Swiss Cycling has announced its four-man line up for the World championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, later in the month. The team will be led by four-time World time trial champion Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) and Vuelta a España stage winner Michael Albasini (HTC-Highroad). They will be joined in the team by Martin Kohler (BMC Racing) and Gregory Rast (RadioShack)
With the race expected to come down to a bunch sprint, neither of the four riders will start the race as favourite, although any of them could win the race should a breakaway group manage to stay away.
Cancellara will start the time trial on September 21st as one of the overall favourites. The Swiss powerhouse already holds the outright record for time trial titles with four, winning every year since 2006, except 2008 when he didn’t compete, and will be odds on to add an unprecedented fifth title. ‘Spartacus’ has been less than invincible against the clock this season though, having been beaten on four occasions, including at the Tour de France where he only finished eighth behind Germany’s Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad).
Martin also beat Cancellara into fourth place at the recent Vuelta a España, with the German champion taking 1’27” out of the World champion over 47km. Cancellara quit the race early to work on his time trial condition however, and so will certainly arrive in Copenhagen in to form.
As Swiss champion, a title he took in the absence of Cancellara, Kohler will also ride the time trial.
Swiss Cycling will announce the elite women’s line up on September 14th.
Swiss team for the World championships (Elite men)
Michael Albasini (HTC-Highroad), Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek), Martin Kohler (BMC Racing) and Gregory Rast (RadioShack)
Cancellara and Kohler will also ride the time trial