Reactions from Thursday’s national TT championships

 

Thursday was a busy day as several national time trial championships were held in Europe. Thebaut Pinot won in France, Ion Izagirre took the win in Spain, Edvald Boasson Hagen was the best in Norway and Alexander Wetterhall came out on top in Sweden. Martin Toft Madsen was the surprise winner in Denmark, Alex Dowsett defended his British title, Nicolas Roche won in Ireland and Victor Campenaerts is the new Belgian champion. Leopold König was the fastest in the Czech Republic and Marek Canecky took the title in Slovakia. Finally, Kanstantsin Siutsou returned to the top step of the podium in Belarus.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

France

Thibaut Pinot: I thought about all the work I have done during the last three years

”It’s a lot of emotions,”Thibaut Pinot told L’Equipe. “I thought about everything I have done for two, three seasons in the time trials. Immediately, I saw my family, my mother, my sister, my father, it was very emotional. Initially, I had goosebumps. Besides, I knew almost everyone everywhere. It was pretty special to be at a French Championships as I knew half the people on the road! I really felt passion and it pushed me. 

 

”I knew very well that the hard part was the second half. I tried to control myself because with the euphoria and adrenaline, I could not feel my legs on the first two climbs. I did not want to start to fast as I wanted to be able to accelerate in the second and third parts. The heat was a handicap for everyone, for me too. Nobody wants to do a time trial in 35°C, especially with the helmet, it is like a pressure cooker. We all suffered, it was the first heat for everyone so I do not think that anybody were more hampered than others. I had some friends on the edge of the road who gave me a few bottles of water. They knew that I needed them.

”My week is successful. I prepared for the time trial. After the Dauphiné, I really started to recover to have the maximum power. Since then I have not done a workout of five hours of endurance. For a road race that will last more than six hours, it'll probably be a bit complicated in the final. We will try with the team because we have very strong riders like Arthur (Vichot) and Anthony (Roux) that can really do something. The important thing is that FDJ wins.”

 

“Above all, I will try to recover well. Tonight I will enjoy it with the family and the team. I wll sleep at home and probably tomorrow morning we will do a small ride in the Vosges. The priority is recovery.”
 

Anthony Roux: It’s both nice and frustrating

Anthony Roux was second.

 

"It is both nice and frustrating to finish second behind a teammate (Thibaut Pinot),” Anthony Roux told Directvelo. “I still finished on the second step of the podium at the Championshios. I have already made ​​the podium as an amateur and a pro. But I still have not had the opportunity to win a title! This is something that I deserve and it hasn’t worked out yet. I am motivated every year. Every June I work for this event. I hope I still have a few in the professional peloton and that it will smile on me one day.”

 

Tony Gallopin pleased with third place in French time trial

Tony Gallopin was third.

 

"I knew from the start that I was not going to beat Thibaut (Pinot),” he told Directvelo. “He won the time trial of the Tour de Romandie. Being next to Thibaut and Anthony on the podium is a real satisfaction. And to beat other real specialists like Jerome (Coppel) and Sylvain (Chavanel) is another. It was a good experience, I did ​​this TT without pressure. My performance shows that I have made ​​progress, and I hope that I can continue to do so if I want to go for the general classification in certain events. It is a discipline that I have always enjoyed. I was a young specialist. I had lost my qualities by working in another area. Here, it was more an opportunity to work on it because I had not done so for years, and I wanted to know where I was. The TT is not a priority at Lotto-Soudal."

 

Jerome Coppel: I knew I had to win

Jérôme Coppel (IAM Cycling) was 4th

 

"We knew at the start that the course, heat, and length would make it difficult,” he told Directvelo. “I felt pretty good in the beginning. I was careful not to start too fast, I was even surprised when they told me I had the best time at the first intermediate point. But then I never managed to speed up. I felt that I could not recover. I thought that if I was still there at the second intermediate check, it would not be too bad. But from there, I felt that I cracked. When I had the information at the third intermediate point, I lost morale and I finished as best I could. I had to win, but when you are twenty seconds behind with ten kilometers to go, you know it's over. Second or third, it would have been fine anyway. I did not even know how I was when I crossed the line, so I had totally lost morale. I was not on a bad day but Thibaut (Pinot) did a great time trial. On a very good day, I think I can fight with him on such a course. He is a beautiful Champion of France!"

