Rider Report – Bottrill Breaks 50 Comp Record

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Rider report – Matt Bottrill gave himself a wonderful birthday present by breaking the 50 Comp records days after racing the TT Champs in Wales

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News – Bottrill Breaks 50 Comp Record

RELATED: interview with Matt post Time Trial Champs

Bottrill take 6th place in British National champs then two days later goes on to break the 50 mile competition record!
Matt writes … Well where do I start as the last week now seems such a blur. Some will say how can a rider ride at over 31 mph for 50 miles yet get caught by Sir Bradley Wiggings after just 11 miles in the British champs. Here is how it all mapped out!

Thursday-British time trial championships 25.6 mile
Well this was going to be the day I thought I could show the world of cycling what Matthew Bottrill, was all about. It was going to be a very long day with a start time of 7:56 pm, but my life is so manic with work and looking after the kids, I really enjoyed the rest. Myself and Peter Lavine, traveled down the evening before so I manged to get a ride in around the course on the morning of the event and a great nights sleep.

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The course was so hard with two laps to be completed, over a very technical and hilly circuit. With the major climb of Celtic Manner needing a gear of 42 x 28 the morning of the training ride its was lovely and sunny. Ideal. So back to the Preimier Inn to chill for the next eight hrs. Again I quite enjoyed the chill time. Watched some TV and even got another 30 minute power nap. Life of a pro!

The time to race soon came around and myself and Pete, set off. At this point the rain came pooring down and would stay for the rest of the evening. Awaiting at venue for us was Ian Goodhew – who brought along his camper van and would basically make sure I had nothing to worry about. He was also driving the support vehicle. We were going to town and Dean Hitchings, would be the mechanic for the day.

So first protocol, was to get signed on and get the bike check. I had been supplied a special bike, a Giant Trinity from Giant, and I had asked for size small to save some weight and just fancied something a bit different. But come the bike check, it failed the UCI regulation of the handlebars being to low from the point of the tri-bars pads, by 5mm. I’d never seen the rule and still don’t fully understand. But I could either lower it or use my spare bike.

Knowing how much difference altering my position could make, I went for spare bike option. Dean was great and changed some of the bits over I needed to make sure the bike was at its best and kept me calm while waiting to warm up.

So come the race, it was all a bit surreal being placed in between Geraint Thomas and Sir Bradley Wiggings. The crowds where just unreal and I was well nervous. But I got my ride underway, and was soon into my stride producing some good numbers. Then reality hit coming in to Celtic Manner. Wiggins caught me for two minutes!

I’ve never experienced anything like it. I was riding the climb at 450-475 watts and Bradley just left me standing but the support from the crowds was just unreal. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

I would love to say I could have produced more power to up my gain, but the truth is I had nothing left, and was riding a great race. But with the technicality and so much climbing, I could not produce the amount of watts needed to compete with the best in the world. The advantage I have when racing is sustaining constant power but I just dont have burst power like these guys.

After the event I was really down, but once home I looked at the data from the ride and knew I really had given it everything. The support received was just unreal and with a training load averaging just 8.5 hrs a week. I really should not be complaining ” Will I be back?” Of course just cant let it go!

Elite Men
1 Bradley Wiggins Sky ProCycling 26:29 53:56
2 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling 27:07 55:04 @ 1:08
3 Alex Dowsett Movistar 27:32 55:17 @ 1:21
4 Luke Rowe Sky ProCycling 28:34 56:55 @ 2:59
5 James McLaughlin Guidon Chalettois 28:24 57:16 @ 3:20
6 Matt Bottrill www.drag2zero.com 28:51 58:03 @ 4:07
7 Mark Christian Team Raleigh 29:01 58:12 @ 4:16
8 Russell Hampton Athlon Sport – Cloud 9 Telecom 29:34 59:15 @ 5:19
9 Joe Perrett Team Raleigh 29:26 59:29 @ 5:33
10 Gruffudd Lewis Pedal Heaven-Colbornes 29:54 1:00:11 @ 6:15
BDCAS 50 mile time trial

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Two days after the British Champs, I manged to pull myself together and ride the fastest 50 mile time trial ever produced in the United Kingdom, a rapid 1:34:43 or 31.6 mph. It was a great feeling knowing you’re riding so fast and the truth was I really wanted to hurt myself proving I’m still a great rider.

When in full flight aerodynamically, I have one of the best set ups out there. For the event, I raced the New Giant Trinity, Enve 8.9, Smart disk and the set up I should have had for the British Champs. Everything just flowed and it was a great feeling and a nice way to celebrate my birthday.

Result
1st -Matthew Bottrill – www.drag2zero.com 1:34:43
2nd Adam Topham High Wycombe CC 1:38;27
3rd D Tejvan Pettinger-Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team 1:39:36

 

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