First Individual Time Trials of the UCI World Championships Doha 2016 were held yesterday. The Pearl circuit thus revealed all its secrets to the competitors. Now, everybody knows about its tricky roundabouts, the dramatic 180? turns and how curvy its “straight” lines actually are.
Today, it will be the moment of truth for Junior Men and Elite Women. Both are going to face The Pearl circuit twice to complete a total of 28.9 kilometres that will tell who the best is in each category.
It is not just a matter of being the strongest. Some tremendous bike-handling skills, coupled with pace and managing energy reserves will be the deciding factors.
Men’s Junior ITT is the first race on schedule. Young male cyclists aged 17 and 18, who will try to prove themselves in the event that has previously seen riders like Marcel Kittel or Fabian Cancellara, will start competing at 8:30am.
The favourite this year is Brandon McNulty, an amazing talent from the USA that took the bronze medal at this race in Richmond 2015 and has dominated this category this season by winning every UCI registered ITT he has taken part in.
However, it won’t be easy for him to win with current European champion Alexey Brunel from France and Iver Knotten from Norway also in the fray.
Later on, at 1:15pm, the Women’s Elite ITT will take place. It is one of the main races of the week, given the momentum that female cycling is gaining every season. The level of the peloton is improving solidly – and so is the coverage these women get for their outstanding feats.
Current World Champion Linda Villumsen from New Zealand won’t defend her title in Doha. Therefore, the rainbow jersey is up for grabs between a vast field of riders with good credentials to get it.
Anna van der Breggen is the favourite after having won the Road Race in Rio and netting a bronze in the ITT.
Fellow Dutchwoman Ellen van Dijk is also a strong contender following her gold medal performance at the recent European Championships in this discipline.