"We went through all the emotions this week: tears, hope and back" - Axel Merckx on Chloé Dygert's World Championships win

Axel Merckx, manager of Hagens Berman Axeon and partner of Chloé Dygert has detailed the difficulties which the American had to endure in her return to the top of road cycling and victory at the elite time-trial World Championships.

"It's something different, isn't it. I've had riders as world champions before, but this... I'm very happy for Chloé," Merckx told Sporza. "The last few years have been tough, physically and mentally. And she's been really sick the past few days. If you still win, it makes the victory all the more beautiful. We went through all the emotions this week: tears, hope and back. Chloé now has to stay healthy and this is hopeful for the future."

Canyon//SRAM had posted in the day of the race that Dygert had been ill throughout the week. She was one of the main favourites heading into the race, but her lack of time-trialing on the road in the pro peloton and her reported illness made it very difficult in the eyes of many to go for the title. With Marlen Reusser dropping out of the time-trial and far from her best level, it opened up the rainbow stripes for someone else. That was ultimately the 26-year old.

"She can get even better. Don't underestimate what she's been through. She has lost 3 years of competition and she still needs experience, especially with racing in Europe. Then I think about positioning and tactics." However in the time-trial she did not have to contest with that difficulty, and against the clock she was the fastest in Stirling. "But Chloé learns very quickly and she has that urge to win. What is my part? I support her, but above all I am happy for her."

On the road it is the biggest win of her career, having beaten Grace Brown by just 6 seconds on the line, the duo being significantly faster then the rest of the field. This was after having overcome years of physical problems and injuries which have widely kept her out of the mix in the Women's World Tour. "2 operations, glandular fever, heart problems. And I also have to thank knee surgeon Toon Claes. Without him, Chloé would never have been on stage," he concludes.