Men’s Elite Road Race Championship
September 27, 2009; by Larry Hickmott
Report
The winner after an awesome show of strength and attacking style on the final climb was Aussie Cadel Evans.
Former Aussie Mountain Biker turned Grand Tour contender, Cadel Evans, is the 2009 World Road Race Champion after he showed the world what a real attacking style can yield as he powered away from the world’s best on the climbs he knows very well from living in the area of Mendrisio. It was the culmination of an attacking race where the GB team had some awful luck but showed great team spirit and promise for the future aim of a Gold medallist in this men’s road race. Evans had attacked on the final climb and held off the chase from behind to win alone with the silver being won by Russia's Alexandr Kolobnev in a sprint finish with Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez.
Evans win came after a long race of almost 7 hours and an even longer day for riders and support staff. The GB team have been working on getting it right in this race all year in a project by Rod Ellingworth but they didn't count on the awful luck that David Millar had in the race and after he retired, the team went to plan B and with six riders still in the bike event, they got behind Steve Cummings who was right in the bike race until a few laps out when the key selection was made.
The day for GB started very early, 5am for some, and every one of the staff was kept very busy indeed looking after the needs of the riders. We arrived on at the team bus at 8am and with staff having to get themselves into the two pits around the course whilst contending with some Swiss inefficency in controlling the race course, the time between arriving and race start went very quickly. I watched as one of the mechanics, Rajen, gassed the tyres and explained that even a modern tyre will lose some pressure in a race lasting seven hours.
Whilst the public flooded into the car park supposedly reserved for teams causing chaos, the GB riders arrived and went straight into the team bus. The next time I saw them was in an equally chaotic podium area where they signed on. The first few teams signed on and did as they were instructed, ie, line up for the media for photos, but then with 30 minutes to go, and lots of teams still to sign on including the Brits, it became one mad rush to sign on and then be ready for the call to the line.
Some how, everyone managed it and at 10.30 the race began and I then spent the next seven hours with a camera in my hand, taking little trips forward in the press bus and photographing the race from different parts before returning to the photographers 'cage' at the finish area. This is where we photograhers had to stand in the one spot for the next hour and a half to be ready for the finish line celebration that never was with the sun doing its best to ruin everyone's photos.
The World Road Championships was over and for the British team, no medals but plenty of promising race efforts that showed across all categories and disciplines, the team have contenders for all the road events and with time and planning, it will be a British rider wearing a rainbow jersey again just like Nicole Cooke did this year.
Photos (high-res slideshow)
Just one example of how GB worked together as Ben Swift works with Steve Cummings in the closing laps.
Alexandr Kolobnev wins the Silver medal after a sprint with Joaquin Rodrigue.
Lots more photos after the post race reactions below.
Post Race Reactions
David Millar: “It was awesome to be out there in what felt like a top pro team. When I couldn’t hold on any more we still had six guys in there, it was crazy and they were working so well. I didn’t have to ask for anything which made me feel worse but these things happen.”
“They were always around me and offering me food or drink. The radios didn’t work that well so we were just riding on experience and how we do things. It bodes well for the future that is for sure and that is what this year and today was about – building for the future. It is just a shame I couldn’t deliver the goods. If I’d done that, it would have been a perfect day.”
David Millar, blood coming out of a wound on his knee on a spare bike and a spare wheel after puncturing. A day to forget for the Grand Tour stage winner.
David explained that his crash came about when he was eating and had his hands off the bars. “A bunch of guys went down in front of me and I went straight into them and banged my kneecap pretty hard. Then I had to change my bike two laps later and then I punctured two laps later on the descent, it was just one of those days you just don’t want to have”.
“All the guys were awesome though. We all went out there to do what Rod had told us to do and I think the race today was great to see how we operated. The whole atmosphere we have got and the spirit we have is the biggest reward we have for the work today and I think in the years to come, we’ll deliver, be it with Cav (Mark Cavendish) and I think Swifty in the future to be honest as well.”
Roger Hammond: “Steve had a good day and did a good ride. We always had a plan B because coming out of the Vuelta it is always a bit hard to predict. I just felt crap all day but it just didn’t seem to get any worse.”
Geraint Thomas: The Welsh rider got himself into a key move with the Italians who were banking on the move with defending champion Ballan, staying away. “My legs just went bang on the climb with about three to go. Up that steep berg the lights went out and I think I’m lacking some racing miles this year. I have only had about 30 days racing but I was in decent shape and got in the move.”
“It is the start of trying to win the worlds as a team and it went well. We had some bad luck for Dave and Ian but we have a good squad of riders and we’re building for the future and we also still have Brad (Wiggins) and Mark (Cavendish).”
Asked how he got into the break, “I saw it going over the climb and it was my job to get stuck in at that time of the race so I went across to it. I tried not to do too much and sort of stayed in there as long as I could but ended up blowing a bit soon.”
“I have got better on the climbs as the year has gone on, a bit lighter, stronger and especially as I haven’t ridden the track for a while, I haven’t put on any muscle weight on the upper body and that has helped. I have worked hard for this and I have a lot to look forward too next season.”
Steve Cummings was another of the team who praised the riders who were working for him in the race and afterwards explained that without a Grand Tour in his legs, he really felt it over the final two laps. Steve added that it was the first time this year that he felt part of a team and that the race was that much more enjoyable because of that, especially racing with many of his friends. Steve took over the leader on the road role after Millar’s misfortunes after his initial role was to be there for Millar with between four and two laps to go.
