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Tobias Foss celebrates his victory
Photo: DEAN LEWINS/EPA
The Norwegian Tobias Foss won gold in the individual time trial at the start of the Road World Championships.
The 25-year-old prevailed on the 34.2-kilometer circuit in Wollongong in 40:02 minutes ahead of Swiss Stefan Küng (+2.95 seconds) and Belgian Vuelta winner Remco Evenepoel (+9.16).
With his tour de force in the Australian spring, 25-year-old Voss caused what is probably the biggest sensation since the time trial title of German outsider Bert Grabsch in 2008.
“This feels like a dream.
I can't believe it, it's so unreal.
I have to realize that first.
I would have been happy with a top ten finish,” said Foss.
The 25-year-old from Tour Champion Jonas Vingegaard's Jumbo Visma team has not yet won an international race apart from three titles at the Norwegian championships.
At the Tour de France he was not in the squad and at the Giro d'Italia he finished 54th.
The competition was also shocked: A video of Evenepoel making the rounds on social media, who didn't quite believe the news of the Norwegian's victory in the finish area.
“My legs were really good.
The course was demanding.
It was the perfect race for me,” said Foss, dethroning Filippo Ganna.
The Italian had won the title in 2020 and 2021 and actually wanted to take the next step to the record of Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara (both four titles).
Former Tour Champion Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) and the favorite Ganna only finished sixth and seventh.
Best of the two German pros was Nikias Arndt in 16th place (+1:43 minutes), Miguel Heidemann (+2:01) was 20th.
Bauernfeind takes bronze for Germany
Nevertheless, the German team could look forward to a successful start.
Ricarda Bauernfeind won bronze in the U23 class behind Italian winner Vittoria Guazzini and Dutchman Shirin van Anrooij.
“It's something completely new for me to stand on the podium at a world championship.
I didn't really expect to win a medal.
Top 5 would have been nice," said Bauernfeind, who was the first starter on the course and thus virtually opened the World Championships.
At the World Championships in Australia, medals were awarded in the U23 class for the first time.
The riders started as part of the women's time trial, which Ellen van Dijk from the Netherlands won in 44:28 minutes.
For the 35-year-old, it was the third title after 2013 and 2021. Second and third place went to Australian Grace Brown and European champion Marlen Reusser from Switzerland.
mfu/sid/dpa