Rabon won three Time Trial titles as a U23 rider but this is his first in the elite ranks. Rabon led from the start and finished 45 seconds ahead of the next rider on the flat 40km course.

"I felt really good and i think I had still good legs after Ster Electro in Holland," said Rabon. "We spent a lot of time on the front to defend Tony's [Martin] yellow jersey which gave me good power training for the time trial. I am very happy and I am looking forward to show myself next week in the Tour of Austria with the National Time Trial suit," he added.

Bert Grabsch won the German National Time Trial Championships for the second year running. He won by 17 seconds of Gerolsteiner's Stefan Schumacher.

"The first half of the year was not good for me," said Grabsch, "so I'm really happy with this win."

On the flat to undulating course, Grabsch said the wind was coming from the side and he finished the course with pain in his arms.

"I saw Sebastian Lang really early," he added, "and caught him 5km to go. I'm happy with the ride and now I hope for the Olympics."

Kim Kirchen won the Luxembourg edition for the first time. Kirchen has been twice National Road Champion, but this is his first National Time Trial victory. The victory continues the good form Kirchen displayed in the Tour de Suisse last week and bodes well for the coming Tour de France.

High Road’s Marco Pinotti won the Italian national time trial championships for a third time in his career on Sunday (June 22).

The 32-year-old stopped the clock for the 33 kilometer course in Montichiari, northern Italy, in 39 minutes 30 seconds,  1 minute and 22 seconds clear of runner-up Luca Celli.

"To be honest, I can’t say I was too surprised because I’ve never finished outside the top three of this particular event in the last five years." Pinotti said. "After finishing the Giro D’Italia, I’d continued to stay focused, doing a couple of races in Germany and then going training in the Alps with [Columbia team-mate Kanstantsin] Sivtzov."

"The course was quite technical, with a small climb about a kilometre long half-way through, and there were some long straights at the end, which helps to explain my high average speed." - an impressive 50.278 kmh.

"I found the heat was a real factor in this race - 35 degrees celsius. It wasn’t easy to concentrate."

 Pinotti came to check out the course - an hour’s drive away form his home - on the morning of the time trial, and to ride its full length before the race itself. His thorough approach paid off, and with a comfortable margin in the finale over his closest rival, Pinotti said he could even afford to ease up slightly in the closing kilometres and “not go at 100 percent” to cut down on the risks of crashes.

"There were no punctures and no technical problems, so I was pleased with how it went as a ride, as well as the result."

Of his three Italian national time trial wins - the previous two being in 2005 and 2007 - Pinotti says that "The first was definitely the most special."

"But even so, I think I can say that after taking the Giro time trial win [on the final stage] and then this one, I know I really can’t get any better in my own race against the clock."