Bäckstedt and Hayter dominate 2026 British time trial championships, Wiggins the younger wins U23

The Lloyds National Road Championships opened in the heat of Lampeter on Thursday June 25. Four time-trial titles were settled in Ceredigion, with Zoe Bäckstedt retaining her elite crown, Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) landing a fourth, and Erin Boothman and Ben Wiggins (yes, that Wiggins) taking the under-23 honours.

Zoe Bäckstedt (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) was imperious on home soil, defending her national time-trial title in 32:45.90 and posting the fastest time on both laps. The podium was an all-Welsh affair. Anna Morris, racing as a privateer, took silver in 33:07.87, while Zoe's sister Elynor Bäckstedt (UAE Team ADQ) claimed bronze in 33:50.97 — the first time the sisters have shared a national-championship podium. Bäckstedt finished almost 22 seconds clear of the field.

It caps a strong run of form for the 21-year-old, the reigning under-23 world time-trial champion, who won a stage at the Tour de Suisse earlier this month. "It was a super fun ride, really fast, difficult in places," Bäckstedt said. She now turns to Sunday's road race, where she will line up among the favourites.

In the elite men's race, Ethan Hayter was in a class of his own. The Soudal Quick-Step rider stopped the clock at 44:10.89 to claim a fourth elite time-trial title and cement his place as one of the most decorated riders in the championship's history. Connor Swift (Netcompany-INEOS) took silver in 45:40.96 for his first national time-trial medal, having been crowned road race champion back in 2018. Josh Charlton (Ineos Grenadiers Racing Academy) rounded out the podium in 45:51.23, his first national medal.

Hayter found the heat unforgiving. "It was survival and I really benefited from all the overseas training I do," he said. Like Bäckstedt, he has the road race in his sights on Sunday, though he was quick to flag a strong field standing between him and another jersey.

Scotland's Erin Boothman (Liv AlUla Jayco) was the standout of the under-23 women, winning by almost two minutes in 33:36.60. The 19-year-old has carried fine form through the season, having medalled at February's national track championships. Awen Roberts (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation) took silver, with Abigail Miller (UAE Development Team) third.

"It's one of the highlights of my year so far," said Boothman, who admitted she went out hard on the opening lap and held on.

The under-23 men's title went to Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco), son of five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins. He was the only rider to break the 30-minute barrier, winning in 29:02.12, finally landing the jersey after four runner-up finishes across the junior and under-23 ranks. Henry Hobbs (Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development) edged home favourite Finlay Tarling (NSN Development Team) for silver by three seconds.

"It feels great to wear the national champion jersey," Wiggins said, having arrived fresh from a strong Giro Next Gen.

The championships now head to Aberystwyth, where the circuit race lights up the seafront on Friday evening before the road races on Sunday. Based on their time trial dominance, Bäckstedt and Hayter will once again be among the names to beat.