CYCLING - ROAD: Australia's Rohan Dennis etched his name into the record books with a storming ride to claim his maiden individual time trial world title at the 2018 UCI World Championships in Austria.
‘‘I can’t really explain it. It’s an amazing feeling, it is a dream come true," said the Adelaide cyclist who becomes just the second Australian to win the event after Michael Rogers' three consecutive titles between 2003 and 2005.
“I've never won it (time trial world title) in any age group, I’ve been after this since I was a junior, so to win my first one in the seniors is pretty special.
"I am just going to enjoy the moment, and enjoy the next year in the rainbow," Dennis added.
The victory caps a stellar season for the dual Olympian who has stood on the top step of the podium in six time trials in the 2018 season, including at the Giro d'Italia and twice at the Vuelta a España.
The 28-year-old mastered the demanding 52.1 kilometre time trial to finish nearly one and a half minutes ahead of reigning champion Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands) who claimed the silver, with Belgium’s Victor Campanaerts half a second further behind in third.
"I was being coached from the team car by Brad McGee, and he gave me confidence at the top of the climb,” Dennis said after the race.
“Once Dumoulin was through Brad told me I was a minute up and he kept me calm. I was considering a bit of a victory salute but I wanted to make sure - you're never sure until Tom crosses the line.
"I knew the power we (BMC) rode in Sunday’s team time trial, where we lost 19 seconds on the winners. I held higher power up the hill than I did in the TTT, and I knew Dumoulin had been pushing hard in the TTT, so I had a good idea of what power I needed to hold him.
"I think it was a 35 seconds gap at the bottom and at the top, I was fairly confident that I'd at least done the same time as him.
Dennis will now turn his attention to Sunday's road race where he will line up with Simon Clarke, Jack Haig, Chris Hamilton, Damien Howson, Nick Schultz, Robert Power, and Rory Sutherland.
Remaining Schedule (times AEST)
Thursday 27 September
ROAD RACE WOMEN JUNIOR (Start 5pm, Finish 7pm) Sarah Gigante, Anya Louw
ROAD RACE MEN JUNIOR (Start 10pm, Finish 2am) Luke Plapp, Carter Turnbull, Tyler Lindorff
Friday 28 September
ROAD RACE MEN UNDER 23 (Start 8pm, Finish 1am) Jai Hindley, Callum Scotson, Robert Stannard, Michael Storer, Cyrus Monk
Saturday 29 September
ROAD RACE WOMEN ELITE (Start 5pm, Finish 1am) Grace Brown, Brodie Chapman, Tiffany Cromwell, Shara Gillow, Lucy Kennedy, Sarah Roy, Amanda Spratt
Sunday 30 September
ROAD RACE MEN ELITE (Start 540pm, Finish 1am) Simon Clarke, Rohan Dennis, Jack Haig, Chris Hamilton, Damien Howson, Nick Schultz, Robert Power, Rory Sutherland
