The Omega Pharma – Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere hasn’t even tried to hide his disappointment after his riders lost two World titles in only four days. However, he gracefully admitted the excellence of Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) who rode a truly perfect time trial on Wednesday and claimed that Belgians still are capable of turning the World Championships into a success in the road race.

Entering the competition with evidently weaker roster than in previous years, Omega Pharma – Quick Step riders failed to defend their title in the TTT event held in Ponferrada last Sunday, eventually being forced to settle for bronze behind outstanding BMC Racing and their perennial rivals Orica-GreenEDGE.

During their team effort triple ITT world champion Tony Martin didn’t seem to be at his best, what was later admitted by the rider himself at a press conference. The true confirmation came on Wednesday, though, when the powerful 29-year old German failed to make a history by becoming the most decorated rider of the discipline, losing to unattainable on that day Wiggins by almost 30 seconds.

Openly disappointed by losing two world titles in less than one week, Lefevere admitted the superiority and class of the 34-year old Briton.

“We know from experience – if Wiggins is fully concentrated on something, he usually gets it,” Lefevere told Sporza. “His palmares speak for themselves.”

“There are very few cyclists who have travelled this route: started as track riders, taking all possible kind of titles there, switching to road and again doing the same thing including the Tour de France title, and again – most likely – ending up on the track.”

“We all had that impression on Sunday that Tony wasn’t outstanding, not like in previous years. He hasn’t been himself on Monday as well, clearly disappointed. Only yesterday [on Tuesday] he made an impression on being on the right track again.”

“But look, we’re not talking about 1 or 2 seconds, much more. Tony said he was tired? Voilà. Maybe it just has been true?”

The Omega Pharma – Quick Step manager is ready to shake off the disappointment quickly, hoping that the Belgians will bounce back in the road race theoretically well suited to their style of riding.

“World titles are nothing you want to give away, not two in just one week or even less. But we still have Sunday, and so I will dream lunatic’s dreams.”