Bike change could be key to Worlds TT success

Bike changing skills, as well as speed and time trialling ability, could be the key to victory in Wednesday’s elite men’s time trial at the World Championships. The 31km time trial course ends with the 3.4km climb to Mount Fløyen overlooking Bergen and the UCI has tweaked its rules to allow riders to swap from a time trial bike to a road bike at the foot of the climb.

Riders face an intense effort on the nine per cent climb and so using a road bike should help them gain more than the few seconds they will lose changing bikes. However, an on-the-move bike change requires far different skills from those traditionally required for a time trial. A mistake, a fall, or a poor bike change could be costly and perhaps decide who wins the world title and the silver and bronze medals.

Race organisers proposed the uphill finish as a way to show off Bergen’s spectacular views across the fjords and coves. The UCI accepted the idea of shaking up the time trial, knowing that the tough finish would appeal to Grand Tour riders like Chris Froome instead of the strongest and fastest time triallists in the world.

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Four-time time trial champion Tony Martin made it clear he is not happy about the uphill finish, knowing it will give him little chance of a fifth victory. Other powerful time triallists know they have little chance.

Because of the uphill finish, the favourites to win the rainbow jersey include Froome, Giro d’Italia winner Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands), Rohan Dennis (Australia), Bob Jungels (Luxembourg) and Ilnur Zakarin (Russia). Other expected contenders include Primož Roglič (Slovenia), Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands), Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus), Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland), Gianni Moscon (Italy) and Tejay van Garderen (USA).

Bike change on a 20-metre carpet

The Dutch Federation were the first to enquire about changing bikes back in the spring and the UCI eventually agreed, opening a can of worms as they realised the technical complexities involved.

Risk vs benefits

— Belgian Cycling Team (@BELCyclingTeam) September 19, 2017

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