Instead it was Hayter’s team-mate and defending champion Ben Swift who took the plaudits, outgunning Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) up the Michaelgate cobbles, with Hayter finishing a further two seconds back in third.
“I might have got the Strava segment if I’m lucky,” rued Hayter, whose younger brother Leo also scooped a bronze medal in the concurrently run U23 race, adding to the U23 time trial win he took earlier in the week.
For a jubilant Swift, the fact he had been able to wear the jersey for two years because of the race being cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19, was not lost on him.
“I had to earn it for the last year,” he said at the finish. “It was a tough race, but I’m really happy to keep the jersey.”
His form, he said, had been improving following a mid-season lull, during which his second child was born.
“Then I really started to pick up, stuck a couple of good races together, but you’ve got to pull it off on the day,” he said. “Together with Ethan we had two strong cards so I knew I could use his name out there.”
He added: “The Nationals, you have to race from the front, be aggressive. You just put yourself in the front… I don’t really know how the final group of four happened. There were a few attacks, it was right place, right time. I turned around and we had a gap.”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CLASSIC BIKE COLNAGO SUPER
A trailblazing bike immortalised by Merckx and Saronni
"Strava activities are the only way I know some of my friends are still alive"
...or that Bernard is doing his weekly shop
AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON... SADDLE SELECTION
Crucial advice to guide your next purchase
JUST A NUMB#R?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
RURAL PERIL
More UK cyclists are killed on rural lanes than on busy city streets. Rob Kemp investigates why and what can be done to keep us safe while riding in the countryside
A BLESSED RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST OF BOWLAND
Forgoing cloak, cassock and cross, Trevor Ward goes in search of the holy roads that helped make a Tour winner
Dame Sarah Storey claims road and 19th gold double
More success for Team GB's Paralympians in Paris, but Storey slams women's time trial course
Roglič matches Vuelta win record
Slovenian takes fourth Tour of Spain title after hunting down O'Connor's lead, writes Adam Becket
Williams crowned Tour of Britain champion
Welshman leads home resurgence at the stage race to crown an Israel-Premier Tech clean sweep, reports Tom Davidson in Felixstowe
CLASSIC BIKE CLAUD BUTLER OLYMPIC ROAD
Iconic British brand's Holdsworth-era road bike