Josh Tarling blows Connor Swift, Charlie Tanfield and Sam Watson away in British Championships time-trial at Catterick Garrison

Tarling won a bronze medal at Under-23 level at the world championships in his year in the national jersey and was so quick on his two laps of the 15km circuit around the army barracks that he actually overtook Great Ayton’s Charlie Tanfield, who was the penultimate rider out on the course.

Tanfield - who hopes to join Tarling in Paris this summer but as part of the track team pursuit squad - was happy with his ninth-placed finish but said of Tarling: “I knew he was going to pass me, I was just trying to make it to the hill on the second lap before he caught me. He’s an absolute train and fair play to him.

“All things considered I was aiming for a top-10 so I’m not disappointed at all.”

Tarling’s team-mate at Ineos Grenadiers, Doncaster’s Connor Swift, was third behind Tarling in last year’s British Championships time-trial but could get nowhere near him on maneuvers in Catterick.

“Terrible for me but not too bad for Josh,” said Swift, whose main goal at these championships is Sunday’s road race, which he won six years ago, in Saltburn.

“He’s looking unbeatable at the minute and with the Olympics in mind it’s good prep for him leading in.

“I’ve not spent the most time on my time-trial bike but I just wanted to do this before the road race on Sunday.”

Swift was fifth, one place behind Leeds’ Sam Watson of Groupama FDJ, the 22-year-old who was second to Mark Cavendish in the road race two years ago.

One Yorkshire champion was dethroned in her home county, yet Huddersfield’s Maddie Leech relinquished the national jersey graciously.

The 21-year-old had won the British Under-23s time-trial up at Croft motor-racing circuit 12 months ago but this year had to settle for the silver medal behind Josie Nelson.

Leech crossed the line in a time of 49m52.50s but given a rough build-up to her title defence was happy with the outcome.

“I guess you’re always disappointed because you come here to win but I think the course is just very, very different and my run-in this year has not been as well planned as last year,” Leech told The Yorkshire Post.

“I’ve had quite a lot of road races and not much time for rest, and I hit a bit of a fatigue wall last week and had to have five days off the bike trying to prepare for these. But I gave it my best so I’m pleased with second.”

Leech only took up cycling when she was 13 having been inspired watching the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Part of the GB track squad, she has a Commonwealth Games bronze medal to her name in the team pursuit and is currently dividing her time between the boards and the road with her team Lifeplus Wahoo.

She won a silver in the British circuit race last year which she will look to improve upon in Darlington town centre on Friday night.

Anna Henderson won the women’s title by 32 seconds from Claire Steel.

Sam Chaplin finished 24th in the Under-23 men’s time-trial in the colours of development squad Cycling Sheffield, who have had an impressive 10 race wins this year.