Tomorrow’s Worlds: Men’s Elite time-trial

Tomorrow’s Worlds: Men’s Elite time-trial

Here come the Belgians… but which one? Victory for Victor is the consensus 

Primoz Roglic Racing time trial World Championships Yorkshire Yorkshire 2019


Once again, our ‘expert’ panel here at Rouleur Towers pit their wits and intimate knowledge of the racing scene against Cycling Mole, our harshest critic and king of the tipster scene, to see who will be crowned King of Yorkshire.

 

Hours of painstaking research will go into our World Championships picks, whilst stroking our luxuriant hipster beards over a mug of single origin coffee, listening to ambient techno. [Did Moley write this? – Ed]

 

Can any of us outfox the crafty Mole? Or will he rip us a new one, as per usual? Read on…

Men Elite time-trial: Northallerton – Harrogate, 54km

 

Miles: Alex Dowsett (Great Britain)


With Dowsett’s proven pedigree against the clock, how fantastic would it be for him to add those rainbow bands to his palmarés of six national titles? Who knows, an outsider’s chance maybe, but that can be enough.

 

Ian: Remco Evanepoel (Belgium)


Following Tuesday’s fun and games in the torrential rain, perhaps we should be looking at the best water skier rather than tester. Roglic will be good if he’s held his Vuelta form. Rohan Dennis’ form is a bit of an unknown, but I don’t think he will fancy the wet conditions. Kasper Asgreen will be in the mix.

 

But when in doubt, and the weather is foul, send for the Belgians. The teenage sensation Evanepoel to oust the old timers. 

 

Ben: Victor Campenaerts (Belgium)

 

A bit of a risk, but I’d love to see Big Vic (I’m not sure that’s his actual nickname) on the top step. With most of the favourites either having an awful lot of racing in their legs, or none at all, this is a difficult one to predict, but with the Hour Record smashed earlier in the year, I think Campenaerts has only had eyes for Yorkshire since.

 

Nick: Victor Campenaerts (Belgium)

Don’t believe the hype. Remco’s victory in the Euros was impressive, but he’s still – at least for now – only the third best Belgian tester. A tricky one to call, this. On the one hand, Campenaerts hasn’t raced a bike since June, but on the other, he hasn’t raced a bike since June. The course suits him better than last year’s in Innsbruck, however, when he came third. If he wants it, it’s his for the taking.

 

Andy:Primoz Roglic (Slovenia)


Well, we know he’s got the form, just depends how hard he’s been partying since winning the Vuelta. The Slovenian has won the two long-ish Grand Tour TT stages and keeps breaking records; I reckon there’ll be another one here, though he could do with a bigger hill or two in the route.

 

Cycling Mole’s verdict


After today’s fun in the rain, we have the closest competition yet. Andy’s pick of Dygert-Owen was outstanding, I thought my TV was stuck on fast forward! I promised a beer if AVV didn’t win, and you can expect one to be sent to you in the coming days Be careful your postie doesn’t drink it. Ian, Andy, Nick and I all have one win to our name, poor Miles is letting the team down. We move towards the men’s time-trial, a race where a number of riders have a big chance of winning.

 

We have 54km on a rolling course, we all know the Yorkshire roads are harder than the profile suggests. After biblical rain, the weather will be slightly better, but it will still be wet. Who will push it to the limit in their quest to win a rainbow jersey?

 

Miles continues to baffle me with his picks. This time it’s Alex Dowsett, a rider who won’t finish on the podium. Can someone please explain the rules of the game to Miles, I’m beginning to think he’s actually Miles Jupp. Ian is believing in youth and going with Remco Evenepoel, the teenage sensation. After winning the European Championships, he has to be considered as one of the favourites, but I can’t see him winning over 54km. 

 

Andy, who is on a high after today, is going with Roglič. Has the Slovenian managed to hold his form since winning the red jersey? Ben and Nick are in agreement and think that Victor “Campy” Campenaerts will take the win. He has already smashed the hour record in 2019, can he round the year off with the rainbow jersey? Interestingly, no one has picked Rohan Dennis, the man the bookies think will win. After chucking his toys out the pram back at the Tour, can the Aussie silence the haters with a big performance? I really hope not, his decision to quit the Tour was unforgiveable, a slap in the face to his team-mates.

 

My mini-Moles have been out and about and the word is Campy is flying. He’s not raced since the end of June, but I reckon he’s following a similar training pattern to the start of the year, when he smashed the hour record. I’ll agree with Ben and Nick and go with the mustacho. 

The post Tomorrow’s Worlds: Men’s Elite time-trial appeared first on The world's finest cycling magazine.

Primoz Roglic Racing time trial World Championships Yorkshire Yorkshire 2019


READ MORE

Max Poole on near misses, learning from the best and why Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL’s structure works

Max Poole on near misses, learning from the best and why Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL’s structure works

The British rider discusses his impressive Grand Tour debut and the work it has taken to get there

Leer más
'British Cycling has done everything for me' - Dani Rowe: From a talent ID programme to Olympic gold

'British Cycling has done everything for me' - Dani Rowe: From a talent ID programme to Olympic gold

Speaking after being inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame, Rowe tells Rouleur about her journey to the top of the sport

Leer más
Will Mark Cavendish return to the Tour de France in 2025?

Will Mark Cavendish return to the Tour de France in 2025?

We know the Manxman well enough now that we should never count him out when it comes to racing

Leer más
‘Cycling is my home… but it’s less fun nowadays’: Simon Geschke on 16 years as a professional

‘Cycling is my home… but it’s less fun nowadays’: Simon Geschke on 16 years as a professional

The German rider reflects on how the sport has changed over his career as a pro cyclist

Leer más
‘Our budget is 10 times higher’ - Canyon//SRAM manager Ronny Lauke on the changing economics of women’s cycling

‘Our budget is 10 times higher’ - Canyon//SRAM manager Ronny Lauke on the changing economics of women’s cycling

The German team boss on increased salaries, how the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has impacted his team and acquiring a new sponsor in...

Leer más
‘I hope I’ve inspired the next generation’ - Laura Kenny on a career of Olympic stardom

‘I hope I’ve inspired the next generation’ - Laura Kenny on a career of Olympic stardom

Part of our series of articles on British Cycling's Hall of Fame inductees, Laura Kenny reflects on her career, and how track cycling can keep developing

Leer más

MEMBERSHIP

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Independent journalism, award winning content, exclusive perks.

Banner Image