Former Champion Thor Hushovd crashes during the World Championships – Cycling News
Thor Hushovd was amongst the leading British riders closing their way to victory during the Elite Men Road Race at World Championships 2011 as after the 13 laps and with only six laps to go the Norwegian fell victim to a crash which resulted in a huge pile
up of cyclists. The crash ruled Hushovd and many other cyclists out of the race. The riders behind the crash finished the race almost 9 minutes after the race leader.
There were no race radios allowed and Hushovd could not contact his team-mates as he was apart from Gabriel Rasch and Kurt Arvesen. He mentioned, “They didn’t know what happened, so I cannot criticize Gabriel or Kurt.” Norwegian team went on to the race
with two captains Edvald Boasson Hagen and Thor Hushovd as they had the company of Gabriel Rasch and Kurt Asle Arvesen. Kurt and Gabriel were mostly seen helping Hagen especially after the crash Kurt realised that Hushovd was no way in the race and there was
no point helping him.
The Norwegian finished the race 170th with 8 minutes and 54 seconds behind the race leader Mark Cavendish. The defending Champion believes that Norwegian team was missing a good strategy as riding with two captains was not a good decision. He
told VG.no, “We should have only one captain for next year. Things are clearer. It is easier for everyone to relate to it.”
Edvald Boasson Hagen finished the race at the eighth position and was the top positioned Norwegian in the race as he mentioned that it was difficult to handle Cancellara and Cavendish. Edvald mentioned, “It was a real struggle to keep ahead in the last few
kilometres so it was tough.”
The former World Road Race Champion, Thor Hushovd had a hard day as he also had to wait several minutes as a result of a punctured tire. Norwegian team was riding the event with only four riders, out of those four, two men were captaining their side. Thor
mentioned that it will be better to ride such a big event with only one leader and a few more riders in the squad.
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