be a vital, eye opening experience for a rider who is clearly going places in the sport.
Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson) is another rider with an eye on moving to the WorldTour, the 21-year-old consistently impressing for a number of years now having bounced back from injury this time last year. Having improved her pursuit on the track over the winter, she heads into the championships on a high, having taken a victory in the windswept Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir on Sunday, her third National Road Series win.
Holly Ramsey (Hess Cycling Team) has put her team issues to one side this season, the 19-year-old stringing together a series of performances in the UK beyond her years. An experienced tester, Ramsey beat a CTT course record held by Lidl-Trek’s Izzy Sharp earlier this season, proof that she should not be underestimated.
Finally, Maddie Leech (Handslong Alba Development Road Team) is the penultimate rider off the start ramp, the champion from two years ago looking to reclaim her title. 4th in the hilly Peaks 2-Day time trial early in the season, her last time trial was in April where she was second in a CTT event. A fine track rider, the 22-year-old will be counting on her experience to get the most out of her effort.
Elite women
While the seeded riders for the Elite Women’s title are seasoned WorldTour talents, Anna Morris (Private Member) is one rider who is certain to throw the cat amongst the pigeons. The doctor brings the individual pursuit world record with her, and has shown she can mix it with the best in the UK, playing a major role in road races multiple times this season. Throwing the gauntlet down with fast times in CTT events, Welsh rider Morris, in her stealthy black skinsuit, is certainly one to watch out for.
Anna Morris at the Tour of Britain Women. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Emily Martin (Team Bottrill) has been a sparring partner of Morris in CTT events this year, and while she may be a name few are familiar with, the specialist is not to be underestimated. A championship rider with considerable pedigree, Martin will have her equipment and position dialled in, her aim to demonstrate the gulf between amatuers and the WorldTour is not as great as many think, especially on a closed road test against the clock.
Tammy Miller (DAS-Hutchinson) is another rider with excellent time trial pedigree, having won the CTT Road Bike Time Trial Championship in 2022 and the Ronde van Wymeswold last year off the back of a fine showing in the short time trial. She leads the line for a host of domestic UCI talent including her teammate Lucy Lee, who has beenin excellent form recently, and Lauren Dickson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) who continues to amaze, the Rapha Lincoln GP winner hoping to continue her stratospheric rise with a good result here.
Lauren Dickson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) wins the Rapha Lincoln GP. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Dickson’s teammate Kate Richardson has made an excellent comeback from a shocking hit and run incident last year, claiming the Tour de Feminin title in May. A former individual pursuit national champion, Richardson has shown good ability against the clock in the past.
Also on the startlist are the likes of Mari Porton and Arianne Holland (Handsling Alba Development RT), the latter in need of a replacement disc wheel to make the start on Thursday. Alongside them is home rider Jess Roberts (Spectra Racing), who showed her potential by beating Emily Martin on her only CTT appearance back in April.
Elite men
Some of the WorldTour’s best time trialists are set to do battle in the final race of the day, Giro D’Italia stage winner Josh Tarling the hot favourite to defend his title. As such, the field doesn’t contain many names outside of the professional ranks, Michael Gill (DAS-Richardsons) perhaps the best placed rider to catch the eye.
Hailing from the North East, the Nottingham rider is one of the best against the clock, the former National ’10’ bronze medallist spending a lot of his time on the boards as part of the Great Britain Team Pursuit squad. 11th a year ago, a top ten would be an exceptional ride for the Elite Development Team representative.
Rowan Baker (Raptor Factory Racing) put in an excellent ride to make the top 10 of the U23 event last year, and is coming into the form to make a repeat performance possible. After destroying the field at the Peaks 2-Day in March, illness has derailed his season somewhat; 4th in the Tour of the Reservoir last Sunday a welcome result as he makes his way back to fitness.
Ben Pease (Moonglu Spatzwear) and Tim Torrie (Defined Cycling Team) are both experienced time trialists, the former winning the Ronde van Wymeswold last year after an impressive performance in the time trial. However, perhaps the most intriguing name on the startlist is Dom Jackson (Foran CT). By his own high standards, the Londoner hasn’t really got going this season, showing little sign of the form that propelled him to Ràs Tailteann glory in 2024. However, when he targets an race Jackson can be hard to stop – could these Championships be a resurgence for the former rower?
