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World Road Championships 2011

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Road Race Preview

Rudersdal, Copenhagen, Denmark 2011

The road race course is very different to the course of 2011. The riders start and finish the fourteen kilometer circuit, at the finish line at Geels Hill on Kongevejen. During the race the riders will climb 105m in altitude on each lap. Besides the final climb, the race starts with the small climb at 3,9 km at Slotsbakken. This is closely followed by a climb on the Attermosevej. The Slotsbakken climb is the highest point on the circuit at 59 meters above sea level. While the lowest point is at 17 meters and is after 7,7 km. The finish climb will prove to be the toughest point. 

Like Geelong, it is almost guaranteed to host an exciting, tactical race. The race is geared towards the sprinters and it will be important for them to be well positioned in the final 500m of the race. The most difficult point of the race will be the last 500m. The finish is challenging. It kicks up at 400m to go and does not flatten out until 50m to go. If the  junior women's race is anything to go by, the timing of the sprint is going to be key. A rider who selects to go too early, may run out of steam with 100m still to go. The winner of the junior's race, started her sprint at 150m and kicked again at 50m, eventually winning by 5m. 

The rolling course, is expected to be fast and therefore the bunch is likely to split early and considerably. Weather conditions are forecast to be 16 degrees and sunny for tomorrows race so conditions should be good. 

France is leading the all-time medal table with 10 gold medals. However the Netherlands lead with  23 medals in total, which puts them solely on top, with two more than the Soviet Union. 

Riders from 40 countries will take the start in Saturday’s women’s road race - the highest number in the history of this event. 

2010 World Champion, Giorgia Bronzini, heads a strong team from Italy. They have an advantage of eight riders compared to the maximum of 7 for other teams. They also have two strong sprinters with Bronzini and Baccaille, so expect them to shake things up.

The Netherlands hopes rest on Marianne Vos. With 5 silver medals and only a 10th place in the time trial earlier this week, means Vos is angry and after this win. The team has a few options should things not work out for Vos. Kirsten Wild and Annemiek van Vleuten (2011 World Cup winner) have proved they can both win tough sprints so are likely contenders..

Germany, are on a high after winning two Gold medals this week in the Individual Time Trial. They come with one of the strongest teams in the race. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg is likely to be the designated protected rider. However Judith Arndt (2011 Time Trial World Champion), Charlotte Becker and Sarah Duester are strong and very fit right now. 

Sweden, have the talented Emma Johansson. She has been consistent in 2011 and has a strong support team. 

Great Britain have many cards to play. The team includes, Nicole Cooke, 2008 Olympic champion. The finish will suit the power rider. They also have the talented Lizzie Armitstead. She has a good kick and will like the finish. They also have Emma Pooley, who is expected to attack early and try to stay away.

The Americans have two strong sprinters, Theresa Cliff-Ryan and Shelly Olds. Both riders have had success in the USA and Europe, but neither has beaten Vos, Teutenberg or Johansson this year.

The Belgians, have struggled to have consistent form this year. Maaike Polspoel had recent good form in the Holland Ladies Tour, so may factor in the final sprint..

Australia has a number of options. Chloe Hosking and Rochelle Gilmore will be the watched sprinters. However Amanda Spratt, is relatively unknown, however she was fourth on the climb to Volterra in Toscana last week and is showing she is in good form. She may surprise the bunch in the final sprint.

The Canadian team showed great form this week in the Time Trial. Their sprinters Joelle Numainville and Leah Kirchmann will need to position well to feature in the final stages of the race.

France's current National champion, Christel Ferrier-Bruneau leads a strong team that for the first time, in many years does not include former world champion, Jeanie Longo.

Of the remaining teams there are a few sprinters that could factor, Rasa Leleivyte (LTU), Jennifer Hohl (SWI) and Emily Moberg (NOR).

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