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Aussie Jack Bobridge and American Kristin Armstrong won the men’s under 23 and women’s world time trial championships, respectively, Wednesday in Mendrisio, Switzerland, using the same course that the elite men will use Thursday.

Fabian Cancellara, heavy favorite in the elite men's road race. AFP photo.

OK, it’s in Switzerland and two-time world champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland has been gunning for this all year. So, can anyone stop him? Probably not. Bobridge said the course was harder than expected, not as suited for a big rider as had been advertised. The hills could work against Cancellara, but probably not. Big Fabian set his sights on the Tour de Suisse this year, winning both time trials and climbing well. The race is a matter of pride to him.

So, I can’t find anyone who has a good chance of beating Cancellara, though he will have two other guys with him on the podium. His closest rival could be Bradley Wiggins, who gave Cancellara a run for his money in both TTs at the Tour de France; if the hills are a factor, Wiggins could have an advantage. Saxo Bank’s Gustav Larsson of Sweden looked good here and said he was ready for worlds. He’d be a good choice, as would Great Britain’s David Millar, who won the final time trial at the Vuelta.  Marco Pinotti turned in a good performance in Sedalia, as did American Tom Zirbel. The hills could suit Tony Martin of German and Columbia-HTC, and Canadian Svein Tuft of Garmin-Slipstream fared well in the Branson time trial in 2008. He could find himself on the podium.

The organizers of the Tour of Missouri have said that the race is good preparation for worlds. It would help their case to see the podium populated with riders who competed here, rather than the Vuelta.