Fabian Cancellara has won the National Time Trial Championships for the eighth time. On the 38.8 km course around Satigny (near Geneva) he bested Martin Elmiger and Reto Hollenstein (both IAM Cycling).

Cancellara took a slow start, coming in 7 seconds slower than Martin Elmiger at the first split time in Dardagny. But then 'Spartacus'

turned on his big engine and steadily started catching back the IAM Cycling rider. At the finish line, he posted a time of 50'35 - 59 seconds faster than Elmiger and 1’57” faster than Hollenstein. This is his 8th National TT title (2002, 2004-2008, 2012 and now 2013). He also won the Road Championships twice.

Team Manager Luca Guercilena, who was in the team car behind Cancellara: "Besides a recon ride of the lap, Fabian didn't do a real warm-up. The temperature was over 36 degrees, so that was a deliberate strategy of ours. He started off a bit slower than Elmiger, to get the machine working, but then he picked up speed and really started going fast. He was sweating like a horse!"

Cancellara confirms: "It was really, really hard. The course was up and down the whole time and with these temperatures, it made for a tough ride. I still felt the Tour de Suisse in my legs, despite the good feelings on the bike yesterday. For me it was also a test to see where my shape is at. I'm certainly satisfied."

This is Cancellara's eighth title in the time trial: "It never gets boring to win your National Championships. For me it's an honour to wear the jersey, so I really went for it!"