"Triathletes" win National 50-mile Time Trial Championships

Kate Allan, Daniel Bigham take 50-mile TT National Championship titles

In the ten or so years I’ve been reporting here on Tri247, I’ve always tried to keep an eye on results that aren’t strictly purely in the swim / bike / run world.

To me, one of the most positive aspects of ‘our’ sport is that is both attracts athletes in from other disciplines, and also provides the opportunity for triathletes who want to move on to something else and/or find particular strength elsewhere. It also means that, as triathletes, we can also go and race in single sport events and, quite often, get reminded that while we may be good at putting three sports together, the specialists are just that!

Well, today we can make a (not too far fetched…) claim on double Gold in the National 50-miles Time Trial Championships coming from a strong triathlon pedigree not so long ago.

We interviewed Kate Allan (who was Kate McNeil at the time, prior to her wedding), a couple of years ago who, after winning a couple of European Age-Group Championship medals in the GB Age-Group team found she had a real aptitude for time trialling and was signed up by the DRAG2ZERO team. She earned a few National Championship podiums since then – and had a baby too – and today reached the top step of the podium in Teeside over 50-miles. #THISMUMCAN

Awesome ride by @KateAllan16 to take @Cycling_T_T national 50 mile title. #thismumcan e pic.twitter.com/Q7CXmwrWcf

— Performance Chef (@AlanMurchison) June 25, 2017

You can find out more in the coming week, as we have an interview with Kate coming up very soon about her progress over the last two years.

Daniel Bigham has carved a name for himself in recent times as “the biggest nerd in cycling” (honestly, that is a compliment from a team mate!). An expert in aerodynamics, equipment and bike positioning, Dan is consulting for a number of brands in relation to equipment and clothing. He’s also the man that Alistair Brownlee turned to recently when starting his scientific process of optimising his own set up as he transitions to middle and long distance racing.

Guess who!? #DirtyFast pic.twitter.com/fKHusMHAzG

— WattShop (@Watt_Shop) May 19, 2017

Earlier this year Dan won a host of Gold medals at the National Track Cycling Championships and has hopes of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games next year. So, while caling him a triathlete is a stretch… he did race for the GB Age-Group team several times (RESULTS), and won the Dambuster Duathlon overall in 2014 (RESULTS).