5 décembre 2002
Chris Henry
Even before the 2002 World Road Championships concluded in Zolder, Belgium, many were already thinking ahead to 2003, when the World's return to North America. Hamilton, Ontario will host the 2003 World's, much to the delight of the American and Canadian cycling communities.
Though few details have been circulated to date, it has been well understood that the more rugged course at Hamilton would differ from the decidedly flat circuit at Zolder. The top three sprinters at this year's World's, Mario Cipollini, Robbie McEwen, and Erik Zabel may feel pleased to have made the most of the occasion, as Hamilton will likely favor those with a bit more punch when the going gets vertical.
Indeed, a look at the course profiles for the road and time trial events at Hamilton confirms a return to a more challenging circuit. True, it can be said the riders make the race difficult, not the course, but clearly the flat and fast Circuit Zolder provided an opportunity to the pure sprinters that doesn't come often at the World Championships.
The road course profile contains two discernable lumps, which each represent at least 100 meters of elevation gain in the short circuit of only 12km. The long time trial course includes essentially the same two climbs, while the short time trial course presents only one opening climb before a predominantly flat ride which ends with a descent to the finish.
Early reactions
With the 2003 road season yet to begin, few riders can confirm without a doubt their participation in the World's. Nonetheless, the prospect of racing for the rainbow jersey on or at least near home soil pleases a number of Americans.
Levi Leipheimer placed fourth in the 2001 World's time trial in Lisbon, but was not present in Zolder. For reasons both personal and professional, said in an interview with Cyclingnews that he looked forward to racing in Hamilton. "I would love to do it," he said. "My wife is Canadian, and I know the area a bit from the Tour of Canada a few years back. It's early to say that I will be there for sure but I will keep it in my head."
The American T-Mobile women's team is gearing up for a big season, and counts among its ultimate goals success in Olympic and World Championship events. The team recently gathered in Arizona for its first pre-season camp, and several riders commented on what the Hamilton World's will mean for them and for the team.
Kimberly Bruckner, who moved to T-Mobile from Saturn, summed up the team's enthusiasm for the late season event. "It's one of our top goals," she commented. "The whole T-Mobile/ USAC idea is to work towards winning world titles and Olympic titles. And the fact that it's practically at home this year is an even greater advantage."
This focus on bringing a world title to the U.S. helped Bruckner make the tough decision to leave Saturn. "When I spoke to Jim [Miller] about the goals for the team and what they were really aiming for, it was really exciting," she explained. "After listening to him about how the team was obviously going to be all American and that they were really going to be shooting for World Championship medals, it was a very different concept after being on an international squad for two years."
Bruckner's T-Mobile teammate Mari Holden is equally excited about the coming season. Holden enjoyed tremendous success in 2000, earning an Olympic silver medal and the gold medal at the World Time Trial Championships. Dogged by illness, Holden suffered in 2002. She represented the U.S. at Zolder, but not in the time trial, as her difficult early season had not provided the results necessary to qualify for that event. Nonetheless, she looks forward to a return to winning form in 2003, with the World's back on her mind. "I want to do well in the time trial," she confirmed.
What about Lance Armstrong? A former world champion on the road, Armstrong has expressed both interest and skepticism concerning his participation. For the four time Tour de France winner, July remains the focus of his season. Returning to form in October after a season geared towards winning his fifth consecutive Tour is not necessarily something Lance is keen to contemplate. Despite the 4th place performances on both the road and in the time trial at the 1998 World's, Armstrong has opted not to tackle the World's since he began his run of Tour victories in 1999.
"The more I think about it, the more I doubt I'll be there. Even though it's special this time because it's in North America, it's too late. To play any role there, you have to do the Vuelta or other races to stay focused after the Tour. That takes a lot of energy."
Finally, as much as location plays a role in motivation, so too does the nature of the course itself. Bad luck and a broken wheel kept two-time world champion Oscar Freire from challenging Cipollini in the bunch sprint at Zolder. Freire is a more versatile rider, however, and can thrive on challenging courses, arriving at the finish with a powerful sprint that is less likely to be dulled by a hilly circuit.
Spanish national selector Paco Antequera commented recently on the Hamilton course, telling sports daily Marca, "it is nothing like the course in Zolder." Antequera is confident for 2003, certian that Hamitlon is "a good World's course for us, for the road race and the time trial. This time there may not be any sprinters at the finish, except Freire... when his form is as good as the previous years."
Riders and pundits alike have an entire season to ponder the possibilities in Hamilton, but clearly the 2003 World's are already generating a fair amount of excitement.
une page mise en ligne le 4 décembre 2002 par SVP
