Cycling: The men's individual time trial at the World Championships is on the agenda in Doha on Wednesday. As always in previous years, Tony Martin is one of the top favorites this year. Can the driver from Team Etixx-Quick Step get his double gold?
At least four drivers are fighting for gold
As with the team time trial on Sunday, there are also four favorites for the individual time trial, who seem to be above all other starters. In addition to Tony Martin (Etixx-Quick Step / Germany), these would be Rohan Dennis (BMC / Australia), Vasil Kiryienka (Sky / Belarus) and Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin / Netherlands). Unfortunately, the multiple world champion and this year's Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo / Switzerland) will not be at the start. Last year's winner Kiryienka will try to save his rather mixed season with the world title and prevent Tony Martin's fourth triumph. However, after winning the team time trial, the German is going into the race with a good deal of self-confidence. Although he has not been able to repeat his good results in the time trial this year, he won the last meeting ahead of Dennis and Dumoulin at the Tour of Britain almost exactly a month ago.
At 14:07.30:XNUMX Tony Martin starts the race
This individual time trial from the Lusail Sports Complex to The Pearl, which takes place in Doha, can also be described as flat. Above all, the enormous heat will perhaps play a not unimportant role. That's why Tony Martin completed his training sessions before the World Cup in front of a fan heater. The route is 40 kilometers long in total. Bonaventure Uwizeyimana (Dimension Data / Rwanda) will be the first driver to roll off the starting ramp at 12:30. The second German starter, Jasha Sütterlin, will pedal from 13:00 p.m. While the Austrians did not nominate a driver after the retirement of Matthias Brändle (IAM), the Swiss sent two drivers onto the track despite the absence of Fabian Cancellara: At 12:51 Reto Hollenstein (IAM) and at 13:51 Stefan Küng ( BMC) be on the hunt for a good time. At least Küng is believed to be able to place in the top ten. In any case, he can conjure up a first real reference time on the road. After that, it's hit and miss. At 14:06 Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar / Spain) starts and only one and a half minutes later Tony Martin's big day begins. This is followed by Dennis, Dumoulin and finally Kiryienka.
