Solo Towers embraces the rain for National Champs road race win

Long-distance attack pays off for bold Brit

- James Shrubsall

ALL THE NEW CHAMPIONS

ROAD RACES

Elite men: Mark Cavendish (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl)

Elite women: Alice Towers (Le Col-Wahoo)

U23 men: Sam Watson (Groupama-FDJ)

U23 women: Alice Towers

CIRCUIT RACES

Elite men: Matthew Bostock (Wiv-Sungod)

Elite women: Josie Nelson (Coop-Hitec)

TIME TRIALS

Elite men: Ethan Hayter (Team Ineos)

Elite women: Jos Lowden (Uno-X)

U23 men: Leo Hayter (Hagens Berman-Axeon)

U23 women: Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM)

New women’s road race champion Alice Towers admitted thinking briefly, “Oh God, what have I done?” after embarking on her long-range British title-winning solo attack in Dumfries and Galloway on Sunday morning. “I was feeling good,” said the 19-year-old from Derbyshire, “and I thought, if this doesn’t work out then I’ve wasted my legs.”