World Champion

A different breed.

The Worlds are going to be played out on US roads, which is fantastic and the last time it happened we witnessed a great race with a worthy winner. But the Worlds has lost a lot of its prestige since moving from late August to its current position in late September. It’s only a month’s difference, but it means that the riders who started early and raced through the summer are dialing down for the season, and only the riders who either took the Summer easy or are started racing later will be interested in racing for the bands.

It used to be that the winner of the road race wore the Rainbow Stripes in the time trial events as well, because there wasn’t a separate time trial Champion. One World Champion instead of two has the sort of simplicity to it that my twisted OCD brain can really sink its teeth into, and every rider to ever swing a leg over a top tube had that event on their list – whether they were a sprinter, a Grand Tour rider, rouleur, or domestique. I would be willing to bet that a modern champion like like Chris Froome or Alberto Contador doesn’t even have the the Worlds on their radar as a career goal.

We won’t be seeing a defending Tour champion roll up to the prologue with the rainbow stripes on their back any time soon. I vote we bring back the Summertime Worlds.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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fignons barber says:

Aug 26 2015 at 11:30 am

Went to the Worlds in 2003 when they were in Hamilton Ontario. It was an unforgettable time partying all day with the tifosi,dutch,belgians,et al. Somehow after the race I ended up in the dutch team tent as they sat there moments after the finish, and then acquired the 90 foot colnago banner on the finishing strait (alleged). If at all possible, everyone should try to make it to richmond
LawnCzar says:

Aug 26 2015 at 12:32 pm

Really excited for the Worlds -- living in DC, they're not too far away. The family's going to make a day of it.

Wondering where the best spots to hang out might be; it looks like to see the cobbled climb on 23rd Street you need to buy tickets to the "fan zone" there, which is disappointing, though maybe that's just one side of the street. Looks like a proper leg / frame buster of a hill...
Oli says:

Aug 26 2015 at 2:04 pm

@frank

Ah, but you missed missed my point.

I would be willing to bet that a modern champion like like Chris Froome or Alberto Contador
frank says:

Aug 26 2015 at 2:48 pm

@fignons barber

Went to the Worlds in 2003 when they were in Hamilton Ontario. It was an unforgettable time partying all day with the tifosi,dutch,belgians,et al. Somehow after the race I ended up in the dutch team tent as they sat there moments after the finish, and then acquired the 90 foot colnago banner on the finishing strait (alleged). If at all possible, everyone should try to make it to richmond

Its sadly not going to be possible for me, but I guarantee it will be an amazing party. My sister lives near there, too; it would be so much fun to visit her and see the race at the same time.
frank says:

Aug 26 2015 at 2:51 pm

@LawnCzar

Really excited for the Worlds — living in DC, they’re not too far away. The family’s going to make a day of it.

Wondering where the best spots to hang out might be; it looks like to see the cobbled climb on 23rd Street you need to buy tickets to the “fan zone” there, which is disappointing, though maybe that’s just one side of the street. Looks like a proper leg / frame buster of a hill…

Wait. What? A cobbled climb at the Worlds? Now we're talking. I mean, they're AMERICAN cobbles but still, that is legit. How is it possible I didn't know this?

@Oli

I'm still missing it, I'm afraid.
Mikael Liddy says:

Aug 26 2015 at 4:31 pm

Loving this quote from Sagan about doing some course recon, especially the last sentence.

“I know nothing about it,” he said. “Nothing. Because the most important thing is to get the Worlds in top form. If you don’t get in top form, what are you going to do? The preparation is more important than looking at the course. We’ll ride around it I don’t know how many times in the race anyway, no?”
Mikael Liddy says:

Aug 26 2015 at 4:32 pm

@frank

@Oli

I’m still missing it, I’m afraid.

That's cos you're drunk & don't think it's an issue to be seeing double.
LawnCzar says:

Aug 26 2015 at 4:48 pm

@frank

Yeah, it's only like 100 meters long but plenty steep and they're doing 16 laps. After the first dozen times they ride the thing I suspect the man with the hammer will be positioned part way up, hopping around like Didi. Good a place as any to force a selection.

I have to say, I'm pretty psyched.
Barracuda says:

Aug 26 2015 at 4:51 pm

@frank

@Barracuda

We camped alongside the course just before the 20% ramp in Geelong for the 2010 worlds. Was a great week and the atmosphere was awesome. The best bit was rolling out of the caravan park at sun up and riding the entire lap of the course before the pro’s. Then setting up deck chairs and esky’s infront of camper trailer and watching them roll past multiple times.

Anyone heading to the current WC’s will have an amazing time.

I was actually thinking of Cadel while writing this as well; he was a pretty diverse rider and had a great year in the bands. Strange that a rider like him rode the worlds, probably only because they were in Oz. Or maybe that was the year he broke his elbow in the Tour and he had some time off in the summer?

Yes, correct on both counts, but he was actually in the mix till the last corner and punch up the main straight to the finish.

Doing the WC Jersey justice and due respect.

It was a tough course and he rode very well.
Philonius says:

Aug 26 2015 at 8:16 pm

That picture of LeMondster; that's not a folded tubular in his seat tube bottle holder, is it?

I caught the '86 worlds in Colorado Springs. Yep, I'm old. I heartily agree that having the track events et. al. included really makes for a full on velo bingewatching experience. There was some great racing on the banks, and then the Roads to cap off a beautiful week. All my heroes were there.