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World Championships - CM

Stuttgart, Germany, September 26-30, 2007

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Race 3 - September 27: Elite men's time trial - 2 laps, 44.9km

Cancellara reigns as World Champion

Swiss repeats 2006 success on German roads

By Gregor Brown in Stuttgart, with additional reporting by Bjorn Haake

Cancellara wins again
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland repeated his 2006 success in the World Championships Time Trial by going 52 seconds faster than Hungarian Laszlo Bodrogi. The 26 year-old who scored his first gold medal in Salzburg blasted through all the intermediate time checks in top spot, and closed out the 44.9-kilometre parcours in Stuttgart with a time of 55'41". Dutchman Stef Clement rounded out the podium at almost one minute back from Cancellara.

His storming ride over the dampened roads from the morning ended shortly after 16:00. The Swiss caught his two-minute man, American David Zabriskie, charged up the Am Kochenhof and then pumped his right fist in the air after crossing the finish line. "This year was more difficult because the pressure was higher, the course was harder – but in the end, I gave it all I had, and everything worked out fine. I'm very happy!" said Cancellara who covered the course in a pace of 48.380 km/h.

Cancellara's stunning 2006 season might have been topped by this year. He had covered the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix as king last year before going on to win his first world title in the fall. This year, he seized the opening day of the Tour de France and went on to wear the coveted leader's jersey for the next eight days, including another stage win in the Départ town of the Paris-Roubaix, Compiègne.

"It was a hard thing," continued Cancellara of his ride. "Last year was hard. I thought that I was not in the same condition as last year, but I did all that was possible. My goal was to defend my title. For sure, tonight, we are going to drink a glass of champagne, or more!"

The indicator was there after the first 8.39 kilometres. Cancellara cruised past the time check nine seconds ahead of Clement. His ride continued in the same impressive manner; he hit the end of the first of two circuits (km 22.2) with 19 seconds over Clement, and at the third time check, he was still on top, this time with 22 seconds.

Lazlo Bodrogi (Hungary)
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

"I saw it was raining this morning. I had in mind the stage this year's Tour's TT stage in Albi, when I crashed," Cancellara commented. "I know I did not want to crash. I took a fast start, and it was important to have the times of the other riders. My team manager gave me good information. The part that made me nervous was thinking how I absolutely wanted to avoid crashing today."

In contrast to Cancellara, the other two podium placers have had a winless season. 30 year-old Bodrogi is always one to be counted on for the time trials since placing third in the Worlds in 2000. The form that brought him second in the Vuelta a España time trial on September 8 was on display when he pushed Clement out of second spot. His time of 56'33" briefly had him as the provisional time trial champion.

"Now, with getting older, I start slower," explained Bodrogi, who was 18th overall at the first time check. "I did everything I could at the end. I tried not to take too many risks, especially in the second circuit."

The time trial skills Clement were first noted in the professional ranks when he took his first two victories. In 2006, he won the national time trail championships and time trial of the Tour de l'Avenir three months later. He indicated more recently that he could vie for the world title when he placed highly in the second time trial of the Vuelta a España, September 22. He had held the top position in the Spanish test for most of the day; his spot was lost when the general classification men came barrelling home, fighting for their overall placings.

Stef Clement (Netherlands)
Photo ©: Cyclingnews.com
(Click for larger image)

"I need a little more experience, a little more power," Clement remarked on the race in Germany. "But this is a day I will never forget. I am pretty satisfied overall."

Finland's Matti Helminen time of 58'13" kept him waiting in the hot seat for some time. The 32 year-old had the most impressing run from the first two of four starting groups. 2006 Under 23 Champ Dominique Cornu had a decent first year in the elite category. The Belgian finished 11th on the day, 2'10" back.

Bradley Wiggins was the only mother-tongue English speaker in the top ten. The rider from Great Britain capped the top ten, while compatriot Millar slotted in 18th. American David Zabriskie finished right behind Cornu, and Jason McCartney, recent stage winner in the Vuelta capped the top 20.

