ANALYSIS - Stefan Küng: Switzerland’s Best Hope for World Championship Glory?

At 30 years old, Switzerland's Stefan Kung has built a reputation as one of the top time trial specialists in the world. Racing for Groupama-FDJ, Kung’s combination of power, endurance, and focus has made him a consistent threat in both time trials and the classics. And now, after winning his first individual Grand Tour stage earlier this month in the Stage 21 time trial of the 2024 Vuelta a España, Küng is riding a wave of confidence heading into the World Championships in Zurich this weekend.

With the event taking place on home soil, could this be the year Küng claims gold? Let’s take a look at his chances of claiming the rainbow jersey.

Kung’s World Championship Journey: Close but No Rainbow Jersey

Stefan Kung hasn’t always had the best of luck at the World Championships. Finishes of 3rd in 2020 and 2nd in 2022 saw him come agonizingly close to the coveted rainbow jersey, but not quite close enough. In 2020, Küng finished just 30 seconds behind Filippo Ganna, while in 2022, he led many of the pre-race favourites only to be edged out by the surprise winner, Tobias Foss, by a mere three seconds. Despite these near misses, Küng's resilience has shone through, and 2024 offers him his most exciting opportunity yet.

It won't be an easy ride for Küng on Sunday. He’ll face an elite field that includes defending world champion Remco Evenepoel, Italy’s multiple-time champion Filippo Ganna, the Wlesh prodigy Joshua Tarling, and the newly crowned European champion Edoardo Affini. Evenepoel has had a stellar year, winning not only the World Championship time trial in 2023 but also the Olympic Games time trial gold earlier this year. Ganna, meanwhile, remains a dominant force in the discipline, while Affini and Tarling are rising stars hungry for their own World Championship glory.

Yet, if Küng can summon the form he displayed in the Vuelta time trial, where he defeated Primoz Roglic to take a landmark victory, he could well find himself on the podium once again. Roglic will also be present, and the 2020 Olympic time trial champion is still an undeniable threat in this discipline.

The Course

The World Championship time trial course in Zurich will take riders on a 46.1km loop starting and finishing in the city. The route includes an elevation gain of just over 400 meters, making it relatively flat with some rolling terrain – a profile that favours pure time trialists like Küng, Ganna, and Evenepoel. The course winds from Zurich out to the small town of Monchaltorf and back, providing the perfect platform for those who excel at maintaining high power output and aerodynamic efficiency. The course is not overly demanding in terms of climbs, which might give riders like Küng an advantage over the general classification specialists who rely on climbing prowess.

The Home Advantage: A Swiss Crowd Behind Him

One factor that could tip the balance in Küng's favour is the home advantage. The Swiss rider is bound to receive immense support from the local crowd, which could provide the extra motivation he needs to deliver a performance for the ages. Küng thrives in high-pressure scenarios, and having the backing of his home fans might just spur him to ride the time trial of his life.

Can Küng Go for Gold?

Stefan Küng has a bronze and a silver medal to his name from previous World Championships, but can he turn that into gold in 2024? The competition will be fierce, and Küng will need to be at his very best to overcome riders like Evenepoel and Ganna. While he may not be the outright favourite, it would be unwise to count him out. If the top contenders falter, or if Küng produces a perfect ride, Switzerland could witness its star rider claim a historic win on home soil.

Küng's victory at the Vuelta shows that he has the form, and now it’s all about translating that into another top performance. A podium finish would already be a success, but a victory in front of a home crowd would be a dream come true.

This Sunday, all eyes will be on Zürich, and Stefan Küng is ready to deliver.