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Elite Men's Individual Time
Trial Preview |
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Tuesday saw Germany take two gold
in the junior men's and women's time trials. Tony Martin could
make that three gold for Germany as he seeks his fourth
consecutive rainbow jersey.
Past Winners
2013 - Tony Martin
2012 - Tony Martin
2011 - Tony Martin
2010 - Fabian Cancellara
2009 - Fabian Cancellara
2008 - Bert Grabsch
2007 - Fabian Cancellara
2006 - Fabian Cancellara
2005 - Michael Rogers
2004 - Michael Rogers
2003 - Michael Rogers
2002 - Santiago Botero
2001 - Jan Ullrich
2000 - Serhiy Honchar
Previous Editions
2012
1 Tony Martin
2 Taylor Phinney +5
3 Vasil Kiryienka +1:44
4 Tejay van Garderen +1:49
5 Fredrik Kessiakoff +1:50
6 Dmitriy Gruzdev +1:56
7 Jan Bárta +2:12
8 Alex Dowsett +2:26
9 Alberto Contador +2:30
10 Adriano Malori +2:40
2013
1 Tony Martin
2 Bradley Wiggins +46
3 Fabian Cancellara +48
4 Vasil Kiryienka +1:26
5 Taylor Phinney +2:08
6 Rasmus Quaade +2:36
7 Marco Pinotti +2:41
8 Adriano Malori +2:51
9 Gustav Larsson +2:58
10 Kanstantsin Siutsou +2:59
The Route
The Contenders
Tony Martin
Has won the last three years in a row and is going for number
four. He has been the dominant rider against the clock over
the past several years. The first half of the route suits him
with mostly flat roads where he can unleash all the power. The
final 25km with the undulation and two climbs don't suit him
as much but shouldn't pose too much of a trouble for him.
Especially with the advantage he will build on the flat.
Bradley Wiggins
Can he challenge Martin? That is the question. There is no
doubt Wiggins is one of the best against the clock but it will
take something special to beat Martin. Finished second last
year 46" back and in the past the climbs in the second half
might have suited him but those days are behind him. Can take
confidence from his Stage 8a win at the Tour of Britain. But
it was only 8.8km and he didn't win by a huge margin.
Tom Dumoulin
For all the talk that he only finishes second he has still won
a number of time trials this year. And yes finished second a
lot. Won ITT at Critérium International, Eneco Tour, Tour of
Alberta prologue and the Dutch National Championship. Has
never ridden the Elite World Championship before but he did
finish second in the longer stage 20 ITT at the Tour de France
so distance shouldn't trouble him. Beating Martin for the win
and even Wiggins may be hard but expect him to be fighting for
the other medals.
Rohan Dennis
Was a big part of the reason BMC won the TTT World
Championship on Sunday. In his first Elite Championship last
year Dennis finished 12th over 3 minutes behind. Had a busy
first season as a professional but with a year more experience
under his belt approaches the World Championships a lot
fresher. If not for rain would have won the final stage of the
Vuelta. After finishing second in the ITT at Critérium
International, Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, Tour of California,
Commonwealth Games and the Tour de Romandie prologue expect
him to want to finish on a high. If he still has the form he
showed in the Vuelta he could well be fighting for a spot on
the podium. After gold in the TTT what better way to end than
with another medal in the ITT.
Adriano Malori
Finished eighth last year nearly three minutes behind Martin,
but like others has improved in 2014. Won the ITT at the Tour
de san Luis, Tirreno-Adriatico, Italian Championships and the
final Vuelta stage. Has had a reasonably long season with 82
race days in his legs. However with strong form and confidence
from his Vuelta win expect Malori to be in the mix.
Jan Barta
Eleventh last year as one of a group of riders who finished
around three minutes down on Tony Martin. The Czech Time Trial
Champion has been on the podium in ITT's at VDK-Driedaagse De
Panne, Bayern Rundfahrt and an impressive third in the
penultimate stage 54km TT at the Tour de France. Comes in
after finishing 4th, 14 seconds behind Wiggins at the Tour of
Britain. Not a huge amount granted but it was only 8.8km.
Vasil Kiryienka
After finishing fourth last year Vasil Kiryienka will no doubt
be hoping to reach that podium spot he achieved in 2012. And
it could just be possible, when you considering third placed
Fabian Cancellara is not riding this year. Consistent but not
spectacular TT results but when you take in to account he is
often supporting others in a race not always fresh for the TT.
His seventh in the first ITT and 4th on the final stage at the
Vuelta is an indicator of form. Helped Sky to third in the
TTT.
Rasmus Quaade
The Danish Champion finished an impressive sixth last year, in
his first year at elite level. Riding for a continental team
we have seen little of him against the big names. Won Chrono
Champenois earlier this month, a race where Campbell Flakemore
(U23 winner) finished third. With World Tour riders fighting
for the podium it will be interesting to see how he compares
but don't be surprised to see him in the top 10 again.
Alex Dowsett
The current Commonwealth Champion after he beat Rohan Dennis
by just nine seconds. Finished well down last year but had far
from the perfect preparation. He won the ITT at the Giro last
year with an uphill finish so the second half shouldn't prove
too much for him. Only eighth in the Tour of Britain TT but
that was after a long break two days earlier. After just
signing a new contract with Movistar what better way than to
thank the team with a World Championship medal.
Tejay van Garderen
A strong time trialist who finished fourth in 2012, nearly two
minutes behind but Martin and Phinney were in a league of
their own then. Likely to lose some time to the specialists in
the fist half but could claw some of it back as the undulating
terrain interrupts the rhythm of others. After helping BMC
claim gold in the TTT, he will be looking to add another
medal.
Svein Tuft
An outsider. The 37 year old Canadian took the silver medal
back in 2008. Fourth in the time trial at the Commonwealth
Games and second at Tour du Poitou. Likely to be one of the
fastest in the first half but the final 15km could prove too
much for Tuft who isn't known for his climbing skills.
Serghei Tvetcov
For those who have watched or followed American Races -
California, Utah, Gila, Beauce, USA Pro Challenge they will
know the name. Others might not. Won the ITT at Tour of the
Gila and finished 12th in the ITT at California against some
WT competition including Wiggins and Dennis. In the second
half of the year finished third in the uphill time trial at
the USA Pro Challenge. The undulating final kilometres will
suit him but against this level of competition will be a big
test. An early starter so if the weather turns could surprise.
Other names to watch: Anton Vorobyev, Nicholas Roche, Jesse
Sergent, Maciej Bodnar, Sylvain Chavanel, Kristof Vandewalle,
Jonathan Castroviejo, Dario Cataldo, Kanstantsin Siutsou and
Tiago Machado. |
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