Cycling World Championships: Australian rider Michael Rogers defended his world time trial crown in fine style yesterday, crushing the opposition over the 46.75-kilometre course beside Lake Garda in Italy.
Rogers came home a considerable one minute 12 seconds ahead of German silver medallist Michael Rich, with the Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov 13 seconds further back.
Irish rider David McCann finished an excellent 15th of 47 starters, posting what is probably a career-best performance. But the Irish national time trial champion was disappointed after his ride, as he was just 16 seconds off a place in the top 10.
"I had a slow start and that really messed things up for me," he said. "Before the race a UCI commissaire told me that my aerodynamic chainrings were against the regulations. They have been used by riders in the Tour and the Olympics without any problems, but for some reason the guy objected today. The crazy thing is that some of the other riders in the race got away with using them, so it seemed like there were two rules out there."
McCann had to take a lend of one of the Irish junior's bikes to do his warm-up while the team mechanic John Keegan tried to find a replacement chainring.
Once under way the disruption to his warm-up and distraction to his focus saw McCann only 32nd at the first time check. He improved from there on, posting the third-fastest time inside the final sector to show what could have been.
"Only Rogers and Rich were faster at the end. I am pretty annoyed, because I think a place in the top 10 was certainly on the cards," he said.
McCann ended his test 2.45 behind Rogers, while Ireland's other rider, David O'Loughlin, performed below his full potential in finishing 38th, 5.32 off the quickest time.
Race winner Rogers made history yesterday when he received two gold medals. The first, awarded before the race, was for the 2003 title he inherited after David Millar's doping admission earlier this year. However, the medal he received yesterday afternoon was one he will value much more.
"This means a huge amount," he said at the post-race press conference. "Standing on the podium and getting the rainbow jersey is an amazing experience. I lost out on that last year so I am delighted today. Winning here has been my sole focus since the Olympic Games.
"I have trained here at least once a week for the past month, and at this stage I know the course really, really well. I decided to hold back a little early on today and then to pick up speed later in the race. I had worked out that was the best way to get a quick time."
Rogers said that winning the title completed a chapter in his career.
"After today's victory I hope to move forward and go on to bigger and better things," he said. "Winning the Tour de France at some stage in the future is a big target for me."
There is a break from racing today, but the world championships resume in Verona tomorrow with the road races for junior women and under-23 men.
WORLD ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Bardolino, Lake Garda): Elite time trial: 1, Michael Rogers (Aus) 46.75 kilometres in 57 mins 30.12 secs (48.78 km/h); 2, M Rich (Ger) at 1 min 12.43 secs; 3, A Vinokourov (Kaz) at 1 min 25.04 secs; 4, G Erik Larsson (Swe) at 1 min 34.47 secs; 5, D Zabriskie (US) at 1 min 36.86 secs; 6, M Bruseghin (Ita) at 1 min 37.26 secs Irish: 15, D McCann, at 2 mins 44.82 secs; 38, D O'Loughlin, at 5 mins 32.24 secs.
