Last Thursday, Matthias Brändle had booked the flight to Qatar. However, due to illness, the Austrianswill not be able to represent his country at the Worlds. According to a press release of the Austrian Cycling Federation ÖRV, Brändle suffers from purulent tonsillitis.

"I was hoping that it would get better. But it has gone in the wrong direction is true," said the IAM rider who planned to do both the road race and time trial. Since ÖRV will not select a replacement for Brändle, only Marco Haller and Bernhard Eisel will represent the Austrian colors in the road race. 

For Brändle, it is a bitter pill to swallow as his preparation had gone smoothly and the 40-kilometer course in Doha would have been to his liking. 

"The time trial dress rehearsal at the Eneco Tour ended with the fifth place. I was very confident for the world championship time trial in Qatar. The flat course would absolutely have been my route and of course I lament the missed opportunity," said the furutre Trek rider.

But Brändle looks with confidence to future World Championships, especially to the race on home soil in 2018."

"I am in the fortunate position that I still can start many World Championships as I am only 26 years old. And in just two years, we have in Tirol a home Worlds with which I am very happy," said the time trial specialist for whom the 2016 season "certainly did not go as desired."