Rohan Dennis successfully defends UCI Time Trial Title in Yorkshire

Rohan Dennis put a difficult period behind him in emphatic style on Wednesday as he dominated the Elite Men’s Individual Time Trial at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships

Dennis hadn’t competed since climbing off his bike mid-way through the 12^th stage of this summer’s Tour de France, but returned to action in a sensational manner to wrap up the rainbow jersey for a second successive year.

The 29-year-old Australian was the final rider down the start ramp in a packed Northallerton where crowds were literally five-to-six people deep along the High Street to cheer them away. Dennis managed to maintain an average speed of just under 50km/hr (31 m/hr) on the undulating 54km trek which took in iconic Yorkshire landmarks such as Ripley Castle, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden before arriving into an equally bustling Harrogate.

The noise was deafening as he raced up Parliament Street and that herculean effort saw him stop the clock with a time of 1hr 05min 5.35sec which ensured he romped to the top of the standings with a 1min 8.93sec advantage over 19-year-old Belgian sensation Remco Evenepoel. Italian Filippo Ganna finished a further 46.07sec back to round out the top three, with Alex Dowsett (+2min 1.77sec) claiming a top-five finish for Great Britain.

VIDEO: Men Elite ITT Highlights | 2019 UCI Road World Championships

Australia rider Rohan Dennis said: “I did a lot of work to get mentally prepared for today and I was confident in my ability. Once I got out there I was able to let my legs do the talking. I knew the pace I went out with [at the Championships] last year and just stuck on that. I was 20 seconds up at the first time check and knew I still had more to give and that I wasn't going to die on the climbs. It was perfect and the course today was awesome as well. We first saw it on Saturday and instantly loved it, so whoever designed it, thanks for that!”

2019 UCI Road World Championships Elite Men’s Individual Time Trial Top 10

1 Rohan Dennis (Australia) 1:05:05
2 Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) +01’08”
3 Filippo Ganna (Italy) +01’55”
4 Patrick Bevin (New Zealand) +01’57”
5 Alex Dowsett (Great Britain) +02’01”
6 Lawson Craddock (United States) +02’07”
7 Tanel Kangert (Estonia) ,,
8 Nelson Oliveira (Portugal) +02’09”
9 Tony Martin (Germany) +02’27”
10 Stefan Kung (Switzerland) +02’46”