It is known as the race of truth for a reason. There is nowhere to hide in a time trial. Alone against the clock, the rider with the fastest time over the course wins.
It is perhaps that simplicity that has led time trialling to be heralded as something of a national obsession in Britain, a rich history involving secret races, archaic course codes and long stretches of dual carriageway brought to life by almost every rider, no matter their ability, having raced in the discipline at some point in their life.
The National Time Trial Championships are the pinnacle of the event on these shores, four races around Aberaeron on Thursday to crown the best against the clock; 27km of rolling, testing roads ahead for the U23 Men, U23 and Elite Women, another punishing lap for the Elite Men in store as 41km lays between them and the famous blue and red banded jersey.
In these days of marginal gains, aerodynamic advances, and innovative equipment, it is very much advantage to the riders on WorldTour teams as their employers look for every second during vigourous testing. However, there are a number of riders plying their trade on Britain’s domestic scene, some specialists against the clock with their own slippery set up, others among the strongest on these shores, who will be hoping to put in eye catching performances on Thursday.
Here is our guide of who to look out for.
Featured image: Elliot Keen/British Cycling via SWpix.com
U23 men
Destined for the big time, defending champion Tomos Pattinson (Team Visma-Lease a Bike Development) returns as the hot favourite, with Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco) inheriting his father’s ability against the clock as he looks to avenge his second place finish last year. However, further down the startlist, Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) is a rider who could spoil their party, the time trial specialist in scintillating form this year.
The south coast independent smashed the short road bike test at the recent Ronde van Wymeswold, taking 25 seconds out of his nearest challenger in under 10km, a result which forced everyone to stand up and take notice. Whitcher’s pedigree against the clock is superb, powering his way to the 360Cycling Tour of the Northwest last year after winning the time trial, his 10 mile benchmark of 17:47 among the best of current riders. With that time set last year, he looks to have taken a step up this season and will have genuine podium ambitions in the U23 field.
Saint Piran alumnus Tyler Hannay (Private Member) has had a tumultuous 2025 so far, parting ways with his 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines team and questioning his future in the sport. Back racing, Manxman Hannay is a superb rouleur and has has regular success in CTT competition over the years, taking one victory so far this year. His form is a bit of an unknown with limited recent results to go on, although seeing Hannay towards the top of the result sheets once more will be a welcome sight for all.
Josh Charlton, officially a private member, has been spending his time riding with the Great Britain National Team this season, battling through the Rapha Lincoln GP and taking the final stage of the Rás Tailteann last month. The individual pursuit world record holder, former Trinity Racing recruit Charlton is just as at home on the road, taking a scorching win in the National ’10’ two years ago. Battling back from illness last year, Charlton seems in better shape than ever, and will certainly be in the mix for the top step of the podium as he continues on the path to the LA Olympics.
Alex Pickering (Ride Revolution Coaching) is the current CTT National Road Bike Time Trial Champion, and while this test is on different equipment, it does point to a big engine at his disposal. The same can be said of the Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck pairing Alex Beldon and Adam Howell, both strong rouleurs with a string of high class road race results behind them this year, the question is how they can transfer that to an entirely different discipline having emptied to tank when taking a 1-2 at the Tour of the Reservoir on Sunday.
Cormac Nisbet may not be a rider who has graced the domestic scene this year, but is an unattached rider with a fascinating story, a definite joker in the pack of the startlist. Having left the seemingly dream ticket of of the Soudal Quick Step Development Team due to the stress and pressures of cycling last year, Nisbet has taken up middle distance triathlon, the time trial a huge part of his new sport. Can a triathlete take a medal against the specialists?
U23 women
A host of talent takes on Movistar starlet Cat Ferguson for the U23 women’s crown, Noèmie Thomson (BrotherUK-OnForm) first rider off in a small field.
It would be a huge ask for Thomson to get near the podium having only started taking the sport seriously this season, however she has smashed every barrier she has faced thus far, winning the road bike test on the way to the overall win in the Ronde van Wymeswold, coming close to Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir glory on Sunday in a brutal race of power and attrition. Her equipment is an unknown with no background in CTT events, however, the race will be a vital, eye opening experience for a rider who is clearly going places in the sport.
Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson) is another rider with an eye on moving to the WorldTour, the 21-year-old consistently impressing for a number of years now having bounced back from injury this time last year. Having improved her pursuit on the track over the winter, she heads into the championships on a high, having taken a victory in the windswept Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir on Sunday, her third National Road Series win.
Holly Ramsey (Hess Cycling Team) has put her team issues to one side this season, the 19-year-old stringing together a series of performances in the UK beyond her years. An experienced tester, Ramsey beat a CTT course record held by Lidl-Trek’s Izzy Sharp earlier this season, proof that she should not be underestimated.
Finally, Maddie Leech (Handslong Alba Development Road Team) is the penultimate rider off the start ramp, the champion from two years ago looking to reclaim her title. 4th in the hilly Peaks 2-Day time trial early in the season, her last time trial was in April where she was second in a CTT event. A fine track rider, the 22-year-old will be counting on her experience to get the most out of her effort.
Elite women
While the seeded riders for the Elite Women’s title are seasoned WorldTour talents, Anna Morris (Private Member) is one rider who is certain to throw the cat amongst the pigeons. The doctor brings the individual pursuit world record with her, and has shown she can mix it with the best in the UK, playing a major role in road races multiple times this season. Throwing the gauntlet down with fast times in CTT events, Welsh rider Morris, in her stealthy black skinsuit, is certainly one to watch out for.
Emily Martin (Team Bottrill) has been a sparring partner of Morris in CTT events this year, and while she may be a name few are familiar with, the specialist is not to be underestimated. A championship rider with considerable pedigree, Martin will have her equipment and position dialled in, her aim to demonstrate the gulf between amatuers and the WorldTour is not as great as many think, especially on a closed road test against the clock.
Tammy Miller (DAS-Hutchinson) is another rider with excellent time trial pedigree, having won the CTT Road Bike Time Trial Championship in 2022 and the Ronde van Wymeswold last year off the back of a fine showing in the short time trial. She leads the line for a host of domestic UCI talent including her teammate Lucy Lee, who has beenin excellent form recently, and Lauren Dickson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) who continues to amaze, the Rapha Lincoln GP winner hoping to continue her stratospheric rise with a good result here.
Dickson’s teammate Kate Richardson has made an excellent comeback from a shocking hit and run incident last year, claiming the Tour de Feminin title in May. A former individual pursuit national champion, Richardson has shown good ability against the clock in the past.
Also on the startlist are the likes of Mari Porton and Arianne Holland (Handsling Alba Development RT), the latter in need of a replacement disc wheel to make the start on Thursday. Alongside them is home rider Jess Roberts (Spectra Racing), who showed her potential by beating Emily Martin on her only CTT appearance back in April.
Elite men
Some of the WorldTour’s best time trialists are set to do battle in the final race of the day, Giro D’Italia stage winner Josh Tarling the hot favourite to defend his title. As such, the field doesn’t contain many names outside of the professional ranks, Michael Gill (DAS-Richardsons) perhaps the best placed rider to catch the eye.
Hailing from the North East, the Nottingham rider is one of the best against the clock, the former National ’10’ bronze medallist spending a lot of his time on the boards as part of the Great Britain Team Pursuit squad. 11th a year ago, a top ten would be an exceptional ride for the Elite Development Team representative.
Rowan Baker (Raptor Factory Racing) put in an excellent ride to make the top 10 of the U23 event last year, and is coming into the form to make a repeat performance possible. After destroying the field at the Peaks 2-Day in March, illness has derailed his season somewhat; 4th in the Tour of the Reservoir last Sunday a welcome result as he makes his way back to fitness.
Ben Pease (Moonglu Spatzwear) and Tim Torrie (Defined Cycling Team) are both experienced time trialists, the former winning the Ronde van Wymeswold last year after an impressive performance in the time trial. However, perhaps the most intriguing name on the startlist is Dom Jackson (Foran CT). By his own high standards, the Londoner hasn’t really got going this season, showing little sign of the form that propelled him to Ràs Tailteann glory in 2024. However, when he targets an race Jackson can be hard to stop – could these Championships be a resurgence for the former rower?
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