Tony Martin: With Cancellara not present, I'm probably top favorite to win here today. I realize it won't be easy, though. There are many height kilometers to be overcome, and I hope I can take the victory home. The legs are good, so bring it on! My favorite for the day? Durbridge.

Chris Froome: Today is an important day. If I ever have a chance of a World Title in Time Trialing, today might be that day. I'll give it all I've got and we'll see. The Road Race will offer other possibilities. My favorite for the day? Tony Martin.

Taylor Phinney: It's half a miracle that I'm here at the start. I've had a pretty bad crash in the Vuelta so I don't expect anything today. If I was a betting man, I'd put my money on last year's champion Wouters. The terrain is hilly and he looks strong. My favorite for the day? Definitely Wouters.

Willy Wouters: On a terrain like this, I can certainly hope for a second title. However, the competition is tough. The roads are wide and the downhill is not very technical, unfortunately. The temperatures are really high so I'm a bit concerned. We'll see. My favorite for the day? Tony Martin.

Peter Sagan: I've been labeled as a top favorite since the profile has been made public. It's expected to end in a sprint with a select group. I will ride at the front and see what I can do. My favorite for the day? Stijn Van Gent.

Greg Van Avermaet: Life is all about making choices, some are harder than others. With the absence of Tom Boonen, and given Stijn Van Gent's latest results, I will put myself in a helping role and protect leader Van Gent. We're laying all our eggs in his basket and hope he has the legs to finish it off. My favorite for the day? Stijn, of course.

Edvald Boasson Hagen: We face a profile which suits me quite fine. The weather conditions are rainy and quite cold, so I'm used to that. I hope to sprint for the win, may the best man win then! My favorite for the day? Peter Sagan.

John Degenkolb: The legs are fine, but the competition is extremely fierce. My favorite for the day? Sagan, or maybe Van Gent.

Stijn Van Gent: The rain will definitely play in my advantage. The team has given me an absolute leading role, and I'm just so happy with the opportunity and the trust. I hope I won't let them down and I'll try everything to let the race end in a fair sprint. If it does, I have a big chance! My favorite for the day? Peter Sagan.

Fabian Cancellara: I'll definitely try an attack today. I should be strong enough, but you never know. These weather conditions I'm used to! My favorite for the day? No idea. We'll see. Maybe Moser for a third time.

Willy Wouters: The terrain is perfect for Stijn. I will get my chance at the Time Trial, so I'll work to make sure Stijn gets his chance at the Road Race. My favorite for the day? Stijn, there's no doubt in my mind.

Interviewer: Congratulations. World Champion, can you believe it?
Andrei Dovzjenko: I really can't. This has been a dream for so long, it's amazing.
Interviewer: How was your race?
Andrei Dovzjenko: The hill was pretty steep at times, but I had an amazing downhill and I made up a lot of time there.
Interviewer: Thank you, enjoy the rest of the day!
Andrei Dovzjenko: Thanks!

Interviewer: Willy Wouters, fastest time at the first checkpoint, what happened?
Willy Wouters: I ruined my chances downhill. I'm good at technical downhills, but I lack the weight on fast downhills.
Interviewer: Are you disappointed?
Willy Wouters: Of course I am. But I've enjoyed an entire year in this jersey and I will reclaim it one day!
Interviewer: Thank you!

Interviewer: While we wait for the World Champion to appear, here's number two of today, Peter Sagan. Hi, Peter, are you disappointed?
Peter Sagan: I'm really disappointed. Everyone had us picked at favorites and we were at the front, but he was too fast at the end.
Interviewer: Did you still believe in the win starting the sprint?
Peter Sagan: Why else would I start sprinting? I was surprised at the distance Van Gent started his sprint, he went from quite far on a slightly uphill finish.
Interviewer: Still a nice job, congrats.
Peter Sagan: Thanks.

Interviewer: In the meantime, an important man in today's victory, Greg Van Avermaet, has joined us. How does it feel, Greg?
Van Avermaet: It's amazing. We can't believe it. I've been screaming my lungs out already. We've worked hard all day and having a leader strong enough to finish it off, it's unbelievable.
Interviewer: Many thought you could've filled the leader's shoes here, instead of him.
Van Avermaet: Clearly they were wrong. I know how my legs are and at the moment, nobody's legs are better than Stijn's. I had no problem working for him and this feels just as good as if I had won myself!
Interviewer: Thanks a lot, enjoy the party tonight!
Van Avermaet: Thanks!

Interviewer: And finally, the World Champion has found his way to us. Stijn Van Gent, World Champion 2015.
Van Gent: It's unbelievable. I had dreams, hopes, desires, but now they've all come true. It's so wild.
Interviewer: Take us through your race.
Van Gent: It's been a tough and long day. It was constantly up and down, with many crashes and dangers. The team did excellent work. In the end, I knew it would come to a sprint. I just went as fast as I could. Greg was the best lead-out I've ever had.
Interviewer: Sagan looked like a danger, but you kept him at a distance. When did you realize you would be World Champion?
Van Gent: To be honest, I still don't realize it, yet. It's so much to take. The adrenaline right now is making my heart beat 300 beats per minute!
Interviewer: Tell me, how will you celebrate this World Title?
Van Gent: With the entire team, staff and my mates. We will throw quite a party here tonight, everyone's welcome!
Interviewer: Stijn Van Gent, the podium is ready for you. Congratulations!
Van Gent: Thank you very much!

Jesleyh - I don't know, it's the way it exports here. Maybe a bug or something. Doesn't bother me so much, though I don't know how Willy does it, after his lead-out I just put him on sprint and he always does so well

PCM rulezz - I'll be riding extra races because of the jersey, maybe including Beijing I prefer De Cauwer, I don't know he knows more about how things are in the peloton and he was national coach himself once, so he should comment on the WC

Miguel98 - Thanks a lot! Dovzjenko is a young Russian specialized in time trial and coming up in cobblestones. I was originally going to make a story with him so he accidentally stayed in the database he's now 80 TT, 79 PR and 74 COB!

Miguel98 - Thanks a lot! Dovzjenko is a young Russian specialized in time trial and coming up in cobblestones. I was originally going to make a story with him so he accidentally stayed in the database he's now 80 TT, 79 PR and 74 COB!

PCM rulezz - Yes, I sure as hell beat myself there

Ollfardh - Thanks!

sutty68 - Best win ever for him. Thanks

MrUfo87 - Indeed. It's a strange thing but I can live with it And to be honest, I prefer this jersey over the ITT, because this one can be shown a lot more

alex valceanu - I hope the curse doesn't strike. Let's hope he gets his first rainbow win in season 2015!

Marcovdw - Thanks a lot

dienblad -