Kung’s World Championship Journey: Close but No Rainbow
Jersey
Stefan Kung hasn’t always had the best of luck at the World
Championships. Finishes of 3rd in 2020 and 2nd in 2022 saw him come agonizingly
close to the coveted rainbow jersey, but not quite close enough. In 2020, Küng
finished just 30 seconds behind Filippo Ganna, while in 2022, he led many of
the pre-race favourites only to be edged out by the surprise winner, Tobias
Foss, by a mere three seconds. Despite these near misses, Küng’s resilience has
shone through, and 2024 offers him his most exciting opportunity yet.
It won’t be an easy ride for Küng on Sunday. He’ll face an
elite field that includes defending world champion Remco Evenepoel, Italy’s
multiple-time champion Filippo Ganna, the Wlesh prodigy Joshua Tarling, and the
newly crowned European champion Edoardo Affini. Evenepoel has had a stellar
year, winning not only the World Championship time trial in 2023 but also the
Olympic Games time trial gold earlier this year. Ganna, meanwhile, remains a
dominant force in the discipline, while Affini and Tarling are rising stars
hungry for their own World Championship glory.
Yet, if Küng can summon the form he displayed in the Vuelta
time trial, where he defeated Primoz Roglic to take a landmark victory, he
could well find himself on the podium once again. Roglic will also be present,
and the 2020 Olympic time trial champion is still an undeniable threat in this discipline.
The Course
The World Championship time trial course in Zurich will take
riders on a 46.1km loop starting and finishing in the city. The route includes
an elevation gain of just over 400 meters, making it relatively flat with some
rolling terrain – a profile that favours pure time trialists like Küng, Ganna,
and Evenepoel. The course winds from Zurich out to the small town of
Monchaltorf and back, providing the perfect platform for those who excel at
maintaining high power output and aerodynamic efficiency. The course is not
overly demanding in terms of climbs, which might give riders like Küng an
advantage over the general classification specialists who rely on climbing
prowess.
The Home Advantage: A Swiss Crowd Behind Him
One factor that could tip the balance in Küng’s favour is
the home advantage. The Swiss rider is bound to receive immense support from
the local crowd, which could provide the extra motivation he needs to deliver a
performance for the ages. Küng thrives in high-pressure scenarios, and having
the backing of his home fans might just spur him to ride the time trial of his
life.
Can Küng Go for Gold?
Stefan Küng has a bronze and a silver medal to his name from
previous World Championships, but can he turn that into gold in 2024? The
competition will be fierce, and Küng will need to be at his very best to
overcome riders like Evenepoel and Ganna. While he may not be the outright
favourite, it would be unwise to count him out. If the top contenders falter,
or if Küng produces a perfect ride, Switzerland could witness its star rider
claim a historic win on home soil.
Küng’s victory at the Vuelta shows that he has the form, and
now it’s all about translating that into another top performance. A podium
finish would already be a success, but a victory in front of a home crowd would
be a dream come true.
This Sunday, all eyes will be on Zürich, and Stefan Küng is
ready to deliver.