Is cycling going to get the leadership it deserves?

Yesterday, 2008 world road race champion Alessandro Ballan said, “…we could end up with a surprise winner.” Ballan should consider becoming a clairvoyant when his racing days are done. Today, Rui Costa (Portugal) surprised everyone, including himself, by winning the world road race championship.

Portugal's Rui Costa is the new World Champion.

Tony Martin (Germany) has won the world time trial championship for the third consecutive year. The man called der Panzerwagen (the tank) dominated today’s event on a flat, 56.8-km course from Montecatini Terme to Florence, Italy, leading at two of the three checkpoints en route to victory in 1:05:36. Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) finished second at 0:46, and four-time world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) took third at 0:48.

Germany's Tony Martin has won the elite men's individual time trial world championship for the third time in a row. Great Britain's Bradley Wiggins finished second and Fabian Cancellara third for Switzerland.

The UCI is awarding rainbow jerseys at the Road World Championships this week, but there are some riders who deserve one regardless.

Damien Howson (Australia) is the world under-23 time trial champion. Howson powered over the flat, 43.46-km course from Pistoia to Florence, Italy, winning the gold medal in 00:49:49. Yoann Paillot (France) took the silver at 0:57, and Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark) grabbed the bronze at 1:10.

Omega Pharma-Quick Step has successfully defended its world time trial championship. The Belgian squad beat back GreenEdge by an eyelash to win the gold medal on the flat, 56.8-km course from Montecatini Terme to Florence, Italy in 1:04:16.81. The Australian team settled for silver at 0.81, and Sky took the bronze at 22.85.

Specialized - Lululemon powers to victory in elite women's team time trial at UCI Road World Championships 2013.

Team Omega Pharma-QuickStep renews team time trial world champion status. Team GreenEdge and Team Sky Procycling complete complete podium in Florence, Italy.