January 1 - September 25, Copenhagen, Denmark, Road - CM
The men are riding against the clock! Will one of the top favourites take it, or will an outsider prove to be the fastest today?
Welcome back to the World Championships! The Elite men are taking on the time trial today.
Jesse Sergent of New Zealand is the leader at the moment, with a time of 58:10.16.
We have a surprise so far in second place: Ioannis Tamouridis of Greece, who put in a time of 58:51.59.
The men were divided into four groups, with a half hour or so pause between groups. Right now we are in the second pause, so half the riders have gone off already.
There were 16 riders in the first group, and they have all crossed the finish line. It will be a while before the first rider of the second group, hits the finish.
The sun doesn't seem to be shining today. That's not so good. On the other hand, it's not raining. That's good.
It's long time trial today, 46 km.
Alexander Wetterhall of Sweden just had a touchy moment -- he came off the cobblestones, turned right and not only came close to the barriers, he actually rode over the foot of the barriers. Fortunately he stayed upright.
Andrew Talanksy of the USA is on the course now. He started about half an hour ago, and when last spotted, was fourth at the second intermediate time check.
Speak of the devil: Talansky just passed the next time check, also as fourth. And he just passed the man who started in front of him.
The other American in the race is Taylor Phinney, who will start as fifth-last, at 15:46:30.
The riders are going off at 1:30 intervals. Well they aren't at the moment as we are still in the pause.....
Things should start happening soon again, though. The first rider out of the second group is now approaching the finish line, and the first rider of the third group is about to go.
And we have a new best time: Alexandr Dyachenko of Kazakhstan, at 57:03.61.
One of the more exotic riders has just started, Frekalsi Debesay of Eritrea. The next rider, Laszlo Brodrogi of France, will have better chances, though.
Another New Zealander is on the course: Jack Bauer, who was the first off in this third group.
Stef Clement of the Netherlands is next to go.
Jonathan Castroviejo of Spain finishes as second fastest so far.
Bauer sets a new best time at the first time check.
We have a DNF to report: Matt Brammeier of Ireland abandoned midway with a sore throat. He is unlikely to start the road race on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Talansky has come in with the third best time so far, 57:41.74.
Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa of Portugal takes off as the last rider of the third group.
Svein Tuft of Canada has been underway for a bit more than seven minutes now....
At the halfway point, Bauer has the fifth best time.
Taylor Phinney of the USA is an underdog here today. His first year as a pro hasn't really been all that it could -- he talks about it here.
All the top names are now warming up. Who will take the win, Cancellara or Martin? Or Grabsch, Millar, Porte....
Tuft has the second best time at the second time check.
And in other news: Levi Leipheimer is confirmed to ride for Omega Pharma-Quickstep next year, Patrick Lefevere tells Cyclingnews. He hasn't actually signed his contract yet, though.
We still have another 15 minutes or so before we can expect anyone at the finish line.
The UCI is expected to announce later today the next few locations for the Worlds, with Spain expected for 2014. Will Richmond, Va., get the nod for 2015?
Tuft is doing quite well and is in the virtual lead at the moment.
This is really not a good sign: raindrops.
Bauer has now finished the race. He is fifth, with a time of 58:10.84.
Bodrogi is the next to head towards the finish line.
Bordrogi is in sixth place at the moment.
Jack Bobridge of Australia is on the course! Will we see another medal go Down Under?
Former World Champion Bert Grabsch takes off! Remember, he beat Tony Martin for the German title this year.
Stef Clement heads towards the finish with a good time.
58.17 and sixth place for the Dutchman.
Brad Wiggins takes off!
Wiggins is no doubt hoping he won't have the mechanical problems which have plagued him in other Worlds time trials.....
Marco Pinotti of Italy crosses himself and takes off. He had a serious injury in a crash at the Giro and is just happy to be back on the bike.
The second Netherlands rider, Lieuwe Westra, is underway. Eight more to go!
Jakob Fuglsang is on his way, to a big cheer from his homeland crowd.
Richie Porte tries his luck now.
Grabsch is underway, looking as smooth as ever.
Bobridge sets a new best time at the first time check -- by 18 seconds!
Third place for Svein Tuft, with a time of 57.19.
Taylor Phinney starts -- four more to go!
And the next is Mikhail Ignatiev of Russia.
Bobridge is the virtual leader at this point -- for whatever that is worth....
Rabon of the Czech Republic comes in 1:20 down.
David Millar would love to claim another Worlds title -- and be able to keep it, too.
Only two more to go, and one of those two is expected to win!
Tony Martin of Germany is totally concentrated a he takes off in search of his medal.
And the final rider is now underway: four-time world champion Fabian Cancellara. He has been under a lot of pressure because of the changes in his pro team. Will that affect his performance today?
We will now have a break from finishes, as the last rider of the penultimate group is in, and it will be a while until the first rider of the last group finishes.
Got that?
Martin is off to a fast start!
Bobridge sets a new best time at the 23.2km marker -- by 38 seconds!
The official "GPS Time Comparison" tells us that Martin is the quickest underway right now.
Grabsch hits the 23.2km time check, eight seconds faster than Bobridge.
At the first time check, Martin smashes through for a new best time.
Remember that rain we mentioned earlier? It was just a sprinkle and has stopped, thank goodness.
Wiggins nly second at the 23km marker, behind Grabsch. And Cancellara 10 seconds back at the first time check!
Doesn't look like Phinney will medal today, as he is 45 seconds down at only 16km into the race.
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