ORICA-SCOTT’s Svein Tuft claimed his tenth individual time trial title today in his national championships in Ottawa.
The result makes Tuft the first ever Canadian rider to win ten titles in the event having won his first time trial title back in 2004.
The 40-year-old powered around the 36kilometre course under rainy conditions, stopping the clock with a time of 48minutes and 13seconds, five seconds faster than his nearest rival Nigel Ellsay (Silber Pro Cycling).
“This title is more important to me than just the statistic of it being my tenth title,” Tuft explained. “Last year I came here and didn’t take it too seriously, I thought I would be able to win it and didn’t quite realise how much the level has improved here in Canada and I ended up running third.”
With heavy rainy and a fairly undulating course, Tuft knew it would be a challenge to come away with the victory but was confident in his preparation and was able to produce a ride good enough to walk away with the win.
“I knew it would be difficult today because it isn’t a course that particularly suits me,” Tuft continued. “There was a lot of climbing maybe 600metres in total over 36kilometres. It wasn’t a super high average speeds so I had to really expend my energy well.”
“I really wanted to keep my motivation high after the Giro d’Italia and race hard in Slovenia so that I could come here and have a good go at the nationals, so I am pretty proud of that aspect more than anything.
“I had complete respect for my rivals and I am super happy to pull it off and take a tenth title.”
Canadian individual time trial championship results:
1. Svein Tuft (ORICA-SCOTT) 48:13
2. Nigel Ellsay (Silber Pro Cycling) +0:05
3. Rob Britton (Rally Cycling) +0:22
