World Cycling Championships 2015 Richmond: Favourites ITT

Tony Martin, Tom Dumoulin and Rohan Dennis are the major contenders with the German being top-favourite. The 53 kilometres parcours is mostly flat and the long straight roads should suit him just fine. Title-holder Bradley Wiggins and former World Champion Fabian Cancellara are absent in Richmond. Here are all favourites as far as Cyclingstage.com is concerned. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tony Martin
World Champion in 2011, 2012 and 2013, but the German was outperformed by Bradley Wiggins in Ponferrada. It came as something of a shock as in almost all ITT’s in years prior to that he outpowered his competition. Still, the German is top-favourite #1 in Richmond as the route is tailor-made for him.

Tom Dumoulin
The Dutchman surprised each and everyone in the Vuelta with competing for the red jersey until the last mountain stage, but eventually he finished sixth. If one thing, it is cristal clear Dumoulin is in the form of his life. In the Tour of the Basque Country he bested Martin on a hilly route, the first time ever he outperformed his rival.

Rohan Dennis
Being a former hour record holder, Dennis has a sweet tooth for a flat route. He began his cycling career on the track. Last July he suprised friend and foe by winning the opening time trial of the Tour de France, thus taking the yellow jersey. The route in Utrecht was about 1/4th of the Richmond track, will the Australian be able to stand his ground on a route that is for times longer.

Taylor Phinney
The 25-yo American is back on his bike after a 15 months revalidation and the first thing he did, was winning the 1st stage in USA Pro Cycling Challenge. No World Championships last year for Phinney due to aforementioned injury, while two years ago he raced to fifth place in Florence

*** Tony Martin, Tom Dumoulin
** Rohan Dennis, Taylor Phinney, Vasil Kiryienka
* Bob Jungels, Nelson Oliveira, Adriano Malori