Tsgabu Grmay and Urška Žigart have both won their national time trial championships with dominant rides against the clock, while Italian Matteo Sobrero also stepped onto the podium with a bronze medal ride.

Ethiopian Grmay kicked-off the day in style as he powered to his seventh national time trial victory as he returned to his home city of Mek’ele. The 31-year-old was back in his homeland for the first time in three years to race his national championships, and despite having to quickly adapt to the altitude in the Tigray Region, he was victorious once again.

Over in Slovenia Žigart retained her national time trial title with an impressive display over the 15.7km course. Fresh off finishing seventh overall at the Tour de Suisse earlier in the week, the 26-year-old continued her fine run of form to take her third national TT title by 1’43”.

Meanwhile in Italy, former champion Sobrero stepped onto the podium again in the Italian time trial championships with a strong ride for third place in Sarche.

Tsgabu Grmay:
“I’m so happy to win the race, it has been three years since I’ve come back here, the race was in Mek’ele, my city. It was hard with the altitude as I’ve been here just three days.

The race was around 30km, and it was just good to see the people back and the races have started again after the hard time with the civil war. I’m so happy to be here to race the Ethiopian championships and to win and to be back in the Ethiopian champions jersey, I’m looking forward to wearing it again.”

Urška Žigart:
“I’m really happy to keep the jersey for another year, I’m always really proud to wear the national colours.

It was really hot today and I got a bit scared, I started quite fast, but luckily there was something left in my legs after the last few days of racing. I’m super happy with how it went today and I’m looking forward to keeping the shape for the races in July.”

Article: https://www.greenedgecycling.com/2023/06/22/tsgabu-grmay-and-urska-zigart-claim-national-time-trial-titles-with-dominant-rides/

Photos: Sprint Cycling