Stefan Küng suspected the brand new UCI guidelines relating to time trial set-ups would play in his favour, and the Swiss star acquired emphatic affirmation with victory on the ultimate stage of the Volta ao Algarve.
Küng altered his place over the winter after the UCI modified its stipulations for time trial handlebar extensions to permit for better selection in response to peak. Standing greater than 190cm tall, Küng already had dispensation for the utmost stage of horizontal attain, however now has a 40% improve in vertical attain.
The earlier rule restricted the peak distinction between the midpoint of the forearm assist and the highest tip of the extensions to 100mm for all riders, no matter dimension. However riders have now been divided into three peak classes, with these over 180cm getting 120mm of vertical distinction, and people over 190cm having fun with 140mm.
“This lets you shut the hole out of your fingers to your face,” Küng instructed Cyclingnews, placing it in layman’s phrases.
“It is extra aerodynamic like this. You see with Remco Evenepoel, he might already do that as a result of he is so small. Now it ranges the enjoying discipline a bit extra.
“We spent loads of time on it within the wind tunnel and we have been capable of get some positive aspects out of it, that is for positive. It is a bonus already.”
Küng initially did not appear too happy together with his journey on the ultimate day of the Volta, noting that the primary time trial of the season is at all times a shock to the system. Nonetheless, as he watched the likes of Filippo Ganna and Tobias Foss roll residence exterior his time, he was capable of take nice coronary heart from the day.
“It was actually tough, the primary TT of the season. Now we have the brand new place and it is a laborious one to get into the season,” he stated earlier than his victory was confirmed.
“Sadly, within the recon, the course was not closed so the left-hander with 5km to go on the roundabout, I nearly did not take it. It was actually troublesome however total I feel I did a great time trial.”
Ultimately, Küng’s storming time catapulted him 13 locations up the final classification and he completed the race fifth total.
“It is at all times good to have a great end result on GC right here in Algarve to start out with,” he stated. “This race was good preparation for me for the Classics and now I positively really feel extra prepared for the Classics than earlier than.”
