Ullrich
unstoppable
By Stephen Farrand and Lionel Birnie. Pictures by Phil O'Connor and
Graham Watson
FOLLOWING his domination of the Vuelta, Jan Ullrich cleaned up
in the time trial at the World Championships.
The German wunderkind won the elite 50.6-kilometre time
trial in a time of 1-00-28, riding at an average of 50.209kph. Michael
Andersson (Sweden), riding for Acceptcard this year, was a surprise second
in a time of 1-00-42, with Chris Boardman (Great Britain) third in 1-01.27.
Chris Newton finished in 44th place in a time of 1-05-59.
Ullrich looked frighteningly powerful on his pink Pinarello as he powered
round the course. It is the same bike he used to win the time trials in
the Tour de France in 1997 and the final time trial at the Vuelta. He
also used the same gears - a 54 chainring combined with an 11 to 19 block.
The only new additions were the special Continental tyres, filled with
helium and pumped to 13 atmospheres. To help avoid the risk of puncturing,
friends and workers of the Pinarello company spent the morning sweeping
every corner of the TT course.
1.
Jan Ullrich (Germany) ............ 1-00-28
2. Michael Andersson (Sweden) ....... 1-00-42
3. Chris Boardman (Great Britain) ...... 1-01-27
4. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lativa) ........ 1-01-32
5. Melchor Mauri (Spain) ............. 1-01-47
6. Serguei Gonchar (Ukraine) ......... 1-01-47
7. Gilles Maignan (France)............ 1-01-54
8. Erik Dekker (Holland) ............. 1-02-09
9. Jens Voigt (Germany) ............. 1-02-13
10. Alex Zulle (Switzerland) ............ 1-02-14 44
44. Chris Newton (Great Britain) ..... 1-05-59
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