Fabian Cancellara stormed back into the race lead with a stellar time trial.(Image credit: Lavuelta.com)
Fabian Cancellara will seek to reclaim the Elite men's time trial World Championship after being announced as one of the host nation's representatives for this year's race in Mendrisio, Switzerland.
Cancellara and Swiss time trial Champion Rubens Bertogliati (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli) were named by the Swiss Cycling Federation (SC) on Thursday and will take part in the time trial on September 24. BMC Racing Team's Mathias Frank and Thomas Frei have been named as reserves for the event.
A two-time winner of the World Championship, Cancellara skipped last year's Worlds, despite winning Gold in the same discipline at the Beijing Olympics. In his absence Germany's Bert Grabsch (Colubia-HTC) was crowned the 2008 World time trial champion.
Cancellara will head into the 49.8 kilometre Worlds race a red-hot favourite. This season the Saxo Bank rider has won the prologues of both the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana. He highlighted his readiness for Mendrisio with a dominant victory in the first full-length time trial of the Vuelta, on Saturday.
The announcement by the Swiss Cycling Federation of the men's time trial team means the host nation has confirmed all but their Mens Elite road team for the Championships. The SC will name their mens road team on September 14.
Swiss team for the 2009 International Cycling Union Road World Championships:
Mens Elite Time Trial: Fabian Cancellara Rubens Bertogliati
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Womens Elite Time Trial: Pascale Schnider Karin Thürig
