Sir Bradley Wiggins eyes World Championships time trial win
- Published
Road World Championships |
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Venue: Ponferrada, Spain Dates: 21-28 September |
BBC coverage: Live men's time trial on Red Button on 24 September; live women's road race on Red Button and BBC Two on 27 September; live men's road race on Red Button and BBC Two on 28 September. |
Sir Bradley Wiggins says his form is "better than ever" as he attempts to win a first time trial title at the Road World Championships on Wednesday.
Wiggins, 34, was second in 2011 and 2013 to Germany's Tony Martin, the man he beat to win Olympic gold in 2012.
The Briton told BBC Sport: "I'm in better shape than last year.
"It's quite mountainous and suits me more than Tony. Every year I think this might be the year but you never know. That's why I like it."
Wiggins helped Team Sky take fourth in Sunday's team time trial, despite team-mates Geraint Thomas and Salvatore Puccio falling off the pace early in the race.
Road World Championships schedule & results | ||
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Date | Event | Winners |
21 September | Women's team time trial | |
21 September | Men's team time trial | |
23 September | Women's time trial | |
24 September | Men's time trial | |
27 September | Women's road race | |
28 September | Men's road race |
He also won the time trial at the Tour of Britain this month and his third national time trial title in June, ending a run of three consecutive victories for Alex Dowsett, Britain's other competitor in the 47.1km race in Ponferrada, north-western Spain.
"This year's course is a lot different to last year's, which was long and flat. You have to think more on this course. There's no room for error," said Wiggins.
"You need to have enough in the tank for the end. It's challenging, a true test of the time trial."
Thomas believes Wiggins has hit form at the right time to challenge.
BBC Sport's Matt Slater on Sir Bradley Wiggins |
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"If Wiggins is going to win the 11th gold of his career he will have to do something neither he, nor anybody else, has done for two years: beat Tony Martin against the clock over a significant distance. OK, Wiggins finished ahead of his German rival in a short time trial in March, but the British star has not really bested the phenomenon they call 'Der Panzerwagen' since 2012. Wiggins beat Martin fair and square that year, claiming a Tour de France and Olympic double along the way. He says he is in that kind of form again. He will need to be to beat Martin, and if he can, it will be his greatest feat since the peak of Wiggo-mania two years ago." |
"Brad's got a huge chance of winning," Thomas told BBC Sport.
"He showed in Sunday's team time trial that he's got good legs. He has had this race in his mind all year. The course in Spain will suit him."
Thomas, 28, has also backed Dowsett to have a good race. The 28-year-old added: "Alex has had a good year with a few decent time trial results and he has a decent chance of getting in the top 10.
"Brad's main rival for the victory will be Martin. My Belarusian Team Sky team-mate Vasil Kiryienka is in great form, as he too showed in the team time trial, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do well. It's a long time trial and that will suit him."
Britain's world time trial medallists |
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1994 (first race): Chris Boardman (gold) |
1996: Chris Boardman (silver) |
1997: Chris Boardman (bronze) |
1999: Chris Boardman (bronze) |
2001: David Millar (silver) |
2010: David Millar (silver) |
2011: Bradley Wiggins (silver) |
2013: Bradley Wiggins (silver) |
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