2008 Cycling World Championships
Bettini and Cancellara Both Look to Claim Third Victories
Sep 21, 2008
Cycling's 2008 World Championships get under way on the 23rd September with the Italian city of Varese playing host.
Two Disciplines and Three Categories
The event comprises six events run over the course of the week:
- Under 23 Male Time Trial
- Under 23 Male Road Race
- Elite Women Time Trial
- Elite Women Road Race
- Elite Male Time Trial
- Elite Male Road Race
Whilst Britain's Nicole Cooke will be looking to repeat her fantastic gold medal performance in the Olympic Women's Road Race by claiming her first World Championship crown, most eyes will be on the elite men's time trial and road race where two riders have the chance to win their third World Championships in a row.
Cancellara for Time Trial Title?
Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara has the opportunity to add to an already impressive season by taking his third rainbow jersey in a row in the elite men's time trial.
Cancellara, the gold medal winner in Beijing in the same discipline, is the favourite to win the 46 kilometre time trial, the route of which skirts the lake on the outside of the city. Cancellara, who won the event in Salzburg in 2006 and Stuttgart in 2007, is the dominant force in time trial racing and it is difficult to see anyone really challenging him for the crown.
However, other decent bets include German Stefan Schumacher, who beat Cancellara during the first Tour de France time trial this year, and Australian Michael Rogers who himself has taken three Rainbow Jerseys in a row - claiming World Championship time trial victories in 2003, 2004 and 2005. However, Rogers has suffered with illness this year and so, although he rode well at the Olympics in August, it is difficult to fully assess his form going into the event.
Bettini Road Race Favourite
The Championships culminate on Sunday 28th September with the elite men's road race – a 260 kilometre race around Varese with a couple of climbs on each lap. Whilst the climbs are probably not steep or long enough to trouble too many of the riders they could act as a springboard to victory and the route is similar enough to previous recent editions of the World Championship's road race for Italian Paolo Bettini to fancy his chances at taking home his third Rainbow Jersey in succession.
Bettini successfully defended his title in 2007, claiming an emotional victory in Stuttgart – his brother had died the previous year just days after Bettini had won his first title in Salzburg – and will be confident of taking the title for the third time. A strong challenge however is expected from the Spanish contingent who have enjoyed fantastic success throughout 2008. They have a number of riders who could ruin the Italian's plans with Alejandro Valverde and Olympic gold medallist Samuel Sanchez both expected to figure prominently in the race.
References
Cycle Sport Magazine October 2008 Edition.
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