2008 CX Worlds - Treviso - Day #2

Women's race.

Daphny Van Den Brand took the hole shot and pushed a very fast starting pace, causing several riders including last year's winner Salvetat to be further behind than expected. Nearing the end of the first lap, Wendy Simms took over the pace and gapped the group of leaders. Unfortunately it wouldn't last as she was marked by Kupfernagel and Ferrier-Bruneau who eventually pulled away. Kupfernagel would extend this lead and continue for the win. Simms would eventually finish in 7th place, the best finish for a Canadian at 'cross worlds ever, and the best finish for any North American in any of the races this year.

Wendy Simms:
"I was really happy with parts of my race and kicking myself for other parts, but overall it was good. I had a great start - I was with the leaders and one of the girls went down. I took the inside line and shot through to take the lead and rode the next section well and got a gap. I lead Worlds and I had a gap.
I did a bike change and Hanka and a couple other girls caught up, then it was just a matter of trying to stay with former World championships. Hanka, Daphy, Leboucher, Vos, Salvetat. What am I doing? It's the World championships, you've got to go for it. I faded from first to seventh, but in the end, what can you do? It was hard to be everyone's hope for a podium. Before this, my best was 12th, then a few good world cups and it was changing. Baby steps - I'm getting closer.
The Canadian espoirs/juniors were on the side of the course and that helped so much. They ran the whole way along the climb.
Next year I have to talk to my work, but I'm going to see if I can extend it to do one more cross season. I have a great job and I don't want to risk it, but it's in my brain now for sure to do it. It was important to come over in December and race in Europe. When you race here, there is feature after feature after feature and there are more people who are faster. It's been a good learning curve and I want to continue the curve upward. It's great having so many Canadians out here too this year."

Kelly Jones - "I started fourth from last and it was tough to start at the back and to be able to move up and avoid crashes. The course was well worthy of being a world championship. This was my first time at Worlds, so I was very nervous but it was very inspiring. As for next year, after I get back to real life tuesday morning at 8am we'll see how it goes...
I was happy to have the opportunity to get the time to train. When you see people racing at this level it inspires you to want more and to get to that next level. It would be awesome if there was more women on the team - we need programs for women, specifically junior women to get them interested and involved. "

Elite Men's Race - Lars Boom took the holeshot in the men's race and while he didn't lead the whole race, he never let anything slip away. Nys tried to get away, but stumbled on the stairs, leading Boom to jump. Stybar, Franzoi and Vanternout all took their chances but were pulled back in. On the last lap, Groenendaal attacked,setting up the launch of his country-mate Boom off for the win.
Nys and Stybar sprinted for 2nd, with the Czech rider taking the higher spot on the podium.

Mike G.
"I'm happy and excited. Happy with what I did and excited already for next year.

The start was good - I was conservative and that paid off... I was so excited for the race I just couldn't wait for it to start. I woke up in the middle of the night and I couldn't wait. I didn't wear a heart rate monitor, so I was just trying to be cautious. There were a couple of crazy crashes. A German went down right in front of me and Mueller went right over his bike - end to end. If he would have gone down it would've been it, but he stayed going. Otherwise, I hooked bars a few times, but nothing serious.
I was on the back at the start again, but it didn't really matter. As the race went on, it would've been better when I got in one of the groups because the drafting really made a difference. I could see them soft pedalling and drafting, but I was giving it everything to try and get there. To get in one of those groups earlier would've been helpful. That said - I have zero complaints about the race.
Definitely I'll be back next year - December and January I'll be there. Also I'll be racing in October and November in the states."

Osmond Bakker - "Totally happy with the Canadian performance. Happy for all the elite riders to finish on the same lap as the winners. Personally I'm happy to have competed in the Worlds and finished on the final lap. At 35 I was the second oldest guy in the race next to Richard Groenendal.
I raced 100% the whole time. I rode technically sound - without falling. Really I had strong legs all day and kept going as hard as I could. I just kept picking riders off one by one.
The big thing I noticed after the race it seemed as if Canada had earned a notch of respect because fans were patting me on the back."

Aaron Schooler - "For my second world championships, it was great to finish on the lead lap. I don't think the course suited me as well as a course like Hoogerheide. I felt strong in the technical sections, but my fitness wasn't as strong as the other guys. The first part of the first lap was pretty fast for everyone, but I knew I had to battle for position to get with a group. I tried to ride my own race and I didn't feel as strong throughout the rest of the race because of that first lap. I was riding just behind a couple of British guys and Mike, so I was constantly chasing them down.
Next year I'm going to try and come over for a month. The course at Hoogerheide really suited me, so I think it could be a good race for me."