There is no doubt that Ellen van Dijk is the best time trialist in the world. The Woerdense extended her world championship title in Wollongong last month and has also been the holder of the world hour record since May.

Unfortunately, she can only rarely show her rainbow jersey in competition, because there is almost never a time trial for women. Reason for Van Dijk to write an open letter to organizations this summer to do more time trials.

Her appeal was also signed by acclaimed time trialists such as Annemiek van Vleuten, Marlen Reusser, Lisa Brennauer and the world hour record holder for Van Dijk, Joss Lowden.

Outside of the National, European and World Championships, there is only one annual event where the time trial reigns supreme: the Chrono des Nations. Curiously, Van Dijk last attended this French time trial party in 2010.

Now faster than side

At that time she was seventh behind the American Amber Neben. Van Dijk was 1.18 minutes quicker than the 47-year-old American at Les Herbiers in western France’s Le Vendée region today.

Second was the Ukrainian Valeriya Kononenko with 1.06 ahead of Van Dijk.

Among the men, the top was somewhat more strongly represented. For the Swiss Stefan Küng, who long thought he would be world champion in Wollongong but ended up falling 0.03 seconds behind the surprising Tobias Foss, it was a chance to get revenge on the Norwegian from Jumbo-Visma.

It worked. After 45.43 kilometers, Küng was two seconds faster than Foss in Les Herbiers. Third was the Italian Matteo Sobrero.