Aussies left disappointment in time trial: Worlds

 image from here

It was a tough day for Aussie time trialists Luke Durbridge and Cameron Meyer at the UCI World Cycling Road Championships in The Netherlands yesterday.

Both Cameron and Luke were left disappointed after finishing in 16th and 21st respectively, well behind Germany's Tony Martin who claimed back to back titles.

The tough, undulating 45.7km course took its toll on the riders with many expecting that they would have fared better.

We now look ahead to the Men's Elite Road Race which promises to be a cracker with so many contenders.

For the Aussies we have a well rounded team for the 261km race on Sunday with Simon Clarke, Allan Davis, Simon Gerrans, Adam Hansen, Heinrich Haussler, Michael Matthews, Richie Porte, David Tanner as well as Wesley Sulzberger who replaces Mick Rogers who unfortunately had to withdraw from the race due to tonsillitis.

Go Aussies!

Who's your pick?

Wiggins, Sanchez & Cancellara. Olympic Time Trial Wrap.

As much as it pains me to say it, Wiggins is the best time trialist in the world right now. You know, I don't even know why it pains me to say it. I loved watching him ride the track but when he crossed over to road, for some reason he became unlikeable. Must be the sideburns.

But credit must be given where it is due and it is certainly due. Wiggins finished 42 seconds ahead of Tony Martin and 1.08 ahead of Bronze medalist and Sky team mate Christopher Froome. Wiggins was focused and no doubt spurred on by his home crowd. I don't think anyone could have stopped him.

Perhaps the podium may have been different had Fabian Cancellara not been injured due to his unfortunately crash in the road race. The thing I love about Fabian is his humility. He could have pulled out knowing he really wasn't in contention but he didn't. Instead he rode injured and he rode the best race he could - and he is content with that.

Here is part of what Cancellara had to say after the race (courtesy of Cycling News)

"I just took a step back, said I'm just an athlete. I gave so much for this, I have so much support from my family from the team, and the supporters all around the world. You don't have a chance to represent your country every day at the Olympics so I just said to myself that I had nothing to lose. I lost everything on Saturday when it was almost on a golden plate with the situation we had with the Swiss team, but that's how sport and life go. Even a seventh place is not that bad."

Brilliant.

The worst news of the day was for Luis Leon Sanchez who broke his chain as he launched off the start line. If you watch the vision he actually snaps it even before he crosses the start line at the top of the ramp. Now, the rules are the rules but surely this unfortunate event warranted a restart! I could feel his pain as he threw his hands in the air as he waited for the new bike. I would have picked up that bike and thrown it straight into the damn crowd! And it definitely wasn't Sanchez's day as not far down the road once he got going - he punctured! Bad, bad luck or sabotage?

And of course special mention must go to Australia's Michael Rogers. Mick, a three-time world champion time trialist, finished a credible sixth. Not a bad effort all Mick and we are undoubtedly proud.

What were your thoughts on the time trial?
 

Time Trial Not An Easy Pick - London 2012

Wednesday sees the time trial specialists head out on the road to race against the clock.And it is going to be a good one.

Unfortunately for the Aussie's we will only be represented by Michael Rogers due to Cadel Evans' withdrawal due to fatigue.

Many have said Luke Durbridge should be given a chance and I totally agree. I actually think he should have been selected in the squad. He is young, talented and capable, however many a selection in recent years has left me scratching my head.

The problem is that Olympic rules state that participants in the Time Trial must also be included in the Road Race squad, therefore leaving Durbridge, this time ineligible. With Goss, O'Grady and Gerrans certainly not time trialists unfortunately the fate of Australia's Gold medal hopes lies with Rogers.

The other topic of conversation is Fabian Cancellara. After crashing out of the road race with a suspected broken collarbone, Fabian has since been in doubt. Thankfully, it was not broken as poor Fabian tweeted:

"Looks like a hard night with a lots of pain.happy is not broken but the pain will be on!For the timetrial nothing is shure yet 50/50change"

As Spartacus is one of my favourite riders I surely hope that he is right to ride.

Along with Cancellara, the other top contenders each bring their own 'baggage' to the time trial. Tony Martin hasn't had the best preparation after a few untimely crashes and Bradley Wiggins comes off a tough Tour de France and also Sunday's Road Race.

I think that there are a few riders who can well and truly challenge the major favourites. Names like Taylor Phinney, Christopher Froome, Silvain Chavanel and Luis Leon Sanchez all come to mind.

All in all the 44km circuit will prove challenging and offer some great racing. I'm looking forward to it.

Who do you think will take the Gold?

The Race of Truth becomes a non-event...or is it?

The Tour de France is about to reach it's climax for 2012. Today's stage, a 53.5km time trial, is the last before the grand race makes it way into Paris and the finale on the famous Champs Elysees.

There has been much criticism of Tour director Christian Prudhomme and his choice of route for this year's tour. In particular his placement of the first time trial prior to the mountain stages suggesting that there would have been more action in the Alps to gain time going into a time trial.

Everyone knows that Wiggins has an unbelievable talent for the time trial. And with positioning the first time trial before the climbs no doubt played into his hands more than any other this year.

But, the thing is each team has an opportunity to bring with them their game plan into the tour, knowing full well the race routes, layouts and opposition strengths and weaknesses. They prepare their teams accordingly to their own strengths and have detailed strategic plans on what their aims and goals will be.

Yes, possibly repositioning the first time trial may have resulted in a different race with teams attacking to gain a time advantage over the likes of Wiggins and Evans knowing what they are capable of in the time trial, but...

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and this year's tour has played out and cannot be changed. What is known though, is that the last time trial on the penultimate day of racing is most likely going to be a non-event.

Evans is out of contention. Nibali unfortunatley doesn't race well against the clock. Van den Broeck is too far down to make have an impact. Even the master time triallists are no longer in the race (Cancellara and Martin) to make for a decent showing.

The only thing would be interesting, provided he was let off the leash, would be the potential performance of Christoper Froome.

Froome showed in the first time trial that he quite capable of an amazing performance. Surely Sky will tell him to give it all he has got? He is just over two minutes behind Wiggins, so is no threat to taking the jersey, but I'm sure many would love to see Froome ''beat" Wiggins, but would team Sky?

I for one would love to see Froome given the opportunity at least, otherwise yes indeed this race of truth will be a non-event.

Would you love to see Froome take on Wiggins tonight?