Thor Hushovd has the world championships in Australia, Geelong the title in the road race won. The Norwegian won after 262.7 kilometers Sprint a 25-strong lead group before Matti Breschel of Denmark and Australian Allan Davis. Best German was Fabian Wegmann ranked 14th
"As a dream come true," Hushovd was delighted at the finish, leaving questions about his goals openly in the rainbow jersey. "First I want to enjoy this title." Hushovd, the Norwegian team of three men had been standing at the start with only praised the performance of his teammates. "Edvald Boasson Hagen has been in front of the lead group, so I had to do anything back, "the new world champion.
More than just happy it was also in the German team. "It was a great team performance. We were with three drivers front represented and are well traveled much. But the last curve was not optimal. When I was a bit far away. Too bad it does not even for a place among the top ten was enough, "said Wegmann. Knapper commented Paul Martens, who could not keep up miles on the last until its 25th Rank: "Good form, but without results."
Cavendish and Greipel suspended
For the pure sprinter like Mark Cavendish, Tyler Farrar and Andre Greipel Melbourne was the 260-kilometer race to Geelong too heavy. At the two increases in the 15.9 km-long final round, which had to be driven eleven times in total, the field fell apart at the pace dictated by the Australian, Belgian and Italian teams and over again. Cavendish and Farrar had to realize early on that there was nothing to win for them.
Two laps to Greipel could finally no longer keep up, when, after Vuelta winner Vincenzo Nibali and Philippe Gilbert rode a further attack. "In the penultimate round in my power was on," said disappointed Greipel. "The season is over, everything is not to say it."
Martens tried everything
During the final round Martens tried jointly with defending champion Cadel Evans and a few other riders from the field to share and re-torn soloists Gilbert chasing behind. About three kilometers to the pursuers were approached again and the 25-strong group sprint to win should finally had together. "Since we first realized that one goes to the medal. I have not gone through yet," said Martens completely exhausted.
BDR vice-president Udo Sprenger praised the performance of the German team: "We were here three men in the top group's more than we have expected Paul has tried it, it was unfortunate that the bill not came up..."
McQuaid is pleased
In the final sprint Hushovd finally caught the best timing. Italy's Filippo Pozzato on the finish line but had the highest top speed, but it started late and thus missed a medal in fourth.
"Hushovd is a deserving winner," summed up the bad standing in the criticism UCI president Pat McQuaid, who was pleased at this time to time also can draw a positive conclusion: "Many have told me this was the best World Cup since ten, twelve years. The organization was great, the atmosphere also, and finally we had a very exciting race with many attacks. It was a good decision to go to Australia. We will definitely come back someday. "
Felix Mattis / Euro Sport
