Harrogate (United Kingdom) (AFP)

Second title for Rohan Dennis: the Australian remained master of the time trial in the World Cycling Championships in Yorkshire on Wednesday, but the threat of the young Belgian Remco Evenepoel (19) is already in the lead.

To see the pout of the Belgian phenomenon, dispossessed of the first place at the arrival of Dennis, it is only a matter of time. The future belongs to this runner who never ceases to amaze cycling. Junior World Champion last year, he became Harrogate (England) the youngest medalist in history in the World Time Trial.

Evenepoel, European champion last month, lost to a specialist rider this time, a regular at the Worlds, which Dennis has been fighting every year since his first year in the elite (2013). At the end of 54 kilometers, the gap was 1:08, although the Australian was visibly relaxed in the final victory.

The now double world champion, since he had already imposed last year by a margin comparable to Innsbrück (Austria), has returned by the big door. He had not raced since his retirement from the Tour de France on the eve of the Pau time trial, which had caused misunderstanding even in his trademark team (Bahrain-Merida).

"I went through complicated times, there was a lot of talk since the Tour," Dennis admitted. In conflict with his employer, he played the "chrono" of the Worlds without the equipment of his usual team, starting with the bike. But he wanted to mark his mental strength, an area he says he had worked during this troubled period: "I wanted to show that I still loved my sport."

- "Awesome!" -

Since the Tour, the former record holder of the hour has devoted himself to training. With, in a line of sight, the Mondials in Yorkshire which, Wednesday, were spared mostly by the rain: "I wanted to defend my title."

The line crossed, Dennis, whose future is dashed although he is still under contract with Bahrain-Merida until the end of 2020, let himself go to the emotion. He found his companion and his child, before getting on the podium and find Evenepoel, finally smiling, like the third, the Italian Filippo Ganna.

The other two favorites had various fortunes but followed in the standings. The Belgian Victor Campenaerts, the current record holder who was in pace to reach the podium, lost all chances after a fall. The Slovenian Primoz Roglic, who had dominated the recent Vuelta clock but a shorter distance, was outflanked.

"I did not train for such a long time," said Roglic, who finished 12th, just behind Campenaerts. Both were dubbed by Dennis, who came in last.

Winner at the average of 49.778 km / h, the Australian was obviously invited to comment on Evenepoel's performance. "I hope he can wait a few more years," he replied, laughing at Belgian Flemish television. "But, in a word, it's impressive!"

French side, Pierre Latour ranked 18th, Benjamin Thomas 28th. Away from the stated goal of integrating the top 10.

© 2019 AFP