Wiggins baffled by U23 Worlds time trial, turns focus to road race support role: ‘The time trial just doesn't lie’

Ryan Gal (Netherlands) took gold in the 32.1km test through Montreal, with Nicolas Milesi (Italy) and Hector Alvarez (Spain) completing the podium. Wiggins finished 1 minute 7 seconds back, well outside the medals he'd targeted going in.

Wiggins had made no secret of his ambitions before the start. "I said I wanted to come here and go for gold or, at the very least, a medal," he told Cycling Weekly afterwards. The result left him searching for answers. "I'm very surprised, especially with the performance I've put in there," he said. "I've done some of my best numbers ever. Whether they're true, I don't know."

Asked directly what had gone wrong, he was blunt. "Yeah, to be honest, I have no idea," he said. "On the flat sections, I just felt like I was maybe a kilometre an hour or two off from where I'd want to be... so kind of across the whole course really. I don't know why that is."

He was careful not to look for excuses. "This isn't me making excuses," he said. "I'm just pointing out, I don't know. I'm a bit lost for words right now."

Wiggins won the British U23 time trial title this year, echoing his father's own national title, and has long been earmarked as one of the sport's best young talents against the clock. Monday's result won't change that focus.

"This is a discipline I'm really passionate about, and I'm never going to put it away," he said. "Back to the drawing board and we'll go again soon." He added: "The time trial just doesn't lie. The best guy wins on the day most of the time, so I like that. I know what I am capable of."

Wiggins is the only U23 time triallist in a five-rider Great Britain squad that also includes Jacob Bush, Mattie Dodd, Elliot Rowe and Will Smith. IDL Pro Cycling had the full squad breakdown when it was announced.

He won't be racing for himself in the road race on Friday. Instead, he'll ride in support of Elliot Rowe over 174.2km, on a route that shares the same Mont Royal finishing circuit, and its Camillien-Houde climb, as the elite races. It's a different job to the one Wiggins had lined up for himself three days ago, but one he's expected to take on regardless, as Great Britain looks to turn strength in depth into a result on the road.