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A very strong field will
challenge for the women's time trial title headlined by
defending champion Lisa Brennauer and two other former winners
Ellen Van Dijk and Kristin Armstrong. Not to mention a long
list of challengers including Mieke Kroeger, Karol-Ann Canuel,
Anna Van der Breggen, Ann-Sofie Duyck, Tara Whitten and former
medallists Carmen Small, Evelyn Stevens, Solovey and Linda
Villumsen.
Past Winners
2014 Lisa Brennauer (GER)
2013 Ellen van Dijk (NED)
2012 Judith Arndt (GER)
2011 Judith Arndt (GER)
2010 Emma Pooley (GBR)
2009 Kristin Armstrong (USA)
2008 Amber Neben (USA)
2007 Hanka Kupfernagel (GER)
2006 Kristin Armstrong (USA)
2005 Karin Thürig (SUI)
2004 Karin Thürig (SUI)
2003 Joane Somarriba (ESP)
2002 Zulfiya Zabirova (RUS)
2001 Jeannie Longo (FRA)
2000 Mari Holden (USA)
1999 Leontien van Moorsel (NED)
1998 Leontien van Moorsel (NED)
1997 Jeannie Longo (FRA)
1996 Jeannie Longo (FRA)
1995 Jeannie Longo (FRA)
1994 Karen Kurreck (USA)
2014 Results
1 Lisa BRENNAUER
2 Anna SOLOVEY +18.68
3 Evelyn STEVENS +21.25
4 Mieke KROEGER +38.29
5 Ann-Sofie DUYCK +45.31
6 Karol-Ann CANUEL +51.26
7 Eleonora VAN DIJK +1:11.64
8 Alison POWERS +1:14.17
9 Linda VILLUMSEN +1:14.28
10 Trixi WORRACK +1:15.25
The Route
The Contenders
Start list and start order available
here
Lisa Brennauer
The World Championships got off to a good start for Brennauer
as she defended her TTT title with Velocio-SRAM. Last year
nearly completed the TTT, ITT and road race triple and the
defence of her time trial title will put her a step closer
again this year.
2015 has been the season of her life not just against the
clock but she has been sprinting with the best, collecting
wins in time trials, bunch sprints and overall
classifications. Brennauer might head in as the favourite but
the competition is stronger than ever.
Anna Van der Breggen
Van der Breggen has had an excellent season from winning the
first European race of the season Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Generally considered strongest as a climber but has shown her
strength against the clock this year winning the Dutch time
trial title as well as winning the penultimate stage time
trial at the Giro. The latter came towards the end of a very
hot and hard race and wasn't as flat but Van der Breggen did
win by over one minute. Would prefer a hillier course for the
time trial but don't discount her because of that.
Evelyn Stevens
Stevens is one of three Americans and is racing not just for
rainbows but a spot for the US at the Rio Olympics. After
finishing with silver in 2012 and bronze in 2014 Stevens will
be as determined as ever to take gold on home soil.
Won the Tour of California time trial in May but only managed
fifth at the US Championships. A rider who usually performs
well at major events so expect a strong ride. Repeating last
years performance looks to be a challenge and she would
probably prefer a hillier route,
Mieke Kroeger
The 22 year old German could well continue her stand out year
and add the world title to her name. Hasn't raced as much as
the other big name contenders and this could leave her a
little fresher. Caused a surprise upset beating Lisa Brennauer
to win the German Championship by 29 seconds, before adding
the European Under 23 title later in the year.
Had a month and a half away from racing since the start of
August before putting in massive turns in the TTT helping
Velocio-SRAM to finish their life as a team with another world
title. Still young but after finishing fourth last year don't
be surprised to see her on the podium in 2015.
Ellen Van Dijk
The 2013 World Champion lost her title last year finishing
down in seventh. The past four years have established her as
one of the very best against the clock finishing 6th, 5th, 1st
and then 7th. After the disappointment of last year expect Van
Dijk to be as motivated as ever to regain the title.
It will not be an easy ask however as the level has increased
greatly over the past few seasons and Van Dijk doesn't seem to
have improved as much as others. Won the European Games time
trial in July but could only manage silver at the Dutch
National Championships; 29 seconds behind winner Anna Van der
Breggen. Van Dijk is an earlier starter than a number of the
big favourites starting an hour and a half before defending
champion Lisa Brennauer.
Carmen Small
Small was the bronze medallist in 2013 and has returned fully
focused on the road after illness forced her to abandon her
Rio 2016 track ambitions. There is more than racing on home
roads up for grabs with Rio selection at the front of the
three US participants minds. Won the Pan American
Championships back in May, before finishing a narrow second to
Kristin Armstrong at the US nationals and then won Chrono
Gatineau two weeks later.
