Geraint Thomas pulls out of Road World Championships time trial

Geraint Thomas (Photo by Bas Czerwinski/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By Jonny Long 2019-09-21T10:25:19Z

Geraint Thomas has pulled out of the UCI Road World Championships time trial event.

The Welshman said he is not in "good enough shape to perform to his best," and will therefore sit the event out, with British national time trial champion Alex Dowsett now set to be accompanied by John Archibald.

>>> UCI Road World Championships 2019 in Yorkshire: routes, TV guides, start lists

Thomas will still ride the road race for Great Britain, lining up alongside Ineos team-mates Owain Doull, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift and Mitchelton-Scott's Adam Yates.

"I've tried to get back into shape after my post tour break," Thomas said, "the decision was made...to skip the time trial and commit to the team for the road race."

The time trial event will take place on Wednesday 25 September, with riders setting off from Northhallerton and taking on the 54km-long course before arriving in Harrogate.

Four-time world time trial champion Tony Martin (Germany) will be one of the favourites for the title, as will hour-record holder and last year's Bronze medallist Victor Campenaerts (Belgium).

Primož Roglič will represent Slovenia while new 19-year-old European TT champion Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) could be a dark horse for the win, while Rohan Dennis will be looking to defend his title for Australia.

Jonny Long

Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races. I'm 6'0", 26 years old, have a strong hairline and have an adequate amount of savings for someone my age. I'm very single at the minute so if you know anyone, hit me up.

Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab, reporting about students evacuating their bowels on nightclub dancefloors and consecrating their love on lecture hall floors. I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).

I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.