Cancellara: This is not my last chance

The only race Fabian Cancellara has not won yet is the Worlds Road Race. The 33-year-old Swiss star has everything else. And he is running out of chances to win a title and Rainbow Jersey.

In order to ensure he goes well here in Ponferrada, he has skipped the time trial, an event he was third in last year and is a four-time winner in.

“I skipped the time trial [in 2014] because I wanted to focus 100 percent on Sunday’s race,” Cancellara said in a press conference. “On this kind of course, it was better for me to try to ease back after the team time trial.”

“The time trial is an intense effort, and when you have a palmarès like mine, it’s better to skip it.”

“We've followed the plan since the beginning. I am feeling good. I am ready.”

One feature that goes against him is the lack of men he has to support him. He only has 2 helpers in a race where Belgium, Australia, Italy and Spain can all field 9 men. But 2 experienced hard men, Michael Albasini and Danilo Wyss, will help Cancellara.

“It's not positive,” he said. “Regarding the rules, we have to live with it.

“We have three riders. We have to ride smart. We have to use the others. We cannot have the team in the front."

“I am not going to say we ride negative. [But] The other big nations have nine riders.”

“All the big teams have a strong team, with a strong sprinter, but we will see. Each lap will get harder and harder. It's always up or down, so it's going to be an interesting race. It's only 250km, but there is a lot of climbing. I did my homework, and that's important.”

Cancellara knows his time is running out to complete his palmares but he says this is not his last chance saloon just yet.

“No, there is still next year. But for now, I am only thinking about the race on Sunday.”