How it unfolded

The first rider to take off was Simon Zahner of Switzerland, at precisely 12:30 local time. The temperatures were still cool, but the rain had ceased, even though the roads were still wet and slippery. Like in the previous U23 and women's events, there were four starting groups. Ben Day of Australia was next to go, with Canadian Svein Tuft following shortly thereafter.

But it was Belgian Jurgen Van Den Broeck who set the best times at first. When he crossed the line for the first time, he had a 28'34"33. Andrei Kunitski (Belarus) was also fast out of the start house was setting good intermediate times.

Group two started at 13:25 and young talent Vincenzo Nibali of Italy was on the first big names to head off. He had a good duel with the top two guys from the first group, Van Den Broeck and Kunitski.

Van Den Broeck took over the leader-board at the finish, with a 58'44"48. Canadian Tuft came in with third best, at 59'27.

Nibali posted the best time at the first check. Kunitski arrived at the finish with 58'19 and pushed Van Den Broeck into second.

Finnish rider Matti Helminen was also doing well and took the lead at the 8.4 kilometre check, but dropped eight seconds behind Nibali on the third check, at kilometre 31. But the Finnish rider has the stronger finish and while Nibali ends up with a 58'23", Helminen takes over the lead. The new best time is 58'13".

Andrey Mizurov (Kazakhstan) was heading to the second check with a 58'25", while Australian Adam Hansen could not quite get under 29 minutes at this check. In this group of starters, German Bert Grabsch, who recently won a time trial in the Vuelta, was going very well. While still behind at the first check, he set best times on all the other ones and came to the 22-kilometre marker with 28 minutes flat.

His problem was that compatriot Sebastian Lang had started after him and was doing very well. He was the first starter of the last group, which included a lot of the favourites. At the second check Lang was six seconds up on Grabsch and looked to be taking over the lead. But at the last intermediate time check he was down on Grabsch by elevens seconds.

Dutchman Stef Clement then came out very fast and looked good on the slightly drier roads. He pulverized the times at the checks, going through with 11'20" after 8.4 kilometres, 27'31 after 22 kilometres and 40'18" at kilometre 31.

Hungarian Laszlo Bodrogi was second at the 22-kilometre spot, 18 seconds down on the young Dutchman.

Grabsch ended up with a 56'53 and was the first rider below the 57-minute mark. Lang was fighting hard an closing in on his German team-mate, but fell short by five seconds in the end. Lang had been the first one of the last group of starters.

But Clement beat them both, by over a dozen seconds. The new best time was 56'39"

Now American David Zabriskie was out on the course and the US champion looked smooth on his bike. He came through the first intermediate time in third place, with an 11'26", still eyeing a possible podium spot.

The last starter of the day was Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara, who was looking to defend his title. And he made it clear from the beginning that he wasn't kidding around. After eight kilometres he was already on top, with 11'11". Nine seconds faster than Clement, who was still in second at that point.

Zabriskie was still close at the second check, with 27'58 and a fourth place, but Cancellara was on fire and posting a new best time with an incredible 27'12"

Bodrogi had snuck up on Spanish champion José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios, and the two kept trading the lead. Bodrogi came through the second check with 27'50"

As the final riders were approaching the third check, things were a bit clearer. Clement's 40'18 was a good time, which couldn't be reached by Grabsch (40'38"), Bodrogi (40'42") and Lang (40'49"). Zabriskie was slowing down and then got passed by Cancellara. A fine piece of riding from the defending champion, who is the only rider at the third check below the 40-minute mark - by three seconds.

Zabriskie was already down 1'21" at that final check and certainly not contending for a medal today. This was also true for the British duo David Millar (41'48") and Bradley Wiggins, who had a 41'18", the same time as Zabriskie.

