After a rapid 17.45 at the ECCA 10 the day before, Movistar pro Alex Dowsett made it two new records in two days, obliterating Matt Bottrill’s 2014 mark by nearly two minutes with a time of 51.54 and a 29.5mph average speed.

It’s home territory for the continental pro, who said: “It’s nice to ride a local course; I rode home with some friends afterwards. It was good to get a few hours in today.”

The weather was chilly but dry with a northerly breeze and the later starters felt the benefit of some lukewarm sunshine.

Matthew Smith (Team Bottrill) was second in his first outing of the season, narrowly beating his mentor’s 2014 time (but not the course record) with a 55.31, and confessed himself to be “amazed to go inside. I didn’t think I’d be a million miles off but 30 seconds was great”.

Dean Robson (NoPinz) rounded out the podium a further 47 seconds back to continue his strong start to the season.

Smith admitted with regret: “The Series just isn’t a target for the season; my work commitments as a vet – I’m on call at the weekends - mean I just can’t do it. We’re amateurs, and that’s how it goes”.

Dowsett took a low-key approach, with support provided by parents out on the course. Smith added: “He was more interested in everyone else’s rides and kit than his own. It really lifted the event.”

The lure of domestic time trialling is a key part of cycling for Dowsett, who added: “I haven't been time trialling like my former self the last couple of years and wanted to go back to what works for me, getting a number on my back and practise racing time trials. I'm also a massive fan of the British TT scene, always have been.”

Flying doctor Claire Rose was the first woman in a Podium Ambition PC-Club La Santa top three and the only rider to go under the hour with 59.39. Second-placed Sara Headley was a further two and half minutes adrift.

Strength in depth is clearly the order of the day for Sarah Storey’s team, with Podium Ambition filling 7 of the top 10 places. Rik Waddon carried on where he left off last season, winning the Paracycling category with a convincing 1:04:18.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.