Russell Downing: “It was very tough out there which we knew it would be. My job was too look after Dave and I did that. I went back to the car for example and got a musette and then got that to him before the climb and then he crashed at the top of the climb and we went back and got him and I never got back on after that and the race was on. The legs weren’t amazing today but we were there to do a job so I did that and it was good”
Above: Russell Downing
Ian Stannard: “I was there to look after Steve and make sure he had everything he needed for the first bit of the race and I did that. Then Dave had a crash so I waited for him and was struggling a little bit after that. I then rolled a tub on one of the corners and crashed and then I was struggling to get back on as they were starting to go full gas and then I had a little accident with the team car and crashed again and slid 200 metres on my bum as well as hurting my knee”.
Dan Lloyd: “It was hard out there on a super hard course. We didn’t get out of it what we wanted to get out of it but we all rode pretty well for the cause and sacrificed our chances for the team leaders. I think there were a few more attacks at the start than you would normally get at a World Championships and there seemed to be a lot more people than normal keen to get into the early move.”
Chris Froome: “The World Champs is a special race and it’s pretty much on it all day for 260k. As a team, the GB team rode so well as a unit. Everyone rode for each other and were doing their job and when there were problems, we dealt with them on the road. I think one by one we all started to go but that was how it was planned. Steve was the last one up there and his condition was excellent.”
“My job was to be there between 120 and 200k and protect Dave and Steve and keep them as far forward as possible. I was hanging round Dave a bit more today, changed his wheel for him at around 200k and then blew myself after about 240. Steve did a great ride who just missed the final selection. It was the start of great things for team GB.”
Ben Swift: “My job started from 140k to 180k but I was there for a bit longer and I gave it everything. I was working for Dave early on and then he made the call that he didn’t have the legs so then it was everything for Steve. I was starting to die each time up the climbs so I knew I had one last effort so I got on the front with about three to go and did as much as I could before we hit the climb and then that was it.”
Ben was fourth in the Under 23’s last year and asked to compare the two races, he says “it was just totally different, a whole level up. The race really hadn’t started at 180k (the distance of the U23) even though it was hard. It was even better than being in a pro team in some respects.”
Dan Craven: Okay, he wasn’t riding for GB but the Namibia/Rapha Condor rider was racing for his home country and I caught up with him when he was chatting to Chris Froome after the race. “It is the first time that Namibia had qualified so it was a great experience. My form wasn’t 100 per cent and I had no idea what was going to happen. I got to 190k and I started to cramp but I am happy. It wasn’t fantastic but it was a decent ride. It was very different to what I have been riding this year like the Premiers but I did ride the Tour of Ireland and Britain which was great. My form just hasn’t worked out this year.”
More Photos (high-res slideshow)
Angela sorting the food into ice boxes at 8am before the riders arrive.
Norway in good spirits at sign on. It all started very well with teams posing for the media but the last half an hour that all disappeared and riders signed on and got off stage as quick as they could.
The start of the championship road race for Elite men
The first early break that stuck goes clear and is pictured on the first climb
A chase group is pictured close to making the junction with the leaders.
Early days and the bunch is enjoying the sunshine on a course which had a lot of empty barrier space.
Australia on the front of the peloton and causing some damage chasing the leading group.
Russell Downing following David Millar on the second climb on the circuit
The peloton from above with Norway up the front
Dan Craven slides past my fisheye lens with Geraint Thomas just behind
Top of the second climb on the circuit and Boasson Hagen is one of three Norwegian riders at the front of the peloton.
Team GB UCI team car slips by on the climb.
Geraint Thomas gets himself into a chase group late in the race which caught the break but then split and Geraint stayed with the leaders until the lights went out on his legs.
An Austrian rider high fives the crowd after being dropped
The view I had sitting on top of the climb, trying to make sure I got photos of all the GB riders and the action as well as downloading photos to the laptop as I did so to save some time later.
Above: Ian Stannard fell twice within 13 kilometres - now that is bad luck!
The Spanish team fight there way back to the peloton enmass behind their team car
David Millar and Ben Swift stay close in the peloton
The Italians put the hammer down with still a third of the race to go but get four riders in a break which gained over a minute on the peloton before splitting and then being caught.
The Aussies in charge of the chase of the break with Ballan, Thomas and co...
Dan Lloyd
David Millar rolls in with Stuart O'Grady
Roger Hammond looking out for Steve Cummings
A rider gets a tow while the mechanic works on the bike?
With the on the other side of the circuit, the girls pose for pictures as the media line up for the finishing photos of the race.
Unsure what the celebration by Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez is after he finishes 4th -- beating Swiss hero Cancellara perhaps?
Result
1. Cadel Evans (Australia) 6:56:26
2. Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation) 0:00:27
3. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spain)
4. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spain) 0:00:30
5. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)
6. Philippe Gilbert (Belgium) 0:00:51
7. Matti Breschel (Denmark)
8. Damiano Cunego (Italy)
9. Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spain)
10. Simon Gerrans (Australia) 0:01:47
11. Fabian Wegmann (Germany)
12. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Norway)
13. Chris Sörensen (Denmark) 0:01:59
14. Johnny Hoogerland (Netherlands) 0:02:02
15. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spain)
16. Ivan Basso (Italy)
17. Andre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Portugal) 0:02:44
18. Michael Barry (Canada)
19. Serguei Ivanov (Russian Federation)
20. Karsten Kroon (Netherlands) 0:02:50
52. Steven Cummings (Great Britain)
92. Roger Hammond (Great Britain)
DNF Christopher Froome (Great Britain)
DNF Daniel Lloyd (Great Britain)
DNF Ben Swift (Great Britain)
DNF David Millar (Great Britain)
DNF Dan Craven (Namibia)
DNF Ian Stannard (Great Britain)
DNF Russell Downing (Great Britain)