The last section was pretty tough as the final metres to the finish were up hill. Bodrogi managed to get past Clement and Grabsch in the end. His time was 56'33", with his one-minute man Gutierrez just coming behind. The Spaniard still managed to get seventh in the end, with a time of 57'37", while Wiggins (57'51") would just make the top ten. Millar dropped to 18th (58'21").

Vladimir Gusev of Russia had a decent ride, too and his 57'26" netted him sixth. Zabriskie was discouraged when he was passed by Cancellara and lost almost another minute from the last time check to the finish, getting 12th in the end.

And then Cancellara motored home, the only rider to beat the 56-minute mark. His 55'41" was 52 seconds faster than Bodrogi.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Images by Cyclingnews.com

Images by AFP Photo

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Images by PhotoSport International

Results

1 Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)         55.41.3 (48.380 km/h)
2 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hungary)                 0.52.1
3 Stef Clement (Netherlands)               0.57.8
4 Bert Grabsch (Germany)                   1.12.2
5 Sebastian Lang (Germany)                 1.17.5
6 Vladimir Gusev (Russia)                  1.47.0
7 José Gutierrez Palacios (Spain)          1.56.2
8 Andrey Mizurov (Kazakhstan)              2.02.7
9 Vasili Kiryienka (Belarus)               2.03.5
10 Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain)         2.10.8
11 Dominique Cornu (Belgium)               2.11.0
12 David Zabriskie (USA)                   2.13.9
13 Raivis Belohvosciks (Latvia)            2.19.8
14 Marco Pinotti (Italy)                   2.20.1
15 Gustav Larsson (Sweden)                 2.30.5
16 Matti Helminen (Finland)                2.32.0
17 Andrei Kunitski (Belarus)               2.38.0
18 David Millar (Great Britain)            2.40.1
19 Vincenzo Nibali (Italy)                 2.42.1
20 Jason Mccartney (USA)                   2.43.0
21 Vladimir Karpets (Russia)               2.48.4
22 Andriy Grivko (Ukraine)                 2.57.8
23 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Belgium)         3.03.2
24 Ryder Hesjedal (Canada)                 3.07.9
25 Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukraine)             3.21.4
26 Martin Garrido Mayorga (Argentina)      3.22.8
27 Brian Vandborg (Denmark)                3.26.2
28 Dimitri Champion (France)               3.39.3
29 Ben Day (Australia)                     3.45.9
30 Svein Tuft (Canada)                     3.46.0
31 Cameron Wurf (Australia)                3.48.9
32 David Mc Cann (Ireland)                 3.49.5
33 Matias Medici (Argentina)               3.50.1
34 Benoît Vaugrenard (France)              4.00.3
35 Joost Posthuma (Netherlands)            4.00.8
36 Lars Ytting Bak (Denmark)               4.04.3
37 Eugen Wacker (Kyrgyzstan )              4.09.6
38 Adam Hansen (Australia)                 4.10.9
39 Glen Alan Chadwick (New Zealand)        4.12.9
40 Haijun Ma (China)                       4.30.7
41 Hossein Askari (Iran)                   4.32.8
42 Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Colombia)    4.42.0
43 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Colombia)     4.48.9
44 James Perry (Lewis)                     4.52.7
45 Michael Schär (Switzerland)             5.05.9
46 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spain)           5.07.6
47 Simon Zahner (Switzerland)              5.09.5
48 Fumiyuki Beppu (Japan)                  5.10.0
49 Gordon Mccauley (New Zealand)           5.11.5
50 Frantisek Rabon (Czech Republic)        5.15.5
51 Knut Anders Nor Fostervold (Norway)     5.17.0
52 Maciej Bodnar (Poland)                  5.24.0
53 Stanislav Kozubek (Czech Republic)      5.25.2
54 Lukasz Bodnar (Poland)                  5.26.2
55 Rupert Probst (Austria)                 5.42.9
56 Gregor Gazvoda (Slovenia)               5.43.2
57 Ricardo Martins (Portugal)              5.52.0
58 David George (South Africa)             6.01.5
59 Jarmo Rissanen (Finland)                6.31.0
60 Evgeni Gerganov (Bulgaria)              6.37.5
61 Vladimir Tuychiev (Uzbekistan)          6.38.4
62 Dan Craven (Namibia)                    6.39.2
63 Kristjan Fajt (Slovenia)                7.16.4
64 Erik Hoffmann (Namibia)                 7.22.1
65 Baoqing Song (China)                    7.29.1
66 Jgori Pugaci (Moldavia)                 8.35.2
67 Zoltan Madaras (Hungary)                9.13.5
68 Muradjan Khalmuratov (Uzbekistan)       9.22.4
69 Dragan Spasic (Serbia)                  9.46.6

