John Archibald took his maiden National 25 Mile Championship title and led a one-two for Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling at the event in Leicestershire on Sunday morning.

Despite windy conditions the 29-year-old from Edinburgh clocked an average speed of over 33.45 miles per hour to set a winning time of 44 minutes and 50 seconds.

Archibald won the National 10 Mile Championship in 2018 and was part of the Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling winning Team Time Trial Championship side last season.

The A25/37 saw riders start just outside Seagrave on Park Hill Lane outside the Leicester City Training Ground.

Riders joined the A46 heading north and battled a headwind out on the rolling course passing straight over the A606 before leaving the A46 on Fosse Way and descending to the double roundabout turn and heading for home helped by a tailwind.

After winning the National 10 Championship last month Dan Bigham had to settle for second place on this occasion finishing 50 seconds behind his team-mate.

Defending 25-mile champion Christopher Fennell (The Independent Pedaler- Nopinz) was pushed into third place with his time of 45-46 enough to beat professional Alex Dowsett (Israel Startup Nation) who suffered a slow puncture and finished in fourth (45-58).

Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling took the team prize with Archibald, Bigham and veteran Simon Wilson combining to make a time of 2-17-34, the same three riders hold the competition record set in 2018 of 2-15-25.

“I don’t think the wind died down today and it was a strong headwind out,” said Archibald.

“It was quite a draggy course and there were a few bits which were quite rolling which made it quite hard.

“Chris Fennell is always strong and Dan (Bigham) beat me in the Coalville Wheelers 10 so I knew I would have to do a lot to beat him. Also to have Alex Dowsett racing was quite exciting so it was a stacked line-up.”

As in the National 10 quickest veteran was Wilson whose time of 47-07 placed him sixth.

Christopher McNamara (Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT) placed second veteran in 48-52 while David Mead (Race Rapid) placed third in the category.

Michael Gill (AeroLab Ward Wheelz) was quickest under-23 rider, as he was in the National 10, clocking 48-07 on this occasion.

He beat team-mate Sebastian Garry into second (48-11) while George Mills Keeling (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) was third in the category finishing in 49-05.

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