Thor Hushovd wins the World Championships
Norwegian cyclist Thor Hushovd has followed up on his win at the national road race championships with a gold medal at the world elite men’s road race. The two-time Tour de France green jersey winner crossed the finish line at the head of an 18-rider group
in a bunch sprint. Matti Breschel and Allan Davis joined Hushovd on the podium in the 32-year-old cyclist’s first World Championships victory.
“It’s hard to understand that I’ve won the Worlds. It’s a dream. I’m speechless,” said Hushovd. “There’s still one goal and that’s Paris-Roubaix. But for now I will enjoy everything and try to enjoy every day of this winter. I had this chance and maybe it
will never happen again.”
Dutch national champion Niki Terpstra led the chase group for a 19th-place finish, though he nearly managed a last minute breakaway with a performance that is no less impressive for its failure.
"I thought all or nothing," said Terpstra. "It was a bit of an against-all-odds thing, but if I had dropped back, I had no chance. I was counting down – 300 meters, 250 meters, and then they passed me at high speed."
The race began with an easy ride from Melbourne to the 15.9km finishing circuit. In the final five of the eleven laps, a major 31-rider break sent all the breakaway favourites ahead, including pre-race odds-on choice Philippe Gilbert as well defending champion
Cadel Evans, of Australia and Italian leader Vincenzo Nibali, both supported by their national teams. Gilbert, of Belgium, soloed ahead at the beginning of the final lap, but Evans led a successful effort to reign him in.
"I think that big attack with five laps to go surprised us all. I was hesitating on whether to go or not but I saw [Oscar] Freire and a few guys sitting back so I didn't go. I had Edvald Boasson Hagen in front for Norway so that was good enough," said Hushovd.
“I think the wind was too strong out there, so it was too hard to stay in front alone."
The finale of the race was a sprinter’s competition, but only the toughest made it that far. The pure sprinters were left behind over the climbs and the bunch sprint was launched on the uphill. 40 riders were strong enough to stay with the lead group and
Breschel and Davis led at the last 700 metres to win the silver and bronze, respectively.
"I'm over the moon. I got on Matti's wheel and in the last 500m I saw Thor come and decided to stay on Matti," said Davis. “Thor closed the gap in the last lap by himself, and to do what he did in the sprint, there is no taking that away from the world champion."
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