Cummings, in his first race back after crashing of the Tour of the Basque Country in April, set an average speed of 46.492km/h as he set the mark for Dowsett to beat if the Movistar man was to keep his national title.

But Dowsett – who will also hope to be on the Tour de France startline for the Dusseldorf time trial – posted 57.26, finishing second.

Dowsett was actually fastest through the first time check, but on a hilly, technical course the Movistar man lost time on the second part of the course.

James Gullen (JLT-Condor), in form after winning the An Post Ras and placing second at the Beaumont Trophy, finishing third in 58.08.

Cummings and Dowsett were two of five WorldTour riders on the startlist for the race, but the Team Sky trio of Tao Geoghegan Hart, Jon Dibben and Owain Doull missed out – the latter having to curtail his effort after suffering a puncture.

Geoghegan Hart finished fourth – 1’27” slower than Cummings – while Dibben was tenth at 3’18”.

Finally, the men’s under-23 title once again went to Welsh rider Scott Davies (Team Wiggins) – still only 21, Davies has now won the event in four consecutive years, continuing the form he showed at the junior Giro d’Italia, where he was second in the time trial and fourth overall.

Davies’ time of 28.20 was 49 seconds faster than second-placed Tom Baylis (ONE Pro Cycling), with Charlie Tanfield a further second slower in third place.

British National Time Trial Championships – results

Elite men
1) Steve Cummings – Dimension Data – 57.18
2) Alex Dowsett – Movistar +8”
3) James Gullen – JLT-Condor +50”
4) Tao Geoghegan Hart – Team Sky +1.27
5) Harry Tanfield – Bike Channel-Canyon +1.33

Elite women
1) Claire Rose – Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling – 32.11
2) Hannah Barnes – Canyon-SRAM +19”
3) Katie Archibald – Team WNT +25”
4) Hayley Simmonds – Team WNT +28”
5) Elinor Barker – Matrix Fitness +1.19

Under-23 men
1) Scott Davies – Team Wiggins – 28.20
2) Tom Baylis – ONE Pro Cycling +49”
3) Charlie Tanfield – Brother NRG Cycling +50”
4) Chris Lawless – Axeon Hagens Berman +1.00
5) Ben Hetherington – Memil Pro Cycling +1.17