'I'm here to stay': Rohan Dennis says change in mentality delivered World Championships victory
Australian says he has learned to be more positive during his stint away from racing following Tour de France abandonment


Rohan Dennis says it was a change in mentality that drove him to a second World time trial title in Yorkshire, saying he has learned to be more positive since his mysterious Tour de France abandonment in July.
The Australian left the Tour on stage 12 and hasn't raced for his Bahrain-Merida team since. In the time away, he has been working towards defending his time trial title at the Road World Championships and says his work with a sports psychologist was key in his emphatic victory.
>>> Five talking points from the Yorkshire World Championship elite men's time trial
Dennis lined up for his turn on the 54km course from Northallerton to Harrogate in his Aussie national skinsuit and on an unmarked BMC Timemachine time trial bike. He started blisteringly fast and eventually finished over a minute ahead of second place Remco Evenepoel (Belgium). Dennis celebrated across the finish line knowing he had claimed his second rainbow jersey.
"All the hard work and all the hard times have been worth it," Dennis said following his victory, "so I'm very, very happy with everything.
"There's been a lot of work done off the bike mentally to get me prepared just to line up here, let alone win," he explained.
"So really, it's a reminder that it wasn't just my body, my body was always good. It was a lot of work off the bike from my sports psychologist, David Spindler and almost a bit of a thank you as well for what he had done for me.
"[He got] me to believe and be more confident and not be so negative in my head, to be more positive about the good things that are going on in my life."
Such was the power and confidence in Dennis's performance, he passed two extremely talented time triallists in Hour Record holder Victor Campanaerts (Belgium) and Vuelta a España winner Primož Roglič (Slovenia) on the course, though Campenaerts had suffered a crash.
Dennis identified though that it had not been until very recently, earlier this month in fact, that he had gained his confidence back ahead of the race. He added that he is ready to continue to push himself in the sport following his time away, with an eye on the Tokyo Olympics time trial in 2020.
"To be exact the 15th of September," Dennis said of regaining his confidence. "I had a good training session. We mimicked last year's preparation training session and we bettered it, comfortably. So that's when my confidence really came back.
"I'm confident in myself. I'm confident that well, basically I'm here to stay," he added. "I'm here to continue to win and continue to basically push to be the best in the world. Not just for the next 12 months but in the future as well.
"So for myself, yes, I know I will be here for a lot longer. I'm not going anywhere."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
-
Notio Aerometer review - a portable wind tunnel
For time triallists serious about aero optimisation, the Notio is a good investment - but to get the most out of it you need time as well as money
By Tom Epton • Published
-
Tour de France bikes: winning machines from the last ten years
Nine of the ten bikes came from Italian manufacturers
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
Stirling to host time trials at the 2023 World Championships
Central Scottish city to host time trial events at first multi-event worlds
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Road World Championships 2022 route announced: Australia races to suit puncheurs
The local loop takes in a brutally steep climb every lap to whittle down the field
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar adds World Championships and Giro d'Italia to his wish list but is not done with the Tour de France
The Slovenian says he's still hungry to win at the Tour despite his dominance over the last year
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Jasper Stuyven has his say on Belgian storm after World Championships
'All of a sudden we’re so stupid' says Stuyven after his fourth place in Leuven
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'The girls who were still there can blame themselves': Annemiek van Vleuten critical of team-mates at World Championships
Demi Vollering was due to be a key rider for the sprint but didn't have the legs after multiple mechanicals
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'Remco Evenepoel was the best man in the race after Julian Alaphilippe': Lefevere baffled by Belgian tactics at World Championships
The Deceuninck - Quick-Step boss is happy to keep the rainbow jersey in the team but questions the Belgians' ride
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Road World Championships 2021: Strava data shows brutality of race around Flanders
Remco Evenepoel, Michael Valgren, Dylan van Baarle and more posted their rides to the site
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Thomas Voeckler: 'We wanted to attack earlier than everyone else at Worlds so they would think we were idiots'
French boss happily accepts fine for coaching Julian Alaphilippe when it wasn't permitted
By Richard Windsor • Published