Duggleby charges to clear victory at RTTC National 50 Mile Championship
Adam Duggleby (ADDFORM Vive Le Velo) took a clear victory by over a minute in the men’s RTTC National 50-Mile Championship.
The 38-year-old flew out and back along the Essex course in a winning time of one hour, 41 minutes and 33 seconds to win his first national title since 2018.
Duggleby’s only other national win came in the National 12-hour and five years later the Yorkshireman has now clinched his first national crown title over 50 miles.
Starting outside Chelmsford competitors headed out on the A1060 to Leaden Roding before heading straight over a roundabout after six miles onto the B184 to the turn at Great Dunmow.
After returning back to Chelmsford competitors then completed a second lap of the 25-mile course.
Hosted by Southend Wheelers it was only the second time the course has been used following a test event – so Duggleby’s time is a course record.
Oliver Peckover (trainSharp) has been on fine form this season with five open time trial victories to his name and provided a tough test.
Peckover was 46 seconds down at the half-way point on Duggleby and finished second in 1-42-52.
A close battle the podium positions saw Jack Crook (Richardsons-Trek RT) finish a further 18 seconds down taking third in 1-43-10, edging former World Tour pro Alex Dowsett (Nopinz) into fourth (1-43-17).
Scratch rider John Archibald (HUUB WattShop) had an afternoon to forget, puncturing at the 25-kilometre mark and abandoning.
“It was unexpected,” said Duggleby. “It was a pretty rough course, you had to look out for holes and drains. It was a pretty straightforward course, there was a little roundabout in the middle and the rest was just staying on the road until a roundabout and then doing a U-turn.
“There was a bit of wind but it didn’t really effect the race. The wind was fairly even really with a few bits which were quite hard work. There was one little hill, but the rest of it was pretty flat.
“It was on a newly chipped road and there were quite a few ups and downs in the tarmac as well.
“I’ve beaten some good riders, I didn’t expect to beat Oliver Peckover who has been going really well. Alex Dowsett as well I expected to beat me. I can’t complain with how I rode.
“It’s my first fixed distance national title.”
Spindata had predicted that Duggleby would be down in 12th in 1-46-48 but he knocked five minutes off that time to take an unexpected victory.
The quickest veteran rider on scratch was Matthew Smith (DRAG2ZERO) who finished seventh overall in 1-44-37 ahead of Paul Burton (Paceline RT) in second (1-45-29) in second and Colin Ward (Essex Roads CC) in third clocking 1-45-56.
Duggleby will next target another title at the National 100-mile Championships next weekend when he is expected to again meet Archibald.
Fastest on a road bike was HUUB-WattShop’s Alex Pritchard with 1-46-57.
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