2024 World Championships TT Preview: The time trials start the 2024 World championship action in Zurich and the elite men’s event is on Sunday. The battle against the clock should be a big one with Remco Evenepoel, Stefan Küng, Filippo Ganna, Joshua Tarling and Primoz Roglič all on the start line. Here is all the info you need:
Can Remco be beaten?
In 2023, Remco Evenepoel won in Scotland against the old TT hand Filippo Ganna and young Josh Tarling. You can read the ‘PEZ Race Report’ HERE. The question is, can Ganna lift his season for the win, or has Tarling matured in a year to better Evenepoel? Of course there are others in the wings; Stefan Küng being one of the main ones after his Vuelta stage win and we can’t forget four time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglič.
Could the 2024 podium look the same: Ganna, Evenepoel and Tarling?
Course
The elite men’s time trial of 46.1 kilometres, starts from the Oerlikon velodrome, in the north of Zurich. This open-air velodrome was built in 1912 and hosted the track World championships seven times between 1923 and 1983. It was also the finish of the Zurich Championships, a one-day Classic that no longer exists.
After the start in Oerlikon, the route is on straight and flat roads through the suburbs of Zurich to Fällanden on the north side of the Greifensee. The race follows the lake on virtually flat roads through Maur and Mönchaltorf. Before passing through Oetwil am See, the road starts to go up. This is the start of the first climb of 2.6 kilometres at an average of 4.5%. This climb starts in the trees and takes the riders to a plateau at an altitude of 640 metres (the highest point of the day), with views of the Swiss landscape.
There is then a fast descent through Uetikon and the start of the second climb which is 1,400 meters long at 5%. The climb is not that hard, but if you are not at 100%, this is where it’s going to show. The course turn left to start a short descent of two kilometres, the course is then flat along Lake Zurich to the finish at the Sechseläutenplatz. The last twelve kilometres are also fairly straight and this is where the power will come in.
Zurich (Oerlikon) – Zurich
Distance: 46.1 kilometres
Climbing: 413 metres
Intermediate time points: 12.5, 26.6 and 36.7 kilometres
Start: 14:45 (CET)
Finish: 17:30 (CET).
UCI World Championships Zürich 2024 – ITT Men Elites Route
So who are the favourites?
Remco Evenepoel said at the end of August that he was feeling tired after his Tour and Olympic efforts and that the World Championships in Zurich were his next goal and wouldn’t race till then. Filippo Ganna was in a similar position and missed the European Championships. Whereas Joshua Tarling‘s Great Britain team didn’t send any riders to the European champs. They will all be there on Sunday, but Wout van Aert, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard are all missing from the World’s TT start list.
Top favourite Remco Evenepoel
Top favourite has to be Remco Evenepoel. His season has been exceptionally successful: Third place in the Tour de France at his first attempt and two Olympic titles in Paris. Evenepoel then decided to rest in preparation for the World championships and Il Lombardia. The Belgian rode only the Tour of Britain after the Olympics and then went on an altitude training camp. He has proven in recent years that he can peak for important events and that he has been one of the best time trialist in the world. Can he take a second-in-a-row World title? Barring accidents or mechanicals he should and the course in Zurich is perfect for him with the short climbs and power straights.
Filippo Ganna not having his best year
Last year, Filippo Ganna pushed Evenepoel close in the World champs in Scotland, a difference of only 12 seconds after 47.8 kilometres. This year Ganna has had a quiet build up and far from perfect. In his last race, the Renewi Tour, the Italian had to abandon after the first stage. There seems to be something wrong with Ganna, his INEOS Grenadiers team wouldn’t or couldn’t say what, but said it need ed further investigation. So there is a big question mark over Ganna. The Olympic silver medallist in Paris maybe back to his old form by Sunday, but is a third World title possible? His wins in 2020 and 2021 were on similar courses, but can he beat Evenepoel even if he is at 100%?
Stefan Küng stormed the final stage of the Vuelta
Home rider Stefan Küng has ridden nine World time trial championships and two Olympic Games, but this year he looks to be in his best place for a rainbow jersey. Küng will want to do his best on home soil, although he usually gives his best anyway. Küng is up against tough opposition, but his Vuelta a España showed his best form. The Groupama-FDJ rider has won so many medals and podium places, but few titles. He looked to be the favourite for the European TT title, but it was second again, just 9 seconds behind Edoardo Affini.
Josh Tarling – Still young but talented
Joshua Tarling is still very young, but has already shown his class against the clock. Tarling is still only 20-years old, but he has been a top performer at the highest level. Last year he was European champion and third in the World championship, behind Evenepoel and Ganna. This season, Tarling has won two of the five time trials he has started. Although the neutralised time trial victory in O Gran Camiño shouldn’t really count. The young INEOS Grenadiers rider won British time trial title this season, but finished fourth and missed an Olympic time trial medal, although he did have a puncture. Tarling should be rested and prepared for Sunday, but…
Roglič was second in the final stage of the Vuelta when he could have coasted round
Primoz Roglič is possibly the ‘dark horse’ of the TT champs. He could spring a surprise on Evenepoel and the others, although it wouldn’t be a big surprise as Roglič has been an excellent time trialist in Grand Tours. In title races he has also a good pedigree: Seven years ago in the Bergen World championships in Bergen, Roglič took the silver medal behind Tom Dumoulin and of course he was Olympic TT champion in Tokyo, beating all the top men of the time. Roglič really needs more climbing metres than there are in Zurich, but those 413 metres are to Roglič’s advantage.
Euro champ Edoardo Affini – Possible?
What about the others who could spring a surprise? The Americans Brandon McNulty (fourth in 2023) and Magnus Sheffield could both put up a fight. Stefan Bissegger could be encouraged by his home fans and then there is the new European champion, Edoardo Affini. He was the surprise of the Euro champs, but the competition wasn’t as high as it will be on Sunday. Then there is Victor Campenaerts (second in Innsbruck), Kasper Asgreen, Mikkel Bjerg, Jay Vine, former World champions Tobias Foss, Søren Wærenskjold, Mathias Vacek, Bruno Armirail, Nelson Oliveira, João Almeida and Daan Hoole all to consider.
Who else but Remco?
The Favourites:
Top Favourite: Remco Evenepoel
Podium Place: Joshua Tarling, Stefan Küng, Primoz Roglič and Filippo Ganna
Top 10: Brandon McNulty, Magnus Sheffield, Jay Vine, Edoardo Affini and Stefan Bissegger.
Highlights of the 2023 World time trial champs
Stay PEZ for all the World Championship action.
# Thanks to PCS and WielerFlits for the stats and other info. #
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