Tony Martin really can do a decent team time trial on his own

The team trial took place over the same course as the individual time trial. Based on his individual time, Tony Martin would have finished sixth in the team event. Being as it’s easier to cycle behind someone else – particularly at higher speeds – that’s an astonishing fact.

Tony Martin could compete as an individual in a team sport. Just think about that.

Martin won the individual world time trial by 46 seconds from Bradley Wiggins, who pipped Fabian Cancellara by two seconds. Team Sky’s Vasil Kiryienka was the only other rider to finish within two minutes of Martin.

There’s really not much to say about this. Tony Martin is a monster – a big-mouthed, genial sort of monster – but a monster nonetheless.