After struggling at the Richmond Worlds and having viewed the Rio time trial course, Tony Martin of Etixx-QuickStep says Chris Froome is the favourite to take the Olympic title in the summer.

“I think that the podium will be different from the Olympics to the Worlds. My big favourite is Froome for the Olympics, Dumoulin and hopefully me,” Martin told the press at an Etixx-QuickStep training camp in Calpe, Spain. “It’s hard to say because it isn’t really a classic time trial. It’s more for climbers. There are a few guys who can really go for the medals.”

Martin made it clear that a flatter course in Qatar in the Worlds in October is more of a goal. A win there would give him four World titles in the discipline, equaling Fabian Cancellara’s record.

“First of all I want to show that I’m back in the Worlds after losing so hard last year. We’ve changed a lot and I really want to show that I’m back in business,” said Martin. “For the Worlds, there are guys like Dumoulin, Cancellara, Malori was strong last year, and me. I think it’s more open in the last years.”