Jan 8th, 10. Meshy Holt was undeniably the best woman time trial rider at the RaboPlus Elite National Championships as she stood on the top of a truly class podium.

Holt powers to triple time trial victory ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"I am happy to win, because the field is the strongest it has ever been and it's an honour to be on the podium," Holt told RoadCycling.co.nz.  

"I was pretty happy to be on there. I've been riding well and it's nice to know that if you do the hard work, it pays off."

Holt, the 2009 Road and Time Trial Champion, had been focused on her defence of the time trial title and had been working with David Bowden on her aerodynamic position.

"On a flat course like this you need to be on the fastest position you possibly can be. And I think I was there.  Yes, the aerodymanics worked out absolutely.   David did a good job of getting me into a fast position, and it was crucial today."

Holt said on the way out she felt comfortable riding into the wind but on the way back, while hitting a speed of 60km/h, she said she ran out of gears and her cadence, or leg revolutions per minute,  was therefore too high.  

"You can't push the best power at that speed, you are going so fast you just have to keep the momentum going.  Coming back was the hardest, for me. I just ran out of gears at the end there."

Meshy Holt flanked by Shanks and Villumsen ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"I really hope so. Today was not my best performance yet. I think there's still more left in the tank."

Shanks honours Holt

Second placed Alison Shanks paid respects to Holt's great ride today.

"It was a fantastic ride by Meshy, she smacked a whole minute into us, so I was never going to catch her," she said.  "But you have to be happy with second."

Shanks said today's flat course meant the race was all about keeping concentration high and keeping the power output up.

"So much is about keeping the mind focused for the whole race," said Shanks who noted the wind was a factor with gaps in the hedges buffetting her and the other women with crosswinds.

"On the way out it was a slog, 53x19. On the way back, especially into the final straight, I was pushing the 53x12."

Shanks isn't racing Sunday's road race, the 3km pursuit specialist said today's 25km was long enough.  "No way I am doing 180km," she said.  

Holt on the benefit of being an Ironwoman

Holt said her involvement in Ironman racing has been a real benefit for her performance in time trials.

"After all that is what the Ironman is on the bike – it's an individual time trial. The other thing is that the cross training with the swimming and running keeps me fresh and also gives me really good fitness."

"I will be racing in Ironman New Zealand again in March and I think if I can take my fitness levels from there and add the cycling intensity that it will be a great way to prepare for the Commonwealth Games if I am selected."

Double defence for Holt

Holt also starts tomorrow's road race circuit as the defending champion.  Although the time trial was her focus, with it now out of the way she is ready to concentrate on the road race.

"I drove it in the car and they do say that it's worse in the car than on the bike, so I am going with that and hope that it's significantly better than in the car," she said.  After eight times up the climb tomorrow she'll know for herself how hard it is.

"It's going to be a real race of attrition. I will hang in there as long as possible and then we will see what the options are on that last lap," Holt said.

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