Intermediate timing

Check 1: 8.39km

1 Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)               11.11
2 Stef Clement (Netherlands)                     0.09
3 David Zabriskie (United States Of America)     0.15
4 Matti Helminen (Finland)                       0.17
5 Bert Grabsch (Germany)                         0.17
6 Vasili Kiryienka (Belarus)                     0.17
7 Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain)                0.18
8 Dominique Cornu (Belgium)                      0.19
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Italy)                        0.20
10 Sebastian Lang (Germany)                      0.22
11 Vladimir Gusev (Russian Federation)           0.22
12 Vladimir Karpets (Russian Federation)         0.23
13 Ryder Hesjedal (Canada)                       0.23
14 Raivis Belohvosciks (Latvia)                  0.23
15 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Belgium)               0.25
16 Andrei Kunitski (Belarus)                     0.25
17 Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukraine)                   0.25
18 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hungary)                      0.25
19 José Gutierrez Palacios (Spain)               0.26
20 Joost Posthuma (Netherlands)                  0.27
21 Gustav Larsson (Sweden)                       0.28
22 David Millar (Great Britain)                  0.30
23 Jason Mccartney (United States Of America)    0.31
24 Andriy Grivko (Ukraine)                       0.33
25 Marco Pinotti (Italy)                         0.34
26 Benoît Vaugrenard (France)                    0.35
27 Martin Garrido Mayorga (Argentina)            0.36
28 Andrey Mizurov (Kazakhstan)                   0.36
29 Dimitri Champion (France)                         
30 Ben Day (Australia)                           0.36
31 Brian Vandborg (Denmark)                      0.37
32 Adam Hansen (Australia)                       0.39
33 Svein Tuft (Canada)                           0.44
34 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Colombia)           0.45
35 Lars Ytting Bak (Denmark)                     0.45
36 Glen Alan Chadwick (New Zealand)              0.46
37 Matias Medici (Argentina)                     0.46
38 Gordon Mccauley (New Zealand)                 0.48
39 David Mc Cann (Ireland)                       0.48
40 Stanislav Kozubek (Czech Republic)            0.48
41 Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Colombia)          0.50
42 Ricardo Martins (Portugal)                    0.50
43 Lukasz Bodnar (Poland)                        0.52
44 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spain)                 0.53
45 Eugen Wacker (Kyrgyzstan)                     0.53
46 Knut Anders Fostervold (Norway)               0.53
47 Cameron Wurf (Australia)                      0.55
48 Hossein Askari (Islamic Republic of Iran)     0.58
49 Frantisek Rabon (Czech Republic)              0.58
50 David George (South Africa)                   0.58
51 Haijun Ma (People's Republic of China)        1.00
52 Fumiyuki Beppu (Japan)                        1.03
53 James Lewis Perry (South Africa)              1.04
54 Evgeni Gerganov (Bulgaria)                    1.06
55 Simon Zahner (Switzerland)                    1.07
56 Michael Schär (Switzerland)                   1.08
57 Maciej Bodnar (Poland)                        1.12
58 Gregor Gazvoda (Slovenia)                     1.17
59 Erik Hoffmann (Namibia)                       1.17
60 Muradjan Khalmuratov (Uzbekistan)             1.17
61 Kristjan Fajt (Slovenia)                      1.18
62 Jarmo Rissanen (Finland)                      1.20
63 Baoqing Song (People's Republic of China)     1.22
64 Dan Craven (Namibia)                          1.22
65 Vladimir Tuychiev (Uzbekistan)                1.27
66 Zoltan Madaras (Hungary)                      1.31
67 Rupert Probst (Austria)                       1.31
68 Jgori Pugaci (Republic of Moldova)            2.01
69 Dragan Spasic (Serbia)                        2.07

