The Cycliste Moderne, September 22, 2005

World Championship Preview

This weekend is the World Championships in Madrid. The race will give some professional the coveted rainbow jersey. However, due to the course as well as politics, it is unlikely that this year’s race will generate a truly compelling finish. That said, if you have broadband connection in the United States, you can stream the race at www.cycling.tv and find out for yourself.

The World Championship this year takes place primarily in central Madrid. The course is by no means flat, but it is not particularly challenging. As has frequently been the case in recent years, it is likely that the race will stay together for a sprint finish.

Last week’s final stage of the Vuelta a Espana covered much of the course that the racers will follow during Sunday’s race. That stage was won by Fassa Bortolo’s Alessandro Petacchi after a strong lead out by his team. The World Championship is, however, twice as long as last Sunday’s finale of the Vuelta. The 272km race will take the riders around the 21km course thirteen times.

In an apparent attempt to mimic the finish of the Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees, the Madrid organizers have placed the start/finish line in front of Real Madrid’s Estadio Bernabeu. However, the riders will race up the avenue to the final turn, make a hairpin turn and race the final 600 meters to the finish. The length of the race and the configuration of the final kilometer make it unlikely that any nation can control the race and set their leader up for the sprint finish.

There is infighting among the Belgians as Tom Boonen of Quick.Step is their best bet but selectors have filled the squad with riders from Quick.Step’s adversary, Lotto Davitamon. The Italians have only managed to be organized once in the last ten years, and that resulted in Mario Cippolini’s victory in Zolder, Belgium. Pettacchi is not likely to have the support that Cippolini did a few years ago. Spain is without its three time World Champion Oscar Friere who continues to suffer from physical problems that have severely limited his racing this year. The French do not have anyone who can win in a sprint. The Australians could have brought a really strong team, however, Stuart O’Grady is refusing to ride in support of Robbie McEwen due to their bust up during the Tour de France.

So who is going to win? Alexander Vinokourov. He is the most aggressive rider in the peleton this year. The Kazak national team does not have any of the infighting that the others do. He is not as fast as the sprinters but he could get away late in the race and solo to victory. If it ends in a sprint, I fear Australian madman Robbie McEwen will win. And that would just be bad.

World Time Trial Recap

The world championships in the Individual Time Trial were held on Wednesday and Thursday. Bobby Julich finished 11th in the men’s time trial and admitted afterwards that a full season of racing has left him with little in reserve at this point. Michael Rodgers of Australia won the men’s race. That is not a surprise as he won last year and was awarded the champion’s jersey the year before after David Millar admitted using EPO and was stripped of his title. Rodgers is a strong young rider and will likely be the first Australian to win a Grand Tour. However, the timing of the World Championships at the end of the season show how little value the strongest men in the world have of the races now. It is without a doubt that Ullrich, Armstrong and Basso are all better time trialists than Rodgers, however none of them have contested the time trial at the last few world championships.

The highlight of the time trials was the performance of Boise resident Kristin Armstrong performance in the women’s race where she led for much of the race only to be overtaken late in the day and finished third. She has had a strong season with excellent performances on the road and the track.

They Can’t All Just Get Along

I have been asked about the animosity among the various people and entities governing cycling in the world. I am not going to waste time on it now, but will shortly recap the behind the scenes politics that has been going on as the UCI, WADA, ASO, and other powerful entities in cycling have been battling it out. Needless to say, they are like a bunch of eighth grade girls.

Just Let It Go

Lance Armstrong was back in the news this week as his DOG had open heart surgery. I saw stories on various websites about the incident, including one that provided you with the ability to send A GET WELL CARD. It is time for Lancemania to end. Stop it. Stop it now.