Mark Cavendish may be one of the world’s fastest men over a short distance but few can live with his Omega Pharma Quick-Step teammate Tony Martin’s ability to sustain a high speed over a longer period of time.

Glance through the 29-year-old’s results in the most significant time trials and they tell you everything you need to know.

The German has won the world title in the discipline for the past three years, clinched his third consecutive national national title on Friday, has tasted victory in two individual time trials at the Tour de France last year and 2011 and he would have won Olympic gold in between were it not for Sir Bradley Wiggins.

But there is much more to Martin than his superb ability against the clock. The winner of Paris-Nice in 2011 and the first two editions of the Tour of Beijing in the same year and 12 months later, Martin was on course to win the Tour of Switzerland earlier this month until he slipped to fourth in the overall standings on the final stage.