FanPost

U23 World Time Trial Championship Quick Preview

 

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So today is the day..Worlds has come and while there is a lot of talent in this field for the time trial, there are a select few that will be able to challenge for the win on the 35.2 km course. So its only a few hours before the start now but let me give you a little preview of 4 names that could challenge for the win and some other that could possibly go for a medal :) 

1. Luke Durbridge (Australia) a.k.a. Turbo Durbo

My #1 favorite for the win today...he has been on absolute fire of late, including setting a recent course record in the Chrono Champenois (held by Andriano Malori) by over 20 seconds. Starting with his agonizingly close 2nd place to Taylor Phinney last year in the U23 TT at Worlds by 2 seconds, Durbridge stock has continued to rise. The 2009 Junior World TT champ, he won the national U23 championship in Australia then riding a smashing Tour Down Under with some aggressive riding; continuing on, he rode to some more World Championship stripes in the Team Pursuit in March...then he won the prologue and TT at the Olympia's Tour...then after a summer break, he came back to 3rd place in the recent Memorial Davide Fardelli before utterly smashing the Champenois while in the rain and slight wind

Now lets flip it and you'll get some more riders to watch :)

2. Michael Hepburn (Australia) (Click it...you can see what he has been up to lately)

After being put on the naughty step for his boneheaded move at the Tour de l'Avenir, Hepburn will definitely be riding on some emotion today. He has had just as brilliant a season as Durbridge though more well rounded. 2nd to Durbridge at U23 Natz, he went to win a rainbow jersey with him at worlds in the Team Pursuit, 2nd in the GP Liberazione in a break (the Italian commie race *wink*), two 2nd place finishes to who else but Durbridge at Olympia Tour TTs...He came in smoking form to l'Avenir, winning the prologue by a whopping 18 seconds over 3rd place and then getting his ass thrown out after his shenanigans on stage 3

3. Rasmus Christian Quaade (Denmark)

Home favorite and has a great chance at a medal which would be awesome...A long and low position, Rasmus is not a small kid which will favor him on the pan flat TT course. Rasmus is trying to forget the horrendous time he had last year at Worlds after crashing while being one of the big favorites. He is going to have a tough time of it with the two Australians but he was 2nd to Durbridge at Champenois, won the Danish Elite title over Fuglsang and had an impressive 4th place at the Tour of Denmark TT just below Porte, Laarson and Dowsett...He is rather light on results but he should be primed for a top performance

4. Anton Vorobev (Russia)

So scanning through the startlist, I see so many talented names but guys who have dominate TT wins are lacking. Anton Vorobev is a name probably none of you have ever heard but he should be right in the mix of things. Riding for Itera-Katusha, the feeder team (and more successful) to Katusha, is quite the specialist with his big results coming in the TTs...3rd to Durbridge in the Olympia's Tour TT by 6 seconds; 1st in the Russia U23 TT; a big win at the Memorial Fardelli over Durbridge by 35 seconds and then 3rd place to Durbridge at Champenois by 1 minute...he is definitely a hot and cold rider which could come back to bite him in the ass

Other Challengers for Medals that aren't Gold

3 First Years:

Jasha Sütterlin (Germany) Awesome TT power as a junior; A few good results in his first year

Lawson Craddock (USA) Has had a so-so year in his first year as a U23 but nothing too shabby; only 1 win at the Tryiptique Monts et Chateux TT but that was all the way back in April

Bob Jungels (Luxembourg) Decent results (winning the Luxembourg U23 TT National Championship or the Small European Countries Championship doesn't count at all in this Universe) with one very strong showing at the European Championship with a 2nd

-------- Better shots ------

Yoann Paillot (France) European U23 TT Champ

Jakub Novak (Czech Republic) GiroBio TT winner; 5th at Euro championships

Matteo Mammini (Italy) Italy U23 TT Champ (though that is like being TT champ of Belgium); 4th at Euro Champs

Prediction:

If Australia was able to send 2 more riders, Dale Parker and Rohan Dennis, they could probably fill 4 out of the top 5 spots but they should be able to get the win today, barring a catastrophe...

1. Durbridge

2. Quaade

3. Hepburn (and for the love of god man, don't give the up yours to the crowd on the podium!)