 

Sylvain Chavanel: I felt like I was glued to the road

Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) was 5th.

 

"Today I was more afraid of the heat than my opponents,” he told Directvelo. “I'm not really done it smoothly, suddenly, I got a little overwhelmed in the final. I had the impression of being glued to the road. I did not warm up much, only 20 minutes on the home trainer. In the last five kilometers, I could not accelerate or even speed out after the corners. I gave everything, so I'm a little disappointed with my result. On Sunday, the circuit will be too hard for me so I was betting everything on the TT. Pinot has not missed out, congratulations to him.”

 

Fortuneo-Vital Concept save the day for Stölting rider at French Championships

Romain Lemarchand was Stölting’s sole starter at the French ITT championships in Vesoul. For him, just rolling off the start ramp to tackle the 49.3 km was a victory: His gear cable had broken with an hour to the start, and as a solo rider he didn’t have a team mechanic at the race. Thanks to the help by Fortuneo – Vital Concept the bike was ready with five minutes to spare, and Lemarchand could start the race after all. Without a proper warm-up the chances for a good time were gone, though, and he eventually finished in 21nd place.

 

“I had a great day on the bike once I was on it,” said Romain Lemarchand after his time trial. “But due to the stress with the gear cable I couldn’t warm up at all. Otherwise I could have made the top-15, maybe even the top-10. I want to thank Fortuneo – Vital Concept for helping me out; cycling is one big family.”

 

 

Spain

Victorius Ion Izagirre: I made my gamble in the finale

Just like in the previous two editions of the race, the Movistar Team made a clean sweep of the Spanish TT Championships' podium, repeating - though in a different order - the same one that reigned two years ago in Ponferrada. Ion Izagirre put an icing on top of the best season he's completed as a pro with a stunning display on a tough, warm course in Ibi, near Alicante (40.95km), beating two big specialists and team-mates in the process: Jonathan Castroviejo (silver) and Alejandro Valverde (bronze).

 

After Jesús Herrada - 4th at the end - set the early reference before those riders starting just after 6pm, a very close battle between Valverde, Izagirre and Castroviejo started to form after 21km: only seven seconds separated them, in that very order, at the intermediate check. Ultimately, the amazing fitness and good final pace by Izagirre got the better of his team-mates in the uphill finale - 22” over Castroviejo; 25” better than Valverde - Izagirre claiming his fourth success of the 2016 season -GP Indurain, TT wins in Romandie and the Tour de Suiss e- and the Eusebio Unzué-led squad's 28th this year, with eleven different riders.

 

Ion Izagirre said: 

 

"Following my victory in Suisse, I was really willing to come to this course and go for the win. I knew I could do well, but I was completely conscious that this was a different story from last week: quite longer, always demanding - you had to stay calm and distribute your energies well during the course. The work by the team with the time gaps was really good - I was having information all the time, knowing that 'Castro', 'Bala' and me were doing pretty equal. Once we got over the Revoltes climb and coming into the final 6, 7 kilometers, I took my gamble: giving 100% without knowing if it would be a win or a silver medal. Fortunately, it all went well.

 

"I've got that feeling that this one is really my best season in the pro scene. Ever since the start of the year, I got to keep this regularity over all courses, doing well no matter the terrain. That makes you incredibly confident and gives you a reason to keep working hard, so you can keep success coming. Canyon's new bike has been completely satisfying: the new materials are really good, which is amazing considering the amounts of work they have always put to bring us the best quality. Claiming wins from the first race with this Speedmax has been a result of that.

 

”Now TDF and the Games, you say? Well', one would have to ask Eusebio [Unzue] and Javier Mínguez [Spain's national team coach]; I'd like to ride both of them, but it's their choice."

 

Excellent return for Jonathan Castroviejo at Spanish TT Championships

For the sixth consecutive year, Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar Team) was on the podium.

 

This time he did it with the merit that comes from a serious injury and four months without competing after an accident in February in Algarve. 

