World Championship roundup: Hushovd, Pooley and Bronzini.
Wow, what a World Championship. If you weren’t watching the women’s and men’s race roadside or live on TV, then go buy the DVD. Words simply cannot describe the action and excitement of the 2010 UCI Road World Championships in Melbourne.
Emma Pooley: Winning the world champion’s rainbow jersey in the women’s time trial caps a brilliant season for the 27-year old Cervélo TestTeam rider, who has also won Flèche Wallonne, the Tour de l’Aude and the Giro del Trentino in a breakout year. Pooley completed the 22.9 kilometre course in 32:48, 15 seconds faster than Judith Arndt of Germany.
Pooley was delighted afterwards, explaining that she had targeted this race specifically in training: “The Olympic Games is pretty special, but in a way, that was easier for me because I had no expectations and no pressure. This time it was different. I trained specifically for this, doing a lot of hill training and intervals on my time trial bike. Now I get to wear the world champion’s jersey with the stripes for a whole year.”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHRm0Vju5ic[/youtube]
What a brilliant season, congratulations Emma!
UCI World Road Race for the Elite Women and Men.
On paper, the Geelong course looked perfect for real race excitement, offering just enough opportunity for the attacking riders while still keeping the hopes of the sprinters alive. And so, it turned out to be. The race came down to a sprint both in the women’s and men’s race, but not until the very end did the sprinters have their chance.
In the men’s race, Norwegian Thor Hushovd gave Cervélo TestTeam its second Rainbow Jersey in the men’s road race. Hushovd, the Norwegian champion, dominated the bunch sprint at the end of a thrilling 267.2 km race, beating Denmark’s Matti Breschel and Australia’s Allan Davis in an uphill sprint.
“It’s hard to understand that I am the new world champion,” said Thor Hushovd . “It’s a dream. I’m speechless. Now I will enjoy every day on the bike with this jersey.”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2DRuqcyki0[/youtube]
Congratulations Thor from the whole team here at Castelli.
In the women’s race, Emma Pooley showed her usual feistyness. Pooley attacked repeatedly on the climbs, I’m sure the other girls must had been thinking that she didn’t like them, she just keept going on. There was never quite enough road for Pooley to escape, though it wasn’t for lack of trying.
My favorite Pooley moment came when she attacked on the climb, and overtook Katheryn Curi Mattis. Was the British tactic for Pooley score a Double Rainbow, or to make the race hard, and set up Nicole Cooke’s late attack? Either answer is possible, which ensured that no one could ignore Pooley’s attack.
Getting back to the sprinters. Giorgia Bronzini, she’s really fast. Try watching the YouTube video below, no wonder she already has a rainbow jersey in the Points race. In her post-race comments, Bronzini said she told herself, “wait, wait, wait,” and wait she did. Bronzini came off the wheel of Emma Johansson at the 50 meter mark and opened nearly a bike length on second placed Vos. IMPRESSIONANTE!!!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-tVArky9UQ[/youtube]
Giorgia Bronzini is the new Women Road World Champion! ‘Congratulazioni Giorgi’!!!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAo_8uR6Ck4[/youtube]
Dave (PBK) bumped into Giorgia Bronzini the following day after she won the Rainbow jersey.