Check 2: 22.2km

1 Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)               27.12
2 Stef Clement (Netherlands)                     0.19
3 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hungary)                       0.38
4 Sebastian Lang (Germany)                       0.42
5 David Zabriskie (United States Of America)     0.46
6 Bert Grabsch (Germany)                         0.48
7 Vasili Kiryienka (Belarus)                     0.51
8 Dominique Cornu (Belgium)                      0.57
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Italy)                        0.58
10 Matti Helminen (Finland)                      0.59
11 Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain)               1.00
12 David Millar (Great Britain)                  1.03
13 Vladimir Gusev (Russian Federation)           1.03
14 Gustav Larsson (Sweden)                       1.04
15 Jason Mccartney (United States Of America)    1.07
16 Joost Posthuma (Netherlands)                  1.07
17 Vladimir Karpets (Russian Federation)         1.08
18 José Gutierrez Palacios (Spain)               1.09
19 Raivis Belohvosciks (Latvia)                  1.10
20 Andrey Mizurov (Kazakhstan)                   1.13
21 Ryder Hesjedal (Canada)                       1.17
22 Andriy Grivko (Ukraine)                       1.19
23 Marco Pinotti (Italy)                         1.19
24 Andrei Kunitski (Belarus)                     1.20
25 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Belgium)               1.22
26 Martin Garrido Mayorga (Argentina)            1.26
27 Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukraine)                   1.27
28 Ben Day (Australia)                           1.34
29 Svein Tuft (Canada)                           1.36
30 Eugen Wacker (Kyrgyzstan)                     1.41
31 Adam Hansen (Australia)                       1.49
32 Dimitri Champion (France)                     1.51
33 Brian Vandborg (Denmark)                      1.53
34 Glen Alan Chadwick (New Zealand)              1.57
35 Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Colombia)          1.59
36 Matias Medici (Argentina)                     2.02
37 Lars Ytting Bak (Denmark)                     2.03
38 David Mc Cann (Ireland)                       2.03
39 Benoît Vaugrenard (France)                    2.04
40 Gordon Mccauley (New Zealand)                 2.04
41 Lukasz Bodnar (Poland)                        2.15
42 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Colombia)           2.16
43 Cameron Wurf (Australia)                      2.17
44 Stanislav Kozubek (Czech Republic)            2.18
45 Haijun Ma (People's Republic of China)        2.20
46 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spain)                 2.20
47 Frantisek Rabon (Czech Republic)              2.21
48 Knut Anders Fostervold (Norway)               2.27
49 Hossein Askari (Islamic Republic of Iran)     2.27
50 Fumiyuki Beppu (Japan)                        2.34
51 Michael Schär (Switzerland)                   2.36
52 Maciej Bodnar (Poland)                        2.38
53 Ricardo Martins (Portugal)                    2.39
54 Gregor Gazvoda (Slovenia)                     2.39
55 David George (South Africa)                   2.41
56 James Lewis Perry (South Africa)              2.49
57 Simon Zahner (Switzerland)                    2.50
58 Vladimir Tuychiev (Uzbekistan)                2.56
59 Rupert Probst (Austria)                       3.02
60 Evgeni Gerganov (Bulgaria)                    3.09
61 Dan Craven (Namibia)                          3.10
62 Jarmo Rissanen (Finland)                      3.11
63 Erik Hoffmann (Namibia)                       3.22
64 Baoqing Song (People's Republic of China)     3.30
65 Kristjan Fajt (Slovenia)                      3.30
66 Muradjan Khalmuratov (Uzbekistan)             3.32
67 Zoltan Madaras (Hungary)                      3.57
68 Jgori Pugaci (Republic of Moldova)            4.22
69 Dragan Spasic (Serbia)                        5.03