 

"For me it is like a small victory and satisfaction that I am at the highest level again after many months without activity after my crash in Algarve Last week I finished the Tour of Switzerland and that gave me a lot of moral. I think I'm now at a good level," he told Biciclismo.

 

"I had a lot of uncertainty I had doubts about how I would recover because there were only three days off between Switzerland and the time trial.

 

"The time trial was quite complete and had its climb, continuous steep slopes. I ded well but perhaps it was 10km too long. I'm happy.

 

"I do not know whether I will go to the Tour. It does not depend on me, but I hope so; if not, there are other goals."

 

Recovered Alejandro Valverde takes third in Spanish TT

Alejandro Valverde, champion in 2014, set the fastest intermediate time, but eventually had to settle for bronze.

 

"I didn’t know what happened to my rivals, my teammates. They are very good and are great time triallists. I have maintained a rhythm but they were a bit faster than me in the end. I'm very happy with how I've done,” he told Biciciclismo.

 

"Above all, I leave with a good taste, and can see that I am fully recovered from the Giro and ready for the Tour.

"I have done very well. I was even a bit surprised. Eusebio (Unzue) called me when I was in in Granada. 'Hey, you wanna do it?' and I said 'let me do a good time trial to learn the feelings and get to know if I'm recovered from the Giro ... and I'm happy.”

 

"I spent two weeks training very lightly. Then I went to Granada for five days and always almost ended climbing up to Sierra Nevada. Then I returned home and now I am here so there has not been time for much more. nor there has been a long time for more.

 

"I was already road race champion last year. I wish it will be another teammate although it will not be easy because the rivals will be strong.”

 

Norway

Edvald Boasson Hagen: I had to work for this title

Edvald Boasson Hagen took his 8th TT title.

 

”It was good to take it. I had not so much coaching but I think it was enough. I am pleased. It was hard and I had to work hard, Boasson Hagen told NRK after you finish.

 

”It's good I had enough in the end. I knew Vegard was in great shape. I had to work here,” Boasson Hagen told TV2.

 

”I think the form is good. It was good in the Dauphiné and it felt alright now, but it was a tough fight.”

 

Vegard Stake Laengen: It is not a shame to be beaten by Boasson Hagen

Vegard Stake Laengen was second.

 

- I had no radio. I had no idea and did my own race. When I heard that it was so close, it would have been good to have had the times, he told TV2.

 

“It's the best I've done in a TT so I should not complain. But I had a dream of gold, and it slipped away. I will try again next year. Edvald is one of the world's best riders and is not the worst to be beaten by.”

 

Andreas Vangstad satisfied with bronze in Norwegian TT

Andreas Vangstad took bronze.

 

“I am pleased with the bronze today, it was the best I could get,” Vangstad told procycling.no.

 

“I always got the times for third place which Reidar [Borgersen] had for a long time. I was five and six seconds behind at the last split times. But I knew if I kept the same tempo on the last two climbs, I should have a chance to take it back. I felt I got everything out and used my climbing skills in the finale.”

 

Denmark

New Danish time trial champion: People thought I was crazy when I said I could win

Martin Toft Madsen took a surprise win in Denmark.

 

"It is awesome. I've reached my goal and what I've trained for for a little over half a year. I have done something which many not believed in - not even my teammates," Martin Toft Madsen told CyclingQuotes.

 

"They thought I was crazy when I said I thought I could be in contention for the win. I’ve not realized it 100 percent yet. I'll have to sleep to really understand it.

 

"I believed that I could go for the win today. It's probably not a surprise for me but probably more for everyone else. I did not expect to win, but I had a hope and believed that I could go for the win.”

 

Michael Valgren with mixed emotions after second place in Denmark

Michael Valgren continued Tinkoff’s strong run in the time trial championships this week with his best ever finish in the Danish time trial championships, posting the second fastest time to take home the silver medal. Yesterday, Maciej Bodnar was crowned Polish time trial champion while Manuele Boaro also rode to a silver medal in Italy.

 

Valgren raced around the 43km course, starting and finishing in Vordingborg, in a time of 51’45”, putting him just 12” slower than first place. It was a step up from his previous best finish at the time trial when he finished third in 2014.

