No Remco Evenepoel, no Filippo Ganna: The title in the individual time trial of the cycling world championships in Australia surprisingly went to Norway on Sunday morning (September 18th, 2022).
The Norwegian Tobias Foss surprisingly won the title in the individual time trial at the Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia. The 25-year-old clinched victory on the 34.2-kilometer course in 40:02 minutes, 2.95 seconds ahead of Stefan Küng from Switzerland. Third place went to Belgian Vuelta champion Remco Evenepoel, nine seconds back.
Pogacar and Ganna among the defeated
Former Tour Champion Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) and the favorite defending champion Filippo Ganna (Italy) only finished sixth and seventh. The two German starters Nikias Arndt and Miguel Heidemann also played no role in positions 16 and 20.
At the start of the World Championships, Ricarda Bauernfeind won the bronze medal in the U23 individual time trial. The 22-year-old from Ingolstadt was stopped on the 34.2 kilometers in 47:38 minutes and was 2:17 minutes behind the Italian Vittoria Guazzini. Second was Shirin van Anrooij from the Netherlands (1:48 minutes behind).
Dutch wins in women
At the World Championships in Australia, medals were awarded in the U23 class for the first time. The riders started as part of the women’s time trial, which Ellen van Dijk from the Netherlands won in 44:28 minutes. For the 35-year-old it was the third title after 2013 and 2021. Second and third place went to Australian Grace Brown (0:12 minutes behind) and European champion Marlen Reusser from Switzerland (0:41).
Germans without great expectations
From a German point of view, not too much can be expected in the further course of the World Cup. Maximilian Schachmann had to end the season, Lennard Kämna took a break from racing after the Tour de France, and the German champion Nils Politt also decided not to make the exhausting trip Down Under.
On the other hand, some of the international stars still have big goals in Australia. Tadej Pogacar was in strong form again after missing the tour win. Two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe wants to defend his title despite unbelievable bad luck with a fall this season. The Belgians field their stars Remco Evenepoel, who just won the Vuelta, and Wout van Aert in next Sunday’s men’s road race.
This is how the Road World Championships will continue:
19.9.22 Men U23 Individual Time Trial
20.9.22 Junior women individual time trial
20.9.22 Junior Individual Time Trial
9/21/22 Mixed Relay Time Trial
9/23/22 Junior Road Race
9/23/22 Men U23 Road Race
9/24/22 Junior Road Race
9/24/22 Women’s Elite Road Race
9/25/22 Men Elite Street Race