Foss: 'Grateful to have experienced this year as world champion'
Tobias Foss wore the rainbow jersey for the last time at the Tour de Pologne - for now. The 26-year-old Norwegian describes his year as world champion as a rollercoaster ride. "It has been a life-changing experience for my family and me", he says.
A top-five finish seemed realistic when he was preparing for the time trial in Wollongong last year. "But whoever can ride in the top five can also finish on the podium. And whoever's on the podium might as well win", Foss says almost a year after his spectacular victory in Australia. It turned out to be the ride of his life. "I had cracked the code of a good time trial for a while. I had a good base level all season and always finished in the top ten. Anything is possible when you have a great day at a World Cup, as I did. I am very grateful that I was able to do that."
"I'm sure this bike will be one of my career's most special tangible memories"
Foss describes the year that followed as surreal and a rollercoaster. "I enjoyed it immensely and am very grateful that I could experience it. It was a life-changing experience for me and my family. The first time I could put the jersey on in training was extraordinary. And then the bike itself... Cervélo has done something incredible. I'm sure this bike will be one of my career's most special tangible memories."
The only blemish on this extraordinary year? "That I was not able to win a race in the rainbow jersey", Foss says. "I reached my level in the time trials I rode. At the Tour de Romandie, I was second in the prologue. I rode a decent time trial in the Tour of Algarve and the Tour de Pologne. But it was not an easy season. After contracting covid in Romandie, I could not train for a month. I also missed the Giro d'Italia. It really wasn't an easy time. Luckily I had Robert Gesink around me, who was in the same situation. That made it a bit more bearable."
From June, the world time trial champion was able to build up to the final part of the season, which started in Poland. "It's good to have the Tour de Pologne in my legs. There is enough time to recover before the World Championship." A World Championship in which he will focus exclusively on the time trial on August 11. "I'm confident about my form: I will be there. The course is hilly and not too technical. The long distance suits me. Even if it's not any more on my special rainbow bike, I'm looking forward to it."
