Gatis Smukulis (Astana) confirmed his status as the best Latvian time triallist as he took his sixth win in a row at the national championships. For the 8th consecutive time, Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM) had to settle for second while Toms Skujins (Cannondale) rounded out the podium.

Gatis Smukulis may not have won a single international time trial but when it comes to his national championships, he is in a class of his own. Since he took over the crown nine-time champion Raivis Belohvosciks in 2011, he has been unbeatable in the fight for the coveted jersey and today he made it six in a row.

Smukulis first finished on the podium in 2009 when he was third behind Belohvosciks and Aleksejs Saramotins. The result was the same in 2010 and so Saramotins was the natural successor to the dominant Latvian time triallist when he resigned from his position in 2011.

However, Smukulis beat Saramotins that year and since then, the result has been the same every year. The pair have finished first and second every year and today it was the same when Smukulis beat Saramotins by 50 seconds on the 35km course in Rauna, having covered the distance in 46.39. The result means that Saramotins has now been runner-up 8 years in a row but he is still in search of the elusive first title. Tom Skujins was 1.25 behind in third.

The attention now turns to Sunday’s road race where Saramotins in the defending champion.