2009 Road World Championships - Elite Men's
Road Race
Thunder from Down Under - Cadel Evans takes the rainbow jersey at the Elite
Men's Road Race with solo effort.
Cadel Evans has secured Australia's first ever win at the UCI World
Championships, arriving at the finishing line 51 seconds ahead of Russia's
Alexander Kolobnev (2nd) and Spain's Joaquím Rodriguez who joined Cadel on
the podium. Samuel Sanchez and Fabian Cancellara filled out the top five
finishing at 30 seconds.
Cadel Evans throws kisses to the fans as he crosses the finish line.
Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
A blistering attack by Evans on the final climb of the Torrazza di Novazzano
with about 7.5 kilometers to go. Cadel came up the road on the right side
passing the current chase group of Cunego, Cancellara, Sanchez ... h quickly
caught and passed Kolobnev and Rodriguez who had attacked the group and opened a
gap.
The Australian put in a ferocious attack out of the saddle climbing the 10%
grade so fast neither Rodriguez or Kolobnev could catch his wheel as he passed.
Evans opened a 20 second gap and continued to hammer over the summit. The effect
on the riders behind was devastating with Ballan being dropped from the group.
Evans continued a relentless attack until he crossed the line to a warm
welcome from the fans at the finish. Cancellara and Sanchez recovered in the
next two kilometers and picked up the chase distancing their former break mates
but unable to catch the three up front.
Arashiro leads the early break of ten... the group built up a max tilting at 12
minutes when the Italian team led the attack setting the stage for their
capture. Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen
Previously, the closest the Aussies have come to a win s gold medal in the
Elite Men's world road race was Robbie McEwen's silver medal in 2002 in Zolder
when Rockin Robbie won silver behind the Lion King Mario Cipollini. Of course
the Aussie's have all that gold and rainbow maillots they have won in track...
and lets not forget the previous Junior road wins and recent U23 time trial
title won by Jack Bobridge either...
well now, they must have a
complete collection to show off in Melbourne. Speaking of which the Worlds will
be held in Geelong in the Melbourne area on Cadel Evan's home turf where he will
defend his title. Though Cadel thinks the parcours doesn't favor his talents.
Earlier today he said that the Mendrisio circuit did and that's why he had set
the race as a major target of his year.
Journeyman Marzio Bruseghin leads the large break chasing down the early break
of ten riders. Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen
Until the last two laps, the race had been dominated first by a breakaway of
ten which reached 10 minutes plus. On lap 12 the Italians attacked and a group
of 19 riders which contained 4 of the Azzurri crew; defending champion Alessandro
Ballan, Giovanni Visconti, Marzio Bruseghin and Michele Scarponi. The Italians
carved themselves a gap on 3 minutes on the peloton and another group of chasers
20 strong.
three Aussies on the front: Wesley Sulzberger on point leads the peloton in the
chase of the two groups of escapees. Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen
A determined chase by the Aussies led by Stuart O'Grady, Wesley Sulzberger
Mathew Hayman and Simon Clarke started closing the gap to both lead groups. The
escape ad the two chase groups merged with 32 km to go just as the Italians
caught the remains of the first break. The Aussies closed the gap to the two
groups to 1 minute an attack by the Swiss Cancellara and Zaugg on the descent of
the 17th lap brought the favorites to the leaders by the start of the last two
laps and 27 km to go.
Slovenian Gorazd Stangelj then Alexandre Vinokourov each took a stab at a
solo win as the final lap opened; but both were caught in a few kilometers.
Attacks on the 18th lap shed Ballan, and his troops as a group of 21 riders
including Cancellara, Valverde, Evans, Rodríguez, Samuel Sanchez,
Vinokourov, Oscar Freire, Kim Kirchen, Sergio Paulinho and Ivan Basso with the
first chse group at 46 seconds as they went into the final 13.8 km circuit.
When these efforts seemed to wither Cancellara he signaled to Zaugg for water
on the final climb but there was none to give. Kolobonev and Rodriguez attacked
as the entred the final climb and Cancellara struggled to respond.
Nearing the summit Evans attacked... he could now sense glory and was
spending most of his time out of the saddle, his lead increasing as he drove
himself up the last climb. Behind him the chase was proving less determined with
Cancellara once more taking control. It wasn't enough and Evans knew the win was
his. Crossing the line he opted out of the two handed salute and instead blew
retrained kisses to each side of the course before patting his heart. As he
slowed over the line he could be seen kissing an object on a chain around his
neck.
The nature of Cadel's win also came as a surprise to commentators. Evans is
not noted for an attacking style, preferring instead a process of attrition, so
when he attacked from a group of leaders which contained some notable one day
riders the immediate assumption was that it was his team mate Simon Gerrans on
the move. This should put paid to the idea that Evans is not an attacking rider.
Chapeau Cadel!
The 2009 Worlds Podium: Alexandr Kolobnev - silver, Cadel Evans - Gold and the
Maglia Iridata and Joaquin Rodriguez - bronze. Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen
UCI 2009 World Championships
Elite Men's Road Race Results
262.2 km - 6:56:26 - 37.777km/h
1 21 Evans Cadel Australia 6:56:26
2 41 Kolobnev Alexandr Russia - 0:27
3 16 Rodriguez Oliver Joaquin Spain
4 17 Sanchez Gonzalez Samuel Spain 6:56:56 - 0:30
5 108 Cancellara Fabian Switzerland
Mrs. Chiara Evans was there to watch Cadel win only 3 km from their home.
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen
6 50 Gilbert Philippe Belgium 6:57:17
- 0:51
7 101 Breschel Matti Denmark
8 4 Cunego Damiano Italy
9 18 Valverde Belmonte Alejandro Spain
10 22 Gerrans Simon Australia 6:58:13
- 1:47
11 36 Wegmann FabianGermany
12 59 Arvesen Kurt-Asle Norway
13 105 Sörensen Chris Denmark 6:58:25 - 1:59
14 87 Hoogerland Johnny Netherlands 6:58:28 - 2:02
15 12 Freire Gomez Oscar Spain
16 2 Basso Ivan Italy
17 124 Cardoso Andre Fernando S. Martins Portugal 6:59:10
- 2:44
18 176 Barry Michael Canada
19 39 Ivanov Serguei Russia
20 88 Kroon Karsten Netherlands 6:59:16 - 2:50
- Discuss the sport with fans from around the
world on the Daily Peloton
Forums & Chat Room.
- Sponsor the Daily Peloton - advertise your product -
contact us
- Would you like to try your hand at writing about the sport? contact us.
- Link your site or blog to
www.dailypeloton.com
| 