 "It's a bitter sweet feeling to get the silver medal after such a close race," commented Michael Valgren. "I came to the Danish TT national championships with a goal to finish in the top five, so the second place makes me happy. On the other hand, being crowned national champion is what every rider aspires to and missing it by only 12 seconds makes me a bit disappointed. Nevertheless, I am very happy with my performance, my legs were strong and I felt in good form, despite the fact I hadn't trained a lot for such a time trial.”

 

"It was a tough race on a nearly-flat parcours with strong wind. My focus now shifts to the road race on Sunday and the rest of the season with Tinkoff," concluded Valgren.

 

Rasmus Quaade disappointed after Danish TT championships

Team Stölting Service Group started at the Danish ITT championships today. Three riders made the top-10, but missed the podium.

 

Especially Rasmus Quaade and Lasse Norman Hansen had hoped for a podium placing on the 43 km course around Vordingborg; Quaade even targeted the title. In the end, though, they and the rest of the field were surprised by Martin Toft Madsen (Team Almeborg – Bornholm): The former amateur world ITT champion beat Michael Valgren (Tinkoff) by twelve seconds and won the title. Rasmus Quaade finished in fourth place 2:24 minutes behind, Lasse was a further nine seconds back in 6th. Rasmus Guldhammer rounded out the top-10, Mads Pedersen finished 15th.

 

Rasmus Quaade was disappointed with his fourth place:

 

“It wasn’t the result I had hoped for,” he said. “But I didn’t have more to give. I’m not happy with that, but there’s nothing to do about it. I had some bad luck with a puncture after 8 km, but that didn’t cost me two minutes. The others were simply better today. It’s a little bit like 2011 when I surprised the pros myself – but when it’s at your own expense it’s definitely not as fun. I did what I could, prepared myself well the last days, but I couldn’t hold a candle to the guys on the podium today.”

 

Great Britain

Alex Dowsett: This win is probably not enough to be selected for the Tour

Alex Dowsett claimed a fantastic fifth British TT title in Stockton-on-Tees, becoming the first-ever rider to go past Stuart Dangerfield's record of four victories. The 46.4km course was the path for another exhibition by the Essex rider (55:38.523), coming 1'16" faster across the line than James Gullen (silver), with Ryan Perry in bronze medal position. It's the Great Baddow rider's fourth consecutive champion jersey in Movistar Team colours, having kept this success line since 2013.

 

"Win number five is as special as the first,” he said. “I get to wear this for another year. It saves Endura making another one or a blue one. It's always special. It's nice that I didn't have any problems this year, every year the nationals seems to throw something at me but that went very smoothly, fantastic course. Stockton should be very proud of what they put on today, very spectator friendly and this is what time trials need".

 

“Honestly, given how Switzerland went – which was badly – I’ll be surprised if they take me [to the Tour],” he told Cycling Weekly.

 

“There’s that [Switzerland performance] and on top of that it’s how well all my teammates are going as well. A lot of guys on that longlist have won a stage of the Dauphiné and have done incredible jobs there, Switzerland and Route du Sud.

 

“I was really under par at Switzerland. It’s a lack of top end form. It’s a misjudgement in training. I have done a lot of threshold stuff and my time trialing at the moment is good but I’ve neglected the top end and that showed in Switzerland. It’s something that will come back so I’ll probably do the Tour of Poland.”

Belgium

Triumphant Victor Campenaerts: This time trial has been my goal all year

Victor Campenaerts became the Belgian Time Trial Champion with a time of 46’18" over 38 kilometres. The Team LottoNL-Jumbo cyclist was three seconds faster than Yves Lampaert (Etixx). Ben Hermans (BMC) was third with a gap of 12 seconds. Sep Vanmarcke placed fifth.

 

After the first intermediate point at 14 kilometers, it became clear he would be among Lampaert, Hermans and Campenaerts. Lampaert had the fastest time ahead of Hermans and Campenaerts. This was also the top three after 24 kilometers and Campenaerts remained at eight seconds behind Lampaert.

