World Cycling Championships 2017 Bergen, Norway: Favourites ITT – women

Last year, the ITT at the World Cycling Championships was played out on a flat route in Qatar. Amber Neben bested Ellen van Dijk and Katrin Garfoot, but one may wonder if it’s right to expect the 42-year old American to prolong her title. The course is similar to last year’s Olympic route in Rio, when the now retired Kristin Armstrong powered to gold.

The women’s ITT route in Bergen takes in the Birkelundsbakken, which is the toughest but definitely not the only task at hand. Birkelundsbakken is 1.4 kilometre an averaging 7.2%, while the steepest ramp is 16%, which is perfect for Annemiek van Vleuten, the Dutch rider who won La Course on the Izoard this summer before she held off a trio of collaborating chasers in the ensuing pursuit.

Ellen van Dijk (2013), Lisa Brennauer (2014), Linda Villumsen (2015) and Amber Neben (2008, 2016) – they are the only contenders who have been World Champion time trialing before.

Favourites 2017 World Championships ITT women

*** Ellen van Dijk, Annemiek van Vleuten
** Anna van der Breggen, Elisa Longo Borghini, Olga Zabelinskaya
* Amber Neben, Linda Villumsen, Lisa Brennauer