2013 road world championships: Tony Martin takes third consecutive time trial title

German powerhouse Tony Martin won his third consecutive elite men’s time trial world championship Wednesday, beating Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain by 46 seconds over the 56.8 course from Montecatini Terme to Florence in Tuscany, Italy. A further two seconds back was Swiss Fabian Cancellara rounding out the podium. The podium was an exact replica of the 2011’s in Copenhagen. Last year’s bronze winner Vasil Kiryienka of Belorus was fourth.

Martin set all the best times on the course save one as he drove to victory. The German already had garnered a gold medal at the 2013 Worlds in the team time trial with his Omega Pharma-Quick Step squad. Martin also won one of the two Tour de France chronos and the race against the clock in the Criterium du Dauphiné.

Wiggins, already a bronze medalist from Sky’s team time trial, had to overcome a 26 second deficit to Cancellara to grab his second ITT silver. Wiggins is enjoying a successful end of the season, having recently prevailed in his home tour.

Cancellara edged Martin in the recent Vuelta a España chrono, but the Swiss rider had to settle for his third Worlds bronze. Spartacus has four time trial world championships and an Olympic chrono gold medal on his palmares.

The Tuscany worlds takes a breather on Thursday before continuing with the junior women’s and under-23 men’s road races on Friday.