Remco Evenepoel It’s unstoppable. The Belgian cyclist has become world time trial champion for the second consecutive year. He won the test held in Zurich, where the cycling World Cup will be held in 2024. In this way, he closes a spectacular year, in which he won the Olympic golds in Paris both on the road and in the time trial and in which he finished in third position in the Tour de France, after Pogacar and Vingegaard.
The Olympic champion was the big favorite, but he had competition. They appeared Filippo Ganna –who finished second– or the British Joshua Tarling – for whom the test took a long time – as great threats. But the Belgian gave no option at any time. Only at the end, after sweeping the previous three sets, there were doubts about his victory, but he ended up gaining six seconds on the Italian. He finished in third position Edoardo Affini, who had a great finish to finish ahead of Tarling, Vine and Roglic, who did not have his best day.
In this way, Remco Evenepoel adds his third world title as a professional. He already won the road test in 2022, he also won the time trial last year and, this year, he has reissued the rainbow. He has achieved it in a year in which he won the Olympic gold in both events at the Paris Games, becoming the first male cyclist in history to achieve it.
Ganna He was second in a test in which he managed to stir up an emotion that seemed to have not existed since the first set. The Italian was setting the best time every second, but when he passed the intermediate point Evenepoel, he ousted him forcefully. However, in a great finale, he managed to push and demand the most from the Soudal Quick-Step team. From a 20 second difference, he managed to reduce it to only six, finally taking the silver.
The bronze went to the European champion of the discipline, also Italian. Edoardo Affini He surprised with a great final stretch to set a time worth taking into account, which neither Tarling nor Vine managed to beat. He was 58 seconds away from Evenepoel’s victory.
Nobody can beat Evenepoel
Primoz Roglic He was another of the great candidates, but he did not have his day. The Slovenian was overtaken by Ganna a few meters from the finish line. From the beginning it was clear that he was not a candidate to get on the podium, since he lost 37 seconds with the best time. He finished in twelfth position, 2:06 behind Remco. The two Spaniards, David de la Cruz and Raúl García Pierna, They finished away from the leading times. They were 25th and 26th, respectively, 3:26 and 3:36 behind the Belgian.
Next Sunday the World Cup will close, with the road test. In it, Evenepoel He will start again as one of the great favorites. The Belgian will be able to continue making history, after his double in Paris, although it will not be easy for him, since They go der Poel and Pogacar They also appear on the shortlist of candidates to dress in rainbows.
