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Tuesday, 8 October, 2002, 12:21 GMT 13:21 UK
Top cyclists chase rainbow
The rainbow jersey race is wide open
From Tuesday, the 2002 cycling season will reach its climax, as the world road race championships converge on a ex-Formula One circuit.
Unlike F1's one-man show, any of about 100 riders are capable of winning the rainbow jersey in the blue-riband event - the men's road race. A total of 10 golds will be on offer at the Zolder circuit with the first event starting on Tuesday.
The championships will reach a scintillating finale on Sunday, with the world's best sprinters aiming to converge en masse on the finishing line. Australia's Robbie McEwen has already singled himself out as the man to beat but he is not the only rider with a point to prove.
Italy's Mario Cipollini had retired earlier in the season but returned in rejuvenated fashion at La Vuelta and is bidding for more glory at the Worlds. The 262-km circuit should especially suit Germany's Erik Zabel, with high winds expected to be a feature of each laps latter stages. The former world number one explained: "The race could go any way and a great many riders could win it, which opens up the opportunities for the daring. "But the longer an event goes on, the better my legs are. So this should suit me." Defending world champion Oscar Freire cannot be discounted but he is still suffering with a knee injury. But the fairytale ending would surely see Johan Museeuw crossing the line in front. The Belgian is nearing the end of a long and distinguished career and the "Lion of Flanders" would love nothing more than to win on what would be his 37th birthday in front of his home crowd.
As Zabel said, the "daring" could yet prosper, with a breakaway rider using the conditions to outclass the leading sprinters. The men's time trial on Thursday should be more predictable with a far shorter list of major contenders. Defending champion Jan Ullrich and four-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong are both absent. Among the leading riders is Britain's David Millar, a silver medallist behind Ullrich 12 months ago. The long, flat course should suit his style and, after an early withdrawal from La Vuelta, he should be fresh. Other top time triallists in contention will be Santiago Botero, the bronze medallist in Lisbon last year and the man who got the better of Armstrong in an early Tour de France time trial this season. Spain's Aitor Gonzalez could spring a surprise after his success against the clock en route to victory in the Tour of Spain. Other contenders include Laszlo Bodrogi, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano and Joseba Beloki. Nicole Cooke will lead British hopes in the women's road race. The current world number 29 will face tough competition in the road race on Saturday from Spanish team-mate Joane Somarriba Arrola among others.
World Road Race Cycling Championships:
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08 Oct 02 | Cycling
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