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Kirchen, Grabsch and Rabon win National Time Trial Championships

June 27, 2008

High Road's Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg), Bert Grabsch (Germany) and Frantisek Rabon (Czech Republic) won their respective National Time Trial Championships today. The wins give High Road five newly crowned National Time Trial Champions in the last few days with Marco Pinotti winning the Italian Championships for the third time on Sunday and Linda Villumsen winning yesterday in Denmark.

Rabon won three Time Trial titles as a U23 rider but this is his first in the elite ranks. Rabon led from the start and finished 45 seconds ahead of the next rider on the flat 40km course.

"I felt really good and i think I had still good legs after Ster Electro in Holland," said Rabon. "We spent a lot of time on the front to defend Tony's [Martin] yellow jersey which gave me good power training for the time trial. I am very happy and I am looking forward to show myself next week in the Tour of Austria with the National Time Trial suit," he added.

Bert Grabsch won the German National Time Trial Championships for the second year running. He won by 17 seconds of Gerolsteiner's Stefan Schumacher.

I'm so happy for the win
"The first half of the year was not good for me," said Grabsch, "so I'm really happy with this win."

On the flat to undulating course, Grabsch said the wind was coming from the side and he finished the course with pain in his arms.

"I saw Sebastian Lang really early," he added, "and caught him 5km to go. I'm happy with the ride and now I hope for the Olympics."

Kim Kirchen won the Luxembourg edition for the first time. Kirchen has been twice National Road Champion, but this is his first National Time Trial victory. The victory continues the good form Kirchen displayed in the Tour de Suisse last week and bodes well for the coming Tour de France.