 

"Everything went well, I felt that everything was good and that it could be my day today," said Campenaerts. "I am very happy, I've lived for this since the winter. Last year, I did not pace my race well and I did so perfectly this year. I used to swim and race triathlon, which are of course just like time trials, so I am good at spliting a race into sections."

 

“Campenaerts kept himself disciplined to the plan," said Trainer Mathieu Heijboer. "Last year, Campenaerts broke down in the last part and he learned a lot from that. He divided his race well and the time trial was only secured in the last part.

 

“We have a lot of confidence in Campenaerts, this was an important goal for a long time. Unfortunately, his preparation was upset by a crash in Romandie forcing him to miss the Giro. Then he just got sick so you could not call his preparation spotless."

 

"My time trials have always been good, but I did not win much," said the new champion. "I am glad that this works as a professional in my third year. I hope I can use my time trial in the future to shine in short stage races.”

 

"It's just great to be Belgian Champion,” he told Directvelo. “After my European and national titles at the U23 level, I was told that I had to forget everything once I turned professional. Now I did it in the pros. Since the beginning of the season, I have repeated that my main goal is the championships. So it's a relief to win. I could, unlike last year, manage my effort well. At the end, I benefited from having Guillaume Van Keirsbulck as a focus. It boosted my morale.

 

“And my preparation had been hampered by a crash in the prologue of the Tour de Romandie where I sustained a severe concussion. I missed the Giro, a great opportunity to progress physically. But here I am with a vicyory. In addition, Kevin De Weert, the national coach, followed me. I hope I have scored points for the European Championships in Nice and the World Championships in Qatar. For the Rio Olympics, the course is too much for me.

 

"It was extremely hot today. In that heat 34 kilometers at full gas is not easy. But I manage the race well. I am extremely happy to have this jersey for an entire season. That my good friend Yves Lampaert is second is even better even though Yves will probably prefer it to have been different

 

"I've only done my first races in 2010. Earlier I did swimming at a high level. I stopped at the age of sixteen and switched to triathlon. But I was struggling with injuries from running. I changed discipline now I'm sitting here as Belgian time trial champion. I am going to enjoy the next year.” 

 

Disappointed Yves Lampaert: Campenaerts had a mental advantage

Last week, Yves Lampaert was part of the Etixx – Quick-Step team for Tour de Suisse, and besides helping the likes of Fernando Gaviria and Maximiliano Richeze on the flat, the 25-year-old also showed his form was improving in the time trial, an encouraging sign before the National Championships, where his goal was to take the victory, after coming second at the previous edition.

 

Last rider to set off on the 38 km course in Postel, Lampaert recorded the fastest time at both intermediate checkpoints and was on course for getting his maiden win of the year, but unfortunately had to settle with the runner-up spot, just three seconds behind winner Victor Campanaerts (LottoNL-Jumbo). Besides Lampaert, Etixx – Quick-Step had two more riders in the top 10, neo-pro Laurens De Plus (7th) and Julien Vermote (9th).

 

"I had a fast start and after 15 kilometers I held back a little, before going really fast again. It was really warm out there and such conditions hit your body hard. The parcours suited me and I came here after working hard in the past weeks, especially as I wanted to make up for missing the Spring Classics campaign. To finish second hurts a little, as it was a big chance to finally take the victory, but I hope to return here next year and have another shot", Lampaert said right after the finish.

 

"I'm pretty disappointed because I did not lose by much,” he told Directvelo. “I had a very good start, and I was still able to speed up in the end. Unfortunately, it was not enough to win. I think that Victor had a moral advantage with Guillaume Van Keirsbulck. It helped him to go deep. Anyway, Victor is a beautiful champion. We were often roommates, also at the European U23 Championships and at Topsport Vlaanderen.

 

"Second is the most thankless position at the championships. I was very fast from the start and had the best time. Also at the second point I was the fastest. But Campenaerts must have had sufficient reserves to go faster in the end. Of course, this is a shame even though I had tipped Campenaerts as a major title contender. I know him very well and he certainly deserves this title. I had a healthy pressure but I have to be satisfied with the silver medal.”

