TTing at the Worlds!

So it's nearly the end of the season. Riders will be looking forward to a nice next few months spent at home with their families, relaxing and doing things they couldn't do during a full summer of work. There is still one obstacle however: The esteemed World Championships!

The women were up first and at one point it looked like there could be a Canadian eclipse with 4 of their riders showing in the top 5. As soon as the big guns rolled out though. things changed a little bit. Emma Pooley was the big British favourite being the reigning champion but the course was too flat and easy for her meaning it would play into the hands of the stronger riders more. She did however, ride to a Broze medal which shows positive signs for the future. Namely the Olympics Time Trial course which is also as flat as a pancake.

Silver went to Linda Villumsen of New Zealand, only 3 seconds ahead of Pooley. A further 20 seconds ahead though Gold was claimed by Judith Arndt who had been chasing the coveted rainbow jersey since 1997. Her well calculated ride made her the dominant winner and, interestingly, she had done it without the use of a radio. Take from that what you will but she seemed focussed on her goal the entire way through and she certainly got the result she wanted oh so much.

 Next was the mens race. Going into it Fabian Cancellara had been the unchallenged Time Trial king with 4 world titles to his name. This season did not go all his own way though. He won time trials in the Tour De Suisse and Tirreno-Adriatico yes, but he had hopelessly lost to heir apparent Tony Martin in the Tour De France and Vuelta á Espana. Couple this Martin's storming form shown from a GC win at Paris-Nice and a Time Trial win at the Daupiné Libre and you could sense a changing in the wind coming.

Sure enough it was Martin who came off the ramp and destroyed the field. He caught and passed acclaimed Time Trialer and last years silver medalist David Millar even before halfway. In the end he won by well over a minute. But who would it be over that was the question...

It was between our very own Bradley Wiggins after posting the best time as he finished, and Sparticus himself Cancellara. Wiggins has been on form all year in Time Trials as well as climbing and as Fabian came round the last corner it was a real nail biter as to whether he would make it to the line before Wiggins' time passed or not. It ended up that it was Great Britain got a second consecutive silver medal and Brad had helped towards a double-dethronment of the Swiss powerhouse.

Martin though, still a young rider, looks set for big things in the coming years. Consider this though: Judith Arndt rides for HTC-Highroad. As does Tony Martin. One of the favourites for the womens road race is Ina Teutenberg of HTC-Highroad and the big favourite for the mens rainbow jersey is Mark Cavendish...you guessed it, of HTC-Highroad. Why then, has no company seen the opportinuty to save this historic and successful team? Who knows how the mind of a businessman works...