It took Adam Duggleby more years than he cares to remember to secure a fixed distance CTT title as a senior, but he finally managed it in 2023 – and bagged two of them in two weekends for good measure.

After winning the youth and junior 10-mile titles in the same weekend in 2000 and the junior 10-mile title again the following year, he was part of the team that won the National Team Time Trial Championships in 2009 and 2011.

But hopes of winning a solo senior title eluded Duggleby, with a combination of other cycling ambitions, bad luck and illness all conspiring to leave him without a title for many years.

He was a non-finisher in three CTT national time trial championships over the years, and didn’t start others due to illness. And when he did ride, he found that second and third was the best podium spots he could manage.

But in winning the 2018 National 12-Hour Championship he proved he could find the winning habit and eventually – after years of trying – the fixed distance titles finally came his way with victory in the National 50 and National 100 this year.

The ADDFORM-Vive le Velo rider from Leeds, who has enjoyed success on the track as a paralympic tandem pilot for the Great Britain team winning World Championship and Paralympic gold medals, went some way to explaining his TT difficulties.

“I think the fixed distances have been very competitive for years and I've just not really ever got my aero quite right to compete,” he said.

“The shorter races are very competitive as more of the higher end racing guys do them, especially the 10 and 25, which always makes them really hard to win. Riders put considerable effort in to doing well at them and, to be honest, I rarely do.”

After placing fourth in the 2017 National 50-Mile Championships Duggleby was ill for that year’s National 100 and didn’t finish. He punctured in the 2019 National 25, and the following year he was one of several riders who failed to finish the National 50 in treacherous conditions.

“In 2022 after the Sub7 Triathlon I got covid and it pretty much ruined the rest of my year. I really struggled feeling like I was overheating in every race and just didn't quite feel right on the bike for months.

“But this year I've had a great year doing almost my best ever power over all the fixed distances and with my improvement in position and kit along with good power it just bridged the gap.

“I was pretty lucky that Archibald didn't finish either the 50 or 100 as I’m under no illusion that allowed me to win,” acknowledged Duggleby, who went on to add that beating former World Tour professional Alex Dowsett was a great result, as well as the host of other quality riders who were there.

“I think as I've got older I can tolerate more volume of riding and that has allowed me to just train more. I think that's made my fitness better and probably meant I stay fitter longer.”

His 2023 national title performances show he has come a long way since he clocked 20-27 as a 14-year-old, and won both the GHS National Youth Championship title and the National Junior 10-Mile Championship in the same weekend in the year 2000.

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