Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Cavalcade of stars set for Herald Sun World Cycling Classic in Ballarat

Details

Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News 2010

Published on Wednesday, 22 September 2010 10:05

Written by Luca Salvatelli

A cavalcade of world cycling stars will descend on Ballarat to ride the Herald Sun World Cycling Classic Ballarat this Sunday for a final tune up ahead of the 2010 UCI Road World Championships which kicks off in Geelong next Wednesday.

The 18-nation men’s field includes Australian grand tour stage winner Simon Gerrans, world championships favourite Philippe Gilbert of Belgium, a full contingent of Italians including Tour of Spain winner Vincenzo Nibali and team leader Philippo Pozzato, Norwegians Edvald Boasson Hagen and Thor Hushovd, French Tour de France stage winner Sylvain Chavanel and New Zealander Greg Henderson.

A close to full strength Australian women’s contingent, including both world championships and Commonwealth Games squad members will compete, along with reigning women’s road race world champion Tatiana Guderzo of Italy who heads the 14-nation women’s field. 2004 champion Judith Arndt (GER) and 1999 winner Edita Pucinskaite of Lithuania are also entered.

Cycling Australia’s national high performance director Shayne Bannan is anticipating a vigorous race, one that will be vital in Australian grand tour stage winner Simon Gerrans’ preparations ahead of the world championships.

"For Simon the race is absolutely critical. He has been going extremely well, it was always a concern after Sky pulled out of the Tour of Spain and since then we have targeted Ballarat as his only preparation race," Bannan said.

"Certainly the quality of the field helps, so we expect a quality race. The distance is short in relation to the worlds but we expect an intense race. It won’t just be a roll around as we can all do that in training, we expect a hard hit out and intense race."

The Australian women’s world championships team members Ruth Corset, Tiffany Cromwell, Bridie O’Donnell, Carla Ryan, Amanda Spratt and Vicki Whitelaw will fine tune their preparations for Geelong and they will be joined by world cup winner Rochelle Gilmore and Chloe Hosking who have their focus on Delhi.

In addition, 2008 world time trial champion Amber Neben (USA) and 2007 time trial champion Hanka Kupfernagel (GER) will compete, bringing to five the number of riders in possession of the coveted rainbow jersey who will hit the start line in Ballarat.

Cycling Australia’s women’s road coach Martin Barras said the Ballarat race will be the perfect led up to the world championships and Commonwealth Games for the Australian women.

"Obviously we want to benefit from a last hit out for both the world championships and Commonwealth Games. Operationally, it’s an important chance to work on our team elements and how it’s going to work in Geelong," Barras said.

"I think the organisers have been clever in listening to the feedback from teams in terms of the nature and distance of the race, and that has reflected in our decision to field an almost full strength team, but also the strength of the field overall."

"It is the perfect lead up and takes us one step closer to Geelong."

Organised by Cycling Australia, in conjunction with the City of Ballarat, the 2010 UCI Road Cycling World Championships Organising Committee and the Victorian Government through their support of the Championships, the Herald Sun World Cycling Classic Ballarat will feature an elite women’s and combined elite/under-23 men’s race.

Starting and finishing at Buninyong, the course will travel a 16km circuit with the final lap following the road race course used for the Australian Open Road Championships.

Herald Sun World Cycling Classic Ballarat – FACTS

Date:

Sunday, 26 September 2010

Location:

Buninyong, VIC

Time:

8:30am – Elite women’s road race

12:30pm – Elite/under-23 men’s road race

Distance:

90km – Elite women’s road race

130km – Elite/under-23 men’s road race