Cycling: World champion stands in Boardman's way

Britain's former world cycling time-trial champion, Chris Boardman, must beat the reigning champion, Alex Zulle of Switzerland, in San Sebastian, Spain, today if he is to reclaim his crown.

Zulle won last year's title in Lausanne 10 days after winning the Tour of Spain and he goes into today's 11 days after victory in the same event.

The 29-year-old Swiss rider was forced to retire from the Tour of France in the summer when he fell on his broken collar-bone. But the lay-off has helped him finish the season fitter than most riders, and he said: "I've come here to win. I don't want another season like that but the rest did help."

Russia's Viacheslav Ekimov, another major contender, may not be fit after a training crash which left him needing six stitches in his scalp.