'I got super scared': Riders criticise rough roads at Worlds time trial

Riders have expressed dissatisfaction with the rough road conditions at the recent time trial event, which saw both expected winners and some unexpected finishers. Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) and Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) secured victory, but the course tested more than just raw power, with riders encountering potholes, tight corners, and the challenge of maintaining speed.

Brandon Rivera (Colombia) had a front wheel rub, torn clothing, and bloodied skin, while Ethan Hayter (Great Britain) hit a barrier and suffered a sore hand. Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden) saw his podium chances hindered by a slide-out in the closing technical section. Hayter lamented the low quality of the roads, stating that a significant portion of the course was difficult to judge accurately with the aid of cones.

Silver medallist Filippo Ganna (Italy) echoed these sentiments, expressing that he had hoped for better road conditions and that everyone would have benefited from a smoother ride. Even American Brandon McNulty, a former Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal winner, struggled with the demanding closing kilometres, finishing 12 seconds behind a medal.

The women's race also faced criticism from riders who tackled the longest time trial in the event's history. Spain's Paula Blasi, a breakout star, struggled with confidence and found the bumps and holes particularly challenging. Blasi, who crashed during reconnaissance of the course in June, felt that the memory of that crash exacerbated the difficulties posed by the road's condition.

She acknowledged that the flatter stretches offered some relief, but the technical opening still cost her valuable seconds, leaving her at 18th place. Blasi described the overall experience as mentally daunting, stating that she lost two to three seconds on every corner due to the poor road surface.