The Build Up

"In the last week [of the Vuelta] I started to feel really good and the stage win was a big boost for me," he said. "I went there with virtually zero form and in the Pyrenees I suffered terribly, but then gradually things started picking up for me.

"I was obviously disappointed not to get a time trial win, but I'm pleased with the way my form has improved.

"My condition is how I wanted it, so now I can focus on the world [championships]. My big goal of the season is the world championships.

The Equipment

Millar went from Spain to Manchester, where he spent a few days testing a new carbon time trial bike; which may have been inspired by the memory of the equipment failure that, in July, cost him the prologue time trial and the first yellow jersey of the centenary Tour de France.

In Hamilton today he rode the first road version of the revolutionary GB Carbon Track bike, which the GB track team have all used for the last 18 months. Millar’s bike features a few obvious changes such as the addition of brakes, gears and cables, but it combines lightness and remarkable stiffness and an extremely high quality finish.

"I'm really nervous now and it feels as if my head is about to explode; all this waiting is a nightmare. Everything is OK though and I got my TT helmet today. It's got an amazing spray design on it done by Carl Hodgson, it looks so sweet but I'm not going to describe it, you'll have to wait and see." (It's Millar Time Website)

The Result

"Everyone expected me to win, but I was scared to death. "I was terrified I would lose. The rainbow jersey is something I've wanted for a long time."

"It's a huge satisfaction to win - I've waited for so long for this, so I'm really happy," said Millar.

"What happened in the TdF prologue was really tough on me," admitted Millar, who says he is doubly determined for the Athens Olympics next year."I want to give some kudos to this jersey because I feel like I've been one of the most consistent time triallers out there."And I wanted to be on the start ramp for the Olympics next year as the reigning world champion."

Courtesy Cofidis and Graham Watson

Millar 2003

Winner - Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen  (prologue)
Winner - Overall - Tour de Picardie
Winner - 19th Stage Tour de France
Winner - Stage 4 Vuelta a Burgos
Winner - Stage 17 Vuelta a España 2003 (pictured above)
Winner - TT World Championships Hamilton

OTHERS ON MILLAR

"If he wasn't a cyclist he'd be a rockstar." --Lance Armstrong, US Postal

"I get many thanks with Cofidis. Millar and the Belgians are always overflowing with their gratitude." --Bingen Fernandez, Cofidis

Millar was "wasting his talent. I'm sorry for him. We've thought about him, never hassled him, but what really hurts me is that he doesn't think about himself." --François Migraine, Cofidis boss

"There's a whole romantic side to cycling, it's a do-or-die sport." -- David Millar

"David Millar burst onto the racing scene as a raw talent when he won the TT prologue of the Tour de l'Avenir, aged just 20 years old. Since then, in spite of considerable success, there is still the feeling that Millar has not quite lived up to his considerable talent. However, he rode a mature Vuelta (getting a great road victory when he realised that Nozal was not to be denied in the TT events) and will come out of the Vuelta in great shape for the Worlds..." --podofdonny, Daily Peloton 2 October 2003