Intermediate timing

Check 3: 31.12km

1 Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)               39.57
2 Stef Clement (Netherlands)                     0.22
3 Bert Grabsch (Germany)                         0.42
4 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hungary)                       0.46
5 Sebastian Lang (Germany)                       0.53
6 Vladimir Gusev (Russian Federation)            1.17
7 Vasili Kiryienka (Belarus)                     1.20
8 David Zabriskie (United States Of America)     1.21
9 Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain)                1.21
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Italy)                       1.25
11 Dominique Cornu (Belgium)                     1.27
12 Raivis Belohvosciks (Latvia)                  1.29
13 Andrey Mizurov (Kazakhstan)                   1.29
14 Matti Helminen (Finland)                      1.32
15 Gustav Larsson (Sweden)                       1.40
16 Jason Mccartney (United States Of America)    1.43
17 Marco Pinotti (Italy)                         1.44
18 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Belgium)               1.45
19 Joost Posthuma (Netherlands)                  1.47
20 José Gutierrez Palacios (Spain)               1.48
21 Vladimir Karpets (Russian Federation)         1.49
22 Ryder Hesjedal (Canada)                       1.51
23 David Millar (Great Britain)                  1.51
24 Andrei Kunitski (Belarus)                     1.52
25 Andriy Grivko (Ukraine)                       2.00
26 Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukraine)                   2.08
27 Ben Day (Australia)                           2.08
28 Martin Garrido Mayorga (Argentina)            2.14
29 Svein Tuft (Canada)                           2.28
30 Dimitri Champion (France)                     2.31
31 David Mc Cann (Ireland)                       2.37
32 Brian Vandborg (Denmark)                      2.41
33 Eugen Wacker (Kyrgyzstan)                     2.42
34 Matias Medici (Argentina)                     2.42
35 Benoît Vaugrenard (France)                    2.44
36 Adam Hansen (Australia)                       2.45
37 Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Colombia)          2.46
38 Glen Alan Chadwick (New Zealand)              2.47
39 Cameron Wurf (Australia)                      2.50
40 Lars Ytting Bak (Denmark)                     2.51
41 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Colombia)           3.04
42 Hossein Askari (Islamic Republic of Iran)     3.15
43 Haijun Ma (People's Republic of China)        3.15
44 Gordon Mccauley (New Zealand)                 3.16
45 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spain)                 3.28
46 Knut Anders Fostervold (Norway)               3.31
47 Frantisek Rabon (Czech Republic)              3.31
48 James Lewis Perry (South Africa)              3.33
49 Maciej Bodnar (Poland)                        3.36
50 Simon Zahner (Switzerland)                    3.37
51 Ricardo Martins (Portugal)                    3.37
52 Stanislav Kozubek (Czech Republic)            3.42
53 Michael Schär (Switzerland)                   3.43
54 David George (South Africa)                   3.46
55 Gregor Gazvoda (Slovenia)                     3.46
56 Rupert Probst (Austria)                       3.49
57 Lukasz Bodnar (Poland)                        3.50
58 Fumiyuki Beppu (Japan)                        3.53
59 Evgeni Gerganov (Bulgaria)                    4.18
60 Vladimir Tuychiev (Uzbekistan)                4.25
61 Dan Craven (Namibia)                          4.42
62 Jarmo Rissanen (Finland)                      4.45
63 Kristjan Fajt (Slovenia)                      5.14
64 Erik Hoffmann (Namibia)                       5.17
65 Baoqing Song (People's Republic of China)     5.19
66 Jgori Pugaci (Republic of Moldova)            5.57
67 Muradjan Khalmuratov (Uzbekistan)             6.15
68 Zoltan Madaras (Hungary)                      6.20
69 Dragan Spasic (Serbia)                        6.53


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