"I wanted to throw up on the bike" - Jan Christen battles through illness to take bronze in U23 World Championship time trial

In Monday's under 23 World Championship time trial, Switzerland's Jan Christen took a very creditable bronze medal in front of his home fans in Zürich.

As it turned out, Christen needed all the support from those Swiss supporters as the 20-year-old of UAE Team Emirates battled not only against the clock and against his rivals, but also through illness that made the young talent feel far from his best level. "Maybe I ate something wrong, I don't know," he says in conversation with Blick afterwards. "I wanted to throw up on the bike."

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The pain could be seen clearly etched all over Christen as he crossed the finish line and collapsed onto the tarmac completely exhausted and having emptied his entire tank in the quest for the Rainbow Jersey. "When you're so tense and can't breathe properly, things like this can happen," notes Swiss national coach Bruno Diethelm.

With Christen sat in third as pre-race favourite Alec Segaert neared the finale, things began to get nervous in the tent. "I was extremely tense, but I noticed that his legs were getting heavier and heavier," says Christen honestly. "I was shaking, but now I'm overjoyed."

The 20-year-old will now have to refocus and recalibrate his goals before the upcoming under 23 road race in Zürich, where another Rainbow Jersey will be on the line. "I'm even happier that I now have a medal in my pocket. I have nothing to lose on Friday, I'm going to attack fully," he concludes. 

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