UCI World Championships

The Norwegian claimed the biggest win of his career, while Filippo Ganna finished in seventh.

After a three-year absence, the team time trial is back at a grand tour. Tom is one of Cycling Weekly's news and features writers. We went after Thibaut Pinot's Strava KOM on a 17km Alpine climb to see if we could knock him off the top spot Still out on the road, Küng was putting in one of the performances of his career. So strong was the former European champion that neither Pogačar, Evenepoel or Ganna could match his pace. At the first time check, Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) and Evenepoel failed to better Küng, before all eyes turned to Ganna. Foss then took a mammoth 47 seconds out of Bissegger’s time, charging over the line to end the Swiss rider’s stint in the hot seat. Foss powered intently down the start ramp, hot in pursuit of Magnus Sheffield (USA), who recorded a new best time at the intermediate check taken after 7.2km. The times then got faster and faster. Bruno Armirail (France) took the race lead momentarily, then Yves Lampaert (Belgium), before Stefan Bissegger (Switzerland) became the first rider to average a speed of over 50km/h. To the delight of the home crowds, Luke Plapp followed the example set by his fellow Australian Grace Brown in the women's race by laying down a strong early benchmark. The Italian, who many predicted would win the event, finished in seventh, over 55 seconds down on Foss.

Tobias Foss astounded the field to take the world time trial jersey for Norway, with Stefan Kung taking silver for Switzerland and Remco Evenepoel the ...

Foss began to celebrate with only Ganna on the course, the Italian shipping time with every turn of the pedals. Foss crossed the line next to take the lead in 40:02.78, averaging 51kmph with pain etched on his face as he gasped for breath having given his absolute all. So, in a matter of moments it had been all change with half the field having set a time but with plenty of big names still to go. But while Bissegger was on the course, Bruno Armirail (France) was starting to motor and found himself fastest through the second intermediate time check. Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) can never be discounted but he was 15 seconds down at the first check, with nothing in it between Ganna and Evenepoel. But Kung was in the mix and as he powered across the line the clock was ticking down, and went into the red. But as the drama was unfolding on the clock, disaster befell Hayter as he lost his chain, the ensuing bike change rendering his chances long gone. Foss could barely hide his emotion, hiding his head in his hands as he was guaranteed silver. The Swiss rider is the reigning European time trial champion having beaten compatriot Kung and Filippo Ganna (Italy) in Munich last month, which was enough to muscle himself into the pool of favourites as one to watch. “It was pretty amazing to be here, all I wanted to do was smile and soak up the atmosphere. The 25-year-old had never won a race outside his own national championships, but held his nerve on a sunny day in Wollongong. Endless blue skies stretched overhead as the riders lowered themselves into the most streamlined position possible to take on a mildly undulating course littered with tight turns.