In the absence of Wirtgen and Würtz, we have a field without one clear favorite. Last year’s runner-up Dunbar and two-time third place finisher Zmorka are the top favorites on paper, with Bernal and Kmieliauskas certainly in the mix as well, among others.
48 riders are at the start line today. Obviously, not every one of them will have their eyes on a top result – some are only here because they have a more capable teammate who gives their country two spots, for example. Some may have a shot to actually do something notable, but are still far from a favorite on paper. And then we have the good handful of riders who are most likely to compete for the medals.
A few riders from the first category start the race. Zukowsky, Dlamini, Van Baarle and Cabrera are fighting to stay out of the bottom couple of places more than anything else. Cabrera does best among them.
The first more capable time trialist who’s a step above them is Ioannidis. He’s 1’06 faster than the Chilean and takes the provisional lead. None of Lecuisinier, Plapp, McNulty or Kung, who are next on the road, can challenge him.
54’40
A new best time is then set by Zakarin. It’s close, but he gets it by 5 seconds. Fernandes fails to make any impact, but Sajnok slots into provisional 3rd place behind Ioannidis. Haugaard also rides a solid race, one second slower than the Pole, provisional 4th.
54’35
Goldstein and Castrillo are near the bottom of the leaderboard and while Hayter at least cracks the provisional Top 5, it’s up to Herregodts to set a new best time. And quite emphatically, too: 13 seconds faster than Zakarin.
54’22
Following that, we have Conci and Norsgaard with solid but unremarkable times, and the very much expected Lanterne Rouge for Chaiyasombat. But then, we get into territory where on a very good day, we might be talking about podium contenders.
Beniusis is the first of a trio of these kinds of riders – and we have a new best time, but only by a few seconds.
54’15
In contrast, Ocampo is a bit of a disappointment. He’s way off the pace and only provisional 10th place.
55’03
Ireland has easily the best duo of time trialists here today and Mullen sets the tone. He’s the first to break the 54 minute barrier, putting 22 seconds into Beniusis.
53’53
Following Bilyi, only the primary riders of the 24 nations remain at the start line. None of Jussaume, Van Niekerk or Krul deliver particularly inspiring performances. Chilean Ferreyra is the best of the bunch, he’s provisional 6th place.
54’57
As the final rider of the day, Dunbar crosses the first time check. As expected, it’s very close – he’s not on top, but only 3 seconds behind Zmorka, who’s currently in the lead. Kmielauskas and Bernal are also within striking distance.
Back to the finish line, where Christapopoulos, Cosnefroy and Durbridge have come through without making it into the Top 15.
Then, it’s time to pay tribute to the greatest time trialist in UCIMG history. Phinney, the seven-time world champion, crosses the line and shows one more time that this is a great race for him. Even at 35, he manages to at least get into provisional 6th place. And who knows, maybe we’ll even see him again next year.
54’55
The Top 5 at the moment are still Mullen, Beniusis, Herregodts, Zakarin and Ioannidis, the latter perhaps the biggest positive surprise so far.
None of Bissegger, Razumov or Rekita can change that, but then comes Oliveira, who gets ahead of Zakarin, and Knotten, who does one – well, two – better and jumps into provisional 3rd place.
54’21
Goldstein, Vernon and Gonzalez Salas finish with unremarkable times, then we’re into the fight for the Top 10 – at least. For Evenepoel, though, it won’t be much more than that, if he even makes it. He’s 5th at the moment, 10 seconds slower than teammate Herregodts.
54’32
Another look back at the top favorites, who have now passed the second checkpoint. Zmorka remains in the lead, but it’s super close.
Next up at the finish is Mano. He was closest to Mullen on the time checks, and he does come in 2nd, but the gap increased quite a lot on the final leg. Big swings could well be possible here.
54’11
Ganna is a bit of a disappointment. One second slower than Evenpoel, he will not finish in the Top 10 today.
54’33
Similarly, Bjerg was rated so highly that he’s the fifth-to-last man on the road. But he can’t convert that at all and finishes 11th so far.
54’35
Now we’re in the fight for the medals. Kmielauskas was the first rider to beat Mullen on the time checks, he does it at the finish line, too, and comfortably so: 16 seconds faster, an easy new best time. How much will that be worth? We’ll find out soon.
53’37
Worth a medal at the very least! Bernal can’t match the Lithuanian, he’s 13 seconds off! Two riders remain …
53’50
Zmorka is the first. He rides a good final stretch, increasing his lead over Kmielauskas from 14 to 21 seconds. But it was much closer with Dunbar …
53’16
The Irishman gives it all he’s got, it looks like a very strong final leg of the race, too. Will it be enough?
Spoiler
No! He gets the silver medal, but is 12 seconds slower than the Ukranian.
53’28
Congratulations to Marlen Zmorka, your new ITT World Champion!
World Championships 
Dunbar and two-time third place finisher 
Zmorka are the top favorites on paper, with 
Bernal and 
Kmieliauskas certainly in the mix as well, among others.
Zukowsky, 
Dlamini, 
Van Baarle and 
Cabrera are fighting to stay out of the bottom couple of places more than anything else. 
Ioannidis. He’s 1’06 faster than the Chilean and takes the provisional lead. None of 
Lecuisinier, 
Plapp, 
McNulty or 
Kung, who are next on the road, can challenge him. 
Zakarin. It’s close, but he gets it by 5 seconds. 
Fernandes fails to make any impact, but 
Sajnok slots into provisional 3rd place behind 
Haugaard also rides a solid race, one second slower than the Pole, provisional 4th.
Goldstein and 
Castrillo are near the bottom of the leaderboard and while 
Hayter at least cracks the provisional Top 5, it’s up to 
Herregodts to set a new best time. And quite emphatically, too: 13 seconds faster than 
Conci and 
Norsgaard with solid but unremarkable times, and the very much expected Lanterne Rouge for 
Chaiyasombat. But then, we get into territory where on a very good day, we might be talking about podium contenders. 
