Bike World News

Cycling news, race results, new products, fitness, maintenance and more

Worlds Wrap-Up and Other News – Spetember 28, 2009

September 28th, 2009 by Al Fresco One Comment

Thanks for checking in!

We’re back from Interbike and ready to get back into road racing news. Here’s a wrap-up of the Worlds road race, a little bit of ‘cross news and the latest from the road.

It took a couple of years, but all the pieces finally fell into the right place for Cadel Evans. We got a hint of his coming form when he took a stage of the Vuelta a Espana, but he timed it just right to take the Worlds road title.
This is the first World Championships title for an Australian.
The World Championships will be held in Melbourne, Australia next year, close to where Evans grew up.
Evans’ next race appearances will be at the Giro dell’Emilia in Granarolo (10 October) and the Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli (October 11).
Belgium’s Phillipe Gilbert was in the winning group at the World’s but did not come across for the win. He was satisfied with the cooperation amongst the Belgian team, and happy for his Silence-Lotto teammate Evans. He said that every move that he made was marked by his lead group companions.
Fabian Cancellara is blaming his Craft base layer for his poor performance in the race, saying that he was too hot.
Thor Hushovd already has his eyes on Paris-Roubaix and the World Championships in 2010.
Milram’s Peter Wrolich went down in a crash in the early laps of the road race, broke his collarbone and dislocated his shoulder.
Twenty-four-year-old Craig Lewis was the top U.S. finisher, coming in 59th.
Andy Schleck has said that the Worlds were the end to his 2009 season and that he will pass on the Tour of Lombardy.
British Cycling boss David Brailsford insists GB will challenge for a world road title in the next two years despite their disappointment this week. Mark Cavendish was ill and others, including David Millar, Bradley Wiggins and Nicole Cooke, dropped out mid-race.

Cross News:

Three time world cyclocross champion Erwin Vervecken (Revor Cycling Team) won Sunday’s Planet Bike Cup in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, a competition that counts for the U.S. Grand Prix series. Since he’s heading home to Europe for the winter season, he will not be able to defend his leader’s jersey.

Other News:

Skil-Shimano’s team management have handed one-year contract extensions to both Frenchman David Deroo (24) and Dutchman Floris Goesinnen (25). The two riders have been very successful in adapting their offensive style to the team’s racing strategy. This season, Deroo achieved top-ten finishes in stages of the Tour of Belgium and the Eneco Tour, while Floris Goesinnen finished third in the first stage of the Tour de l’Ain and fifth in Halle-Ingooigem.
UCI president Pat McQuaid has been widely quoted over the weekend saying that he is ‘not optimistic on the future of Astana’. Team representatives have been meeting with the UCI’s ProTour license commission to plead their case, but troubles in their management and financial structures are negatively impacting their status.
Theo Bos has signed a contract with the Cervelo Test Team through the 2011 season. Team management wants to develop his sprint abilities for the road.
Milram has signed Germany’s U23 champion Dominik Mink to a two year contract.
Milram’s Martin Müller (35 years old) will end his career at the end of the 2009 season.
Barloworld’s manager Claudio Corti was not able to secure a major sponsor for 2010, so the team is kaput for now.
Michael Rasmussen is said to be in talks with a number of European teams and hopes to make a comeback on the Pro Tour scene in 2010.
Female track cyclists could be among the biggest winners at the London Olympics after it emerged Saturday that world cycling chiefs want “gender parity” at the 2012 Games. Currently, there are 10 track cycling finals at the Olympics. But while the men compete in seven competitions, the women get to contend just three: the sprint, the individual pursuit and the points race.