DAVID MILLAR'S first outing in British colours since he returned from a two-year drugs ban ended in disappointment as he finished 15th in the time trial at the World Championships in Salzburg.
The 29-year-old Scot was stripped of the 2003 world time-trial title when he admitted to using EPO to French police in 2004.
He struggled in his first attempt to reclaim the rainbow jersey, finishing three minutes, 21.99 seconds behind the winner, Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland.
Millar, whose first competitive outing after his suspension was the Tour de France, was in good form earlier this month when he won the long time-trial at the Tour of Spain.
But he was always behind the pace over the 50.83km loop from the north of Salzburg to Matsee, around the Obertrumer See and back again. He was over 35 seconds behind the best riders already on the course at the first split, 10.1km in, and despite a strong finish, he was never likely to trouble the podium.
There is no competition today but the women's road race is tomorrow afternoon, when Wales' Nicole Cooke bids to add gold to the silver and bronze she already owns.
Millar races on Sunday in the men's road race with fellow Britons, Roger Hammond and Russell Downing.
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