ROAD WORLDS | Dennis confident ahead of title defence

Dennis is confident of defending his rainbows (Photo John Veage)

2019 UCI Road World Championships - Elite Men's Time Trial

• Wednesday 25 September
• Luke Durbridge - Start time 1.59pm (10.59pm AEST)
• Rohan Dennis - Start Time 2.42pm (11.42pm AEST)
• Course 54km https://worlds.yorkshire.com/the-races/men-elite-individual-time-trial/
• Live broadcast via SBS OnDemand / Cycling Central

On the eve of his world title defence, Rohan Dennis is backing himself for victory in the men’s time trial at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire on Wednesday. 

“My expectations are to back up and win again,” said Dennis. “Worst case scenario it will be a podium, but if things go smoothly and I get the performance out of myself I know I really can, there is no reason why I can’t win.” 

In 2018, Rohan Dennis claimed his maiden time trial rainbow jersey with a resounding win at the World Championships in Austria, capping a superb season for the South Australian which included multiple victories in the individual race against the clock.

Dennis’ preparation for Yorkshire 2019 has been remarkably different to that of twelve months ago with a steady diet of training blocks feeding his pursuit for a second rainbow title. Yet despite the lack of racing in his legs, twenty-nine-year-old is buoyed by his performances. 

“It has been different lead in to a World Championships than I ever had before, and at times it has been unnerving, but I have had plenty of time to get dialled in,” said Dennis. “But a good ten weeks is a good amount of time to get things ready for a 54-kilometre time trial.

“With ten weeks between races, you don’t know where you are actually at and I haven’t had that exact results-based preparation. So you have to go off feelings, feelings on the bike, numbers on the bike. 

“And they are right up there with the best I have ever done in training, so I can’t go off anything but that, but things are looking really positive.

“That’s why I am quite confident that Wednesday will be good.”

The 54-kilometre course from Northallerton to the Harrogate circuit will test the 56 competitors with a fast start, tough early climb and undulating finish.

“There are a lot of things to do, there are a lot of things that Brad has to tell me during the race,” said Dennis, who will be the final rider to leave the start ramp. “It is quite a busy course but I really think it will be a nice one and I am really looking forward to it.

“Not one that will suit a lot of people but I think it will play to my strengths.”

Reigning Australian ITT champion Luke Durbridge is no stranger to the World Championship podium having claimed the crown as a junior in 2009 and under 23 in 2011.

“I really like the course, it is a long challenging course and is going to be very much so about how you pace your effort and will be a course of three parts,” said Durbridge, who will line up for his third career World Championship time trial. “We had a good (time trial course) recon on Saturday, it was the first time we got to see it.

“I am looking forward to seeing it again over the next few days and getting into it on Wednesday.”

Following the time trial, Dennis and Durbridge will team with 2015 world championship silver medallist Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb), Simon Clarke (EF Education First), Mitchell Docker (EF Education First), Nathan Haas (Team Katusha Alpecin), Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) and Rory Sutherland (UAE-Team Emirates) for the punishing 280km men’s road race on Sunday.

#Yorkshire2019
“I really like it. It is a long challenging course, it is going to be about how you pace your effort & will be a course of three parts. I am looking forward to getting into it on Wednesday.”@luke_durbridge1 on the @Yorkshire2019 TT course #auscyclingteam pic.twitter.com/MVAuQb3F30

— AusCyclingTeam (@AusCyclingTeam) September 22, 2019