The Panzerwagen rolls on

Tony Martin’s third consecutive victory in the world time trial championships should earn a nod of approval from all cycling fans. Anyone who has ridden a bike will appreciate the power required to turn a 58-11, much less race on it, as Martin did at last year’s Criterium du Dauphine. Victory last Wednesday was achieved with similar application of force, leaving silver medalist, Bradley Wiggins, to observe that no one could compete with Martin in his best form.

The admiration of the Olympic time trial champion speaks volumes about Martin’s quality. His world titles have been won at the expense of Wiggins and Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara, whose four years in the rainbow stripes Martin looks almost certain to equal. Quite, clean, and ferociously powerful, the Panzerwagen gets on with his job with a minimum of fuss, whether it be for himself and for Germany, or for Omega Pharma-Quickstep. He is a credit to cycling.