“Ten to fifteen percent” – Stefan Kung explains dramatic impact of Kigali altitude on world championship performance

Remco Evenepoel stole the headlines on Sunday by winning his third straight world championship time trial title, emphatically overtaking Tadej Pogacar on the course in Kigali. Behind the Belgian’s victory, Switzerland’s Stefan Küng quietly battled to tenth place. For the former European champion and 2022 world silver medallist, it was a result that reflected not just his form but also the punishing conditions in Rwanda.

“To be honest, I haven't been feeling great for a while,” Küng admitted in an interview with Bistrot Vélo. Preparations for the World Championships, he explained, had been far from ideal. “My summer was quite difficult, and that's why I still feel like I'm a bit behind. It's hard to close that gap. I was hoping the Vuelta would be good for me, but like I said: when you're already a bit behind, it's difficult.”

Küng has long been a consistent figure in the discipline, with continental titles and podiums on his résumé. But this time he felt he could only squeeze the maximum out of his body. “I wasn't at my best. I got the most out of it with a top 10,” he said. Reflecting on what might have been, he added: “On a really good day, a medal would have been possible.”

Like many riders, Küng pointed to the altitude as a decisive factor in Kigali. “We can definitely feel the altitude here in the hotel. We're at 1500 meters, and even though it's not that high, you can definitely feel it.” The challenge was compounded by the conditions on the ground. “Especially if you have to put in a lot of effort. The air quality here isn't the best either. If you put in a lot of effort, you definitely feel it in your respiratory system,” he explained.

Kung should not feel disappointed, considering many other riders have been struggling too. In fact, many of the bookies had Tadej Pogacar as the favourite for the hilly time trial, but even the world’s best rider suffered an off-day on Sunday.

The physiological toll was significant, far beyond what most would expect. “We're not talking about one, two, or three percent, but rather ten to fifteen percent of what I can normally deliver in this timeframe,” Küng revealed. That gap between expected and actual performance made precise planning nearly impossible. “My coach sent me the pacing strategy. After I put in my first efforts here, I said we needed to adjust it. I was so far off my wattage that I had to go by feel. You really feel like you're not making any progress.”