2005 UCI World Road Championships

Madrid (Spain), September 21-25, 2005 | by British Cycling's Larry Hickmott

It was as expected a hot reception for the Great Britain team as they arrived in Spain for the World Road Race and Time Trial Championships but they emerged from the events with a Silver medal (Nicole Cooke), a promising performance in the Time Trial from Bradley Wiggins and many other fine rides by the cyclists wearing the colours of Great Britain.

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 The Under 23 Time Trial Championship was held yesterday on a hot dry day in Madrid. First rider off for Great Britain was Ben Greenwood followed around an hour later by Ed Clancy. Both riders were asked to give it everything with the strategy of attacking the climbs.

Afterwards, both came off the bikes exhausted having done their best and although the results may not be what they were hoping for, they can at least be happy they gave it their best on a tough course. Learn more >>>>

With Wales Nicole Cooke winning a silver medal in her championship Road Race and the Isle of Man's Mark Cavendish at 20, showing he has the ability to race with the best Under 23's in the World aged just 20, the first day of the Road Race championships part of the program here in Madrid was a great success.

British Cycling looks at their races and then talks to the riders themselves who give their versions of how the event went for them. Learn More >>>>

 What a ride by Bradley Wiggins in Madrid today! There he was with his name sitting on top of the leader board for a long while, and then later in a medal position until the last few riders came in.

Okay, no medal but considering how uncertain he was at the start of what the result would be, and how long it took for a rider to knock him off the top of the leaderboard, the final result shows that the potential is there for him to go a lot further as a road rider.

British Cycling looks at his warmup, his race and then talks to the rider concerned.

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 The fairy tale ending to the championships didn't quite work out for Team GB today with a break getting away in the closing stages and Belgium's sensational Tom Boonen sealed the win with his usual trademark salute. GB's sprint hope, Roger Hammond, was understandably disappointed as he feels the circuit did suit him but the fall of the dice in the way the final part of the race panned out went against him.

Everyone, including the team, was expecting a bunch sprint but the favourites including Roger were caught out by an attack at the bottom of the final climb. Learn more >>>>

OTHER ROAD WORLDS FEATURES

 Prior to the Great Britain team starting its 2005 Road Worlds campaign with the Under 23 Time Trial on a sporting course in Madrid, British Cycling .spoke to Ben Greenwood (Recycling.co.uk) and Ed Clancy (Team Sparkasse) about their big day on the World stage in Spain.

For riders like Ben Greenwood and Ed Clancy, they can't help but be inspired by when sitting across from them is triple Olympic medallist, Bradley Wiggins and whilst out on the course other 'names' like Ekimov (former Olympic champion), Bobby Julich and others could be spotted making final preparations in not very ideal conditions as the roads were not closed as yet.  Learn More >>>>

 Anyone thinking the riders would get the whole of Friday to go riding around the circuit prior to the biggest race of the year - think again - because in reality due to it being the centre of Madrid, the best the organisation could do was give the riders one lap, all in, lap of the circuit and then the riders do their own thing away from the circuit later on.

We follow them all around and report back on what they think of it. The ride around the course for the riders was a like randonee with 300 or more riders and team cars all going around the circuit together... it was a sight that was for sure...

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 There is little doubt that Nicole Cooke is not only the best British female rider the country has produced in a long time, perhaps ever, but Nicole is also one of the undoubted stars of the road in the World. We talk to her prior to the big day.

Also, the Isle of Man rider Mark Cavendish has already got a rainbow jersey in his wardrobe after sensationally winning the Madison title in Los Angeles earlier this year. Now, he wants a rainbow jersey from the road and his speed in the bunch sprints has made a lot of people sit up and take notice.

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