“The most difficult time trial of my career”: Evenepoel retains his world title by beating the Italians

Le Belge est dans une forme éclatante cette saison. MAXPPP – ENNIO LEANZA

Le Belge Remco Evenepoel a conservé son titre de champion du monde du contre-la-montre en devançant deux Italiens, Filippo Ganna et Edoardo Affini, sur un parcours de 46,1 km dimanche 22 septembre à Zurich.

A big favourite for the event, the Flemish rider became the first rider in history to win the Olympic and world time trial titles in the same year, a feat also achieved a few hours earlier by Australian Grace Brown in the women's category.

“It's crazy, I got back into shape just in time. But it was probably the most complicated time trial of my career”, commented the Belgian who just had time to raise his arms on the line crossed with a six-second lead over Ganna, already second at the Paris Olympics, and 54 over Affini.

In the starting gate, the Belgian had a big scare when he blew his chain a few seconds before the countdown. While his team even brought him a spare bike, he was finally able to set off on time on his gold-painted machine and take the lead from the first intermediate time.

Among the favourites in the road race

But he had to do without a power meter throughout the time trial and therefore had to rely on his feelings to manage his effort. Evenepoel, 24, who also won the road race at the Paris Olympics, will be, along with Tadej Pogacar, one of the main favourites for the main event of the World Championships next Sunday in Zurich.

In the meantime, the Soudal-Quick Step prodigy continues to fill his trophy cabinet with a new rainbow jersey, during a season that also saw him take third place in the Tour de France.

Among the other favourites on Sunday, the Briton Joshua Tarling took fourth place, the Swiss Stefan Küng eighth while the French Bruno Armirail and Thibaut Guernalec finished 11th and 21st respectively ranks.