TONY MARTIN: For me and the whole team, that was one of
the really big highlights at the end of this season, next
to the Tour de France.
So we really need to be in a high level now in September.
So it gives you also an extra push and also, as well, some
extra pressure.
So need to find a good way to handle this pressure.
And for me, it really worked out perfectly.
The pressure helped me to go on the limit and
even over the limit.
And I just found two perfect days.
Getting a strong team together in our team is not that hard
job, because when you see all the individual riders, they
are so strong, so it was more or less a hard decision who we
can take, because we have so many strong guys.
We made some tests on the race course.
We made some trainings, some measurements with
Specialized, as well.
And then we saw a lot of data.
And then it was on the trainers and the sport
[INAUDIBLE]
on the development team from Specialized to read this data
and find the best solution for the team.
And for me, at the end, we were together with the
strongest team.
We found also the perfect order.
It's always hard to say who has to start, who's the last,
who rides behind who.
So I think we made a perfect job.
And we just saw it last Sunday.
It worked out perfectly.
How does it work?
Who draws the unlucky straw of having to sit behind you?
Actually, it's harder to ride in front of me, because the
guy has to make a good lead going out of the lead.
And then I come into the lead, maybe accelerating
for one or two K's.
And he has to go into the slip stream again-- so accelerating
on the back again of the team.
And they are always on block-- and then try to recover in the
slip stream.
So I guess it's not an easy job.
Last Sunday, it was Peter Velits,
and he did it perfectly.
And he also survived with the four riders coming over the
line as the first.
And chapeau, was really nice job of him.
What does the bike do for you?
How does that factor into your equation of being able to
perform so well?
Yeah.
I think it's no secret that you really need the best
material to win a time trial.
With a shit frame or shit tires or bad wheels, you can't
win a time trial.
That's just simply the reality.
And especially, in this course, aerodynamic and
material was really important, because it was
a super fast course.
The average was almost 53.
So you need a really good, good material.
And yeah, Specialized, my staff, the mechanics did so
much work to develop the perfect set up for me.
And I really can say yesterday, I had the best set
up I ever rode.
For example, in the corners, you really need
to trust the tires.
You need to know that the you can go full gas into the
corners and you won't crash.
And I heard already yesterday crashed some guy--
so really scary.
But I trust the material 100%.
And I go full risk.
And you also can see it in the results.
Is the 58 tooth ring, is it to make sure
you've got the speed?
Do you ever spin it out?
Yeah.
Yeah, sure.
Especially, I have the gear for the distance.
So when you really go 65, 70 K's an hour, and you're still
able to pedal, it's a really good feeling.
And yesterday, while we had the good wind at the start,
even on the start, I was going more than 60 K's an hour.
So I'm also a guy that really like the big gears, especially
on the flat.
So it's just good to know that you have it on board.
Even when you just need it for 4 K, it can make the
difference.
So for me, it's the chain ring I always use in a time trial.
I went into the race with a strategy to make really my own
race the first half.
Don't look too much at the split times, for sure.
I've got the information, but when you're 10 seconds in
front, it can change in five K's that you are back again.
So for me, it made no sense to say, OK, I go now a little bit
easier or save some energy, and then you are behind maybe
Fabian or Bradley.
And [INAUDIBLE]
you have to go full gas to get the time back.
So I really stayed on my strategy the first half.
And when I heard it was 25, 30 seconds--
I could control a little bit the race.
Also don't take 100% risk in the corners.
So that maybe 10% of safeness.
Especially in the old town from Florence, I took it
really easy.
The corners were not that easy to take.
And I just tried to be safe that I don't crash or don't
hit a big stone or something else to get a puncture.
When did you know?
On the last four or five K's, when I was back on the river.
I had already [INAUDIBLE]
from Fabian.
And yeah, I was still going full gas for sure.
But I was pretty sure to win it.
And it always also takes some pain off the legs.
Because I was just with positive feelings, I knew that
I had the title again.
And it was a pretty nice last kilometers.