Daryl Impey won the individual time trial at the Clover South Africa Road Cycling Championships.

Averaging 46.172 kilometres/hour over the 33 kilometre course, Impey bested Jay Thomson (MTN Qhubeka) for the win by 16 seconds. It is the second national title for Impey, who also won the individual time trial in 2011.

“I’m happy to take the jersey back to Europe and show it off in Tirreno,” said Impey, immediately following his effort. “This is the second time I’ve won the elite time trial. I couldn’t race the national champs last year because I was already in Europe. This year, the team gave me the opportunity to do it. I’ve been working with a few people to help me prepare specifically, and I think it really paid off today.”

The time trial, held in Nelspruit, featured an out-an-back course on a highway road.

“It was a pretty straightforward route,” said Impey. “Nothing technical at all. I relied on maintaining my power and a good aero position. I had a good first half of the effort. I kept it steady all the way through. Once I caught my minute man, I got some extra motivation there.”

While Impey would have been a favourite for the road race had he started, he’ll have to miss out on the event.

“Tirreno is just around the corner,” he explained. “I would have loved to have done the road race, but I’m quite happy to go back to Europe and fulfil my obligation to the team, too. I know we can do something there. Our National Championships are too late in the year for the WorldTour guys. I wish our national champs could be moved to January so that we could have the best field here for both races.”

Impey returns to Europe this weekend and will debut his new national champion skinsuit in the team time trial at Tirreno Adriatico.