 

Ben Hermans: I would have preferred a harder course

Ben Hermans (BMC) was third

 

"I'm in good shape, and I cannot really be disappointed with a medal,” he told Directvelo. “Such a course, all flat and with many straight roads, was not to my advantage. I prefer the harder courses like in Tervuren or Lac Eau d'Heure. I won’t do the Tour de France, but I can show myself in other races. I now hope for a selection for Rio.

 

"In 2011 and 2012 I was second and now third. All in all I am satisfied although I would of course prefer to have that jersey on the shoulders. This means that the condition is good. Of course I would have preferred a harder course. Climbs are more my thing. Here it was completely flat. Campenaerts did have the advantage of having a target in Guillaume Van Keirsbulck who had started earlier than him. He could use the cars. That made ​​a difference. “

 

Philippe Gilbert confident for Sunday after disappointing TT result

Philippe Gilbert (BMC) was 11th at 2.23.

 

“After five or six kilometres, I overshot a turn. I thought I saved it but I quickly realized that I had a slow puncture. So I changed bike and at the first intermediate check, I was already 30 seconds behind Ben Hermans. I can’t do much on this kind of course so it was not really possible. This does not affect my confidence, I have worked well for Sunday. The condition is good as we saw in Switzerland. The course did not allow me to show it. A championship is always complicated. Certainly, it is 250km, but if we remember La Roche, it split to pieces. We saw it last year too. Once they are gone, the escapees can stay away. The circuit at Lac Eau d'Heure is hard but does not have major roads. Sometimes it is better to be alone than five together. It's easier, you do not have to ride in a group. You should not send one of your riders ahead or run the risk of being blocked because a teammate is already in front."
 

Sep Vanmarcke: I threw up five times during the TT

Sep Vanmarcke finished fifth after he was at the first intermediate point a second slower than his team-mate Campenaerts. Coach Matthieu Heijboer said, "According to the team, Vanmarcke achieved a great fifth place, but he suffered from the heat a bit."

 

"I threw up five times during the TT," Vanmarcke told Het Nieuwsblad. "It started this morning with a few quick trips to the bath room: diarrhea and diarrhea. Perhaps it is because of the sudden heat. I can’t eat anything and therefore I had no power. I hope to be good on Sunday but this is obviously not ideal.”

 

Czech Republic

Leopold König: It’s a good achievement to beat Barta in a TT

Leopold Konig rode hard to secure a national time trial championship in the Czech Republic.

 

For Konig his maiden elite national title also brought with it automatic Olympic Games selection, with his time of one hour, seven minutes and 59 seconds proving enough for victory in Hodonin.

 

The Team Sky rider's success broke a four-year stranglehold on the title from Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18), who finished eight seconds further back.

 

After the race the now Rio-bound Konig told TeamSky.com: "It's my first title and it also means nomination for Rio as well - automatic selection for the time trial and road race - so I'm double happy!

 

"Barta is one of the top 10 time trialists in the world I would say. He's been top 10 many times at the world championships and he's hard to beat. So it is a good achievement, especially after such a long period without training and the injury. I'm extremely happy it worked out.

 

"I felt great after the Tour de Suisse. I knew that after the injury if I did a hard race like that the shape would come. Next for me it's the road race on Sunday and for sure I'm aiming for a double!"

 

Petr Vakoc shows his progress with third place in Czech time trial

Petr Vakoč managed to come into the spotlight and notch up his third podium of the season. Held around Hodonin, on a 50-km long route, the individual time trial race wasn't an easy one, but 23-year-old Vakoč – who is poised to make his Tour de France debut next week – left it all on the road and concluded the event in third position, just like in 2015, behind new champion Leopold König (Team Sky) and Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18).

 

For Vakoč, victorious in three races this season, this was his best result of the year in an individual time trial, one which bodes well ahead of the road race scheduled on Sunday:

 

"It was a very tough ITT, in which I had a strong start and finish, but struggled in the middle, as I still felt some fatigue from the Tour de Suisse. I wanted to win, and even though in the end I came on the podium, I am satisfied with my performance, because I made some big improvements in this area and it all paid off, as I was much closer to the first place than 12 months ago."