Tuesday, March 19, 2024

World Road Championships 2007 – Day 5: Elite Road Race

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HomeDiariesWorld Road Championships 2007 - Day 5: Elite Road Race

It wasn’t until the Belgian guy pointed it out to me today, but it wasn’t the friendliest of championships, the World Road Championships 2007. The Press Centre you expect to be a clique-ridden, unfriendly, verging on hostile place.

World Road Championships 2007
The press horde.

I think it’s because a lot of those that work there are freelance and any new face could be taking work from them. But even in the ‘real’ world, if you don’t speak first, no one will talk to you.

World Road Championships 2007
Oh look, a beer garden…

In Belgium, folks always ask what you’re about and then you have a pils together – or a dozen pils, more like.

In Germany, maybe because they are conservative by nature, there’s not a lot of chat. Anyway, enough of my un-PC attitudes and racial stereo-typing.

World Road Championships 2007
They’re off.

Sometimes you just know when someones going to win, Cancellara for instance and Bettini too. The road race is obviously much more of a lottery than the test, but when I saw Bettini training on the circuit on Friday, it was apparent that he was a driven-man. He wore a mask of concentration and determination that spoke more than any words in a newspaper. This morning (Sunday) too, business-like, focused, no time for autographs, there was a race to win.

World Road Championships 2007
Carlos Sastre.

However, it would be wrong to forget the role played by Italian coach, Franco Ballerini, who once again welded-together a strong, united team, which ran rings round a Spanish squad; which was every bit as strong as the Italians, on paper.

World Road Championships 2007
The early break.

Millar was well-in the mix until the bell lap, but that’s when it really matters. The Worlds is like Milan-San Remo, it’s all going to happen between the Poggio and the Via Roma, but you have to get there with the “heads” to be in the race. The Worlds is really just two laps, but it’s just two laps with five hours plus, in your legs.

World Road Championships 2007
Oscar and Dave.

Mark Cavendish looked OK until mid-race, but it was no surprise to see him off the back as the shadows lengthened. The Italians didn’t pick Benatti or Petacchi, so there was no way that Cavendish was going to get a result. No disrespect to ‘Cav’; he’s had a marvellous first season and if he continues to progress, is a real star in the making. But let the laddie pay his dues at this level before we think about him battling with the Azzuri for the last two laps.

World Road Championships 2007
Snack time.

Before the race it was chaotic around the Italian bus, there were hundreds of fans, looking for a glimpse of the Squadra.

World Road Championships 2007
Schumacher before the race. We just can’t quite get behind this guy for some reason.

Meanwhile, home favourite, Schumacher was able to get out of his car, stretch and chat to friends in complete peace. I think the Germans like the actual sporting event, but they’re not into the Belgian or Italian pagan idolatry stuff.

World Road Championships 2007
Race watching is thirsty work – time for a beer.

It was a beautiful day in Stuttgart, in the first couple of laps, riders were removing under vests as it got hotter and hotter. It made for a different race from the U23 event where strong headwinds on the climbs and strong tail winds on the fast parts of the course, conspired to make it very difficult to form a breakaway. There was little wind today and the result was an attacking race.

World Road Championships 2007
Dave and Paolo on the big screen.

The official finishing sheet lists two pages of DNF, virtually three quarters of the field, that tells a story. The organisers were lucky with the weather, earlier in the week it had almost felt as if there was snow in the air. One year, in a Northern European Worlds, the UCI are going to get “caught” by the weather with this new, late date. At Plouay in 2000 it was horrible, wet and very cold. In addition, many riders have had a long, long season, the racing starts in January and by the end of September, they’ve had enough.

World Road Championships 2007
The three best riders in the world. Maybe.

It’s 10.00 am Monday CET and I’m sitting in Stuttgart airport, waiting on my flight to Gatwick. That’s The Worlds for another year, Varese in Italy for 2008.

Still, Trossachs next Sunday. Braw.

World Road Championships 2007
Kolobnev deserved the silver – at least.
World Road Championships 2007
Oscar’s team couldn’t match the Italians.
Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

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