Team Columbia’s Bert Grabsch gave the team its first rainbow jersey at
the world road race championships in Varese, Italy on Thursday, winning
the Elite men’s time trial with a perfect ride.

Grabsch was fourth in the world championships in Stuttgart last year
and 14th in the Beijing Olympic time trial but the 43.7km course around
Lake Varese really suited his powerful and aggressive style. He set a
time of 52:01, at an impressive average speed of 50.397km/h. Canada’s
Svein Tuft was second, 42 seconds slower, with David Zabriskie of the
USA third at 52 seconds.

Team Columbia had five other riders in the time trial: Tony Martin of
Germany finished seventh at 1:16, Australia’s Michael Rogers was 12th
at 1-33, Marco Pinotti of Italy was 13th at 1:34, Edvald Boasson Hagen
of Norway was 21st at 2:28, Adam Hansen of Australia was 34th at 3-49
and Frantisek Rabon of the Czech Republic was 38th at 4:01.

33 year-old Grabsch used his time trial experience to produce a world
title winning ride. He was sixth fastest at the first time split after
8km following the technical descent to the lake. He then powered round
the Lakeshore, moving up to second fastest after 20km, before taking
top spot after 35.5km. He then had the power and bike skills to finish
fastest in the centre of the Varese racecourse and take the world
title. 

Grabsch is current German time trial champion but was happy to pull the
rainbow jersey over his white, red ands black national colours. For the
next 12 months he can also proudly wear the rainbow jersey when he
rides time trials for Team Columbia.

“It was a perfect day for me. The course was perfect and the weather
was perfect. What else can I say when you become world champion. I’m
totally happy,” Grabsch said wit ha big smile.

“The course was fast and I did an average of over 50km/h. I’ve won
other races before at this speed. This course was very different to the
course in Beijing, the long climb was decisive in the Olympics but this
course was perfect for me, it was fast and I like it when it’s a fast
and not with a lot of climbing.”

Some people were surprised to see Grabsch win the world title but he
reminded everyone of his time trial pedigree and results.

“Last year I was good in every time trial I rode. I was fourth in last
year’s world championships and I won the Germany time trial
championships last year and this year.”

“I beat Stefan Schumacher to win this year and then he went on to win
the time trial in the Tour de France, so I know I’m strong. Of course I
didn’t believe I was going to win here. Without Fabian Cancellara in
the race it was wide open for everyone. It’s a big but very nice
surprise to be world champion.”