Moved to Bigla at the end of June but her lack of racing at
the highest level especially against the clock this year could
hurt her chances. Small has proven to be one of the strongest
against the clock in the past and with a spot on the team for
the Rio Olympics expect a very strong ride.
Ann-Sofie Duyck
The Belgium Champion is a very underrated rider but mostly
races smaller events. After finishing fifth last year Duyck
will be looking for a spot on the podium in 2015. Comes in
with good form having taken the win at Chrono Champenois
earlier this month on top of prologue wins at
Auensteiner-Radsporttage and Trophee d'Or Feminin this year.
Karol-Ann Canuel
The Canadian Champion is a name definitely worth keeping a
close eye on to challenge for one of the podium spots.
Finished sixth last year and her strength against the clock
looks only to have improved in the past twelve months.
Finished third in the time trials at Internationale Thüringen
Rundfahrt and sixth at the Giro Rosa in a sign she can be
competitive with the best during a hard stage race.
Comes in with good form having helped Velocio-SRAM take a
fourth TTT title in a row on Sunday, and her second.
Linda Villumsen
The Commonwealth Champion made the move to UnitedHealthcare
over the off-season and has only raced in New Zealand, Great
Britain and the United States this year. Villumsen is a rider
who always performs at the World Championships having finished
on the podium every year between 2009 and 2013 with three
bronze medals and two silver. Finished ninth last year but had
the Commonwealth Games as a big target so expect to see
Villumsen back at her best at the World Championships this
year.
Katrin Garfoot
In her first World Championships last year Garfoot finished
11th, just over 30 seconds from a top five finish. Still
relatively new to the sport and continues to make progress
every time she races. Hasn't raced much against the clock this
year but when she has she has impressed. Won the Oceania title
back in February but without any real competition. Her most
important result this year was a fourth place finish in the
final time trial at the Giro Rosa. Probably won't challenge
for the podium but could improve on last year and finish
inside the top 10.
Kristin Armstrong
The dual Olympic and World Champion made a return to racing
this season after retiring following gold at the London 2012
Olympics. As the second rider to start we could see Armstrong
in the hot seat for quite a while as she starts two and a half
hours before the final stater. How long she holds the best
time is unknown but she is likely to be there for quite a
while.
For Armstrong and her US teammates Carmen Small and Evelyn
Stevens there is more than racing for a rainbow jersey, and
competing on US soil as selection for the 2016 Olympic Games
is on the line. Due to confusion over selection criteria
missed competing at the Pan American Championships but claimed
the US title in May after finishing third at the Tour of
California. With three years away from racing it will be
Armstrong's first real test competing against a world class
field.
Hayley Simmonds
Took a convincing win at the British National Champions and
earned herself selection for the World Championships. Is
largely untested against the sort of international field so it
will be interesting to see how she performs.
Comes in to the race off third at Chrono Champenois, while the
field wasn't strong it should have given her a confidence
boost. In July finished ninth at the Internationale Thüringen
Rundfahrt time trial, just over one minute behind pre race
favourite Lisa Brennauer.
Tara Whitten
It will be interesting to see what Whitten, a former cross
country skier and three time world champion on the track will
be able to do on the road with limited racing. During her time
on the track was one of the best endurance riders in the
world. Has finished in the top 10 three times in the past.
Just missed the podium in fourth in 2010 after finishing
seventh in 2010 and eighth in 2009.
Has been producing some strong results against the clock in
North and South America this year. Finished second just 15
seconds behind Carmen Small at the Pan American Championships
back in May. Sixth at the Tour of California and eighth at
Chrono Gatineau.
Solovey
Arguably the most controversial rider in women's cycling
because of her past suspension and limited racing but
regardless of ones opinion she is here. Has been MIA for much
of the season and had a somewhat disputed move from Astana
earlier in the year but that is unlikely to mean she wont
challenge.
Finished eighth in 2013 before taking silver last year in just
her third UCI race for the season. Again has raced little this
year but as previous years have shown that doesn't seem to
hurt her. Won the Ukraine TT Championship, second at European
Games and fourth at Chrono Gatineau all back in June.
Tatiana Antoshina
The Russian Champion has finished inside the top 10 three
times with her best result fourth back in 2008. Won the
Ljubljana ITT and the time trial on route to the overall at
the Tour de Feminin. Finished fourth at the European Games but
was over a minute behind Ellen Van Dijk. Could produce a top
10 result but it is hard to see her challenging the big names.
Martina Sablikova
Not a name that might immediately stand out and unlikely to
challenge for the podium but Sablikova could put in a top 10
performance. Finished 12th last year but was just 10 seconds
off the top 10 and around 30 seconds before pushing towards
the top five. Other than the Czech Nationals has only raced
the Ljubljana TT at UCI level, where she finished fourth.
Other names to watch: Trixi Worrack, Emma Johansson and Alena
Amialiusik. |
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