Tom’s title, but no joy for Barker
TOM Pidcock showed Great Britain team-mate Chris Froome the way by adding to his burgeoning reputation with victory in the junior men’s time-trial at the Road World Championships in Norway on Tuesday.
Hannah Barnes and Wales’ Elinor Barker were ninth and 19th respectively in a women’s 21.1-kilometres event in Bergen won by Annamiek van Vleuten of Holland, after Pidcock had won the junior title.
It will be four-time Tour de France champion and La Vuelta winner Froome’s chance todayin the men’s time-trial event.
“With the Tour de France and the Vuelta it’s not something I’ve been able to train specifically for,” Froome said.
“I’m here with whatever form I’ve got on the back of the Tour and the Vuelta.
“I still feel good, still feel fresh, feel up for it.
“I’m going to get on that start line, give it absolutely everything I’ve got.”
Froome will face time-trial specialists like Tony Martin of Germany, Holland’s Tom Dumoulin and Rohan Dennis of Australia on the 31km course.
Barker’s hopes of claiming a medal place were effectively ended by a mechanical problem on the final steep climb which proved too much of an obstacle to overcome.
“I’m looking forward to leaving time trials behind me for a bit,” said Barker.
“I’ve not had the best luck this year and I’m ready for a change.”
The Welsh rider added: “I had a mechanical issue on the hill which was far from ideal.
“After that my head was a little bit gone and my legs were just shattered.”
Barker finished fifth after having a puncture during the National Road Race Championships time trial in June, and has had limited time on the roads this season. Elite Women’s Time Trial: 1 Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands) 28mins 50secs, 2 Anna van Der Breggen (Netherlands) at 12secs, 3 Katrin Garfoot (Australia) at 19secs, 4 Chloe Dygert (United States) at 38secs, 5 Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands) at 52secs, 6 Linda Villumsen (New Zealand) at 56secs, 7 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa) at 01:19secs, 8 Lauren Stephens (United States) at 01:20secs, 9 Hannah Barnes (Great Britain) at 01:23secs, 10 Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Denmark) at 01:34secs, 11 Amber Neben (United States) at 01:42secs, 12 Lisa Brennauer (Germany) at 01:48secs, 13 Audrey Cordon Ragot (France) at 01:51secs, 14 Pernille Mathiesen (Denmark) at 02:02secs, 15 Juliette Labous (France) at 02:02secs, 16 Ann-Sophie Duyck (Belgium) at 02:03secs, 17 Trixi Worrack (Germany) at 02:04secs, 18 Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) at 02:08secs, 19 Elinor Barker (Great Britain) at 02:10secs, 20 Lotta Pauliina Lepisto (Finland) at 02:14secs.