Norwegian confident he can defend his rainbow jersey on sprinters’ course in Copenhagen
Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo) is hoping to successfully defend his rainbow jersey at the World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark in September. The Norwegian was a surprise winner on last year’s Melbourne/Geelong, Australia course, as prevailing opinion said that it was too hilly for the sprinters; this year though, the course will be much flatter and suited to Hushovd’s characteristics.
“I’m going to build myself up into good shape for the race,” he told dagbladet.no. “I did it last year and I can do it this year too. We’ll see.”
While the 13.5km Copenhagen circuit features several undulations, they are not predicted to be enough to worry the sprinters. Most of the sport’s fastest riders have been checking out the course and feel that they can do well there; Hushovd is no exception, having visited several times.
“The course suits me well and I can win it, of course,” he said. “But it’s hard to take it two years in a row.”
Several riders have, in the past, managed to successfully defend their rainbow jersey in the men’s road race, right back to Belgian Georges Ronsse, who won the second and third ever editions back in 1928/29. Rik Van Steenbergen, Rik Van Looy and Gianni Bugno have also won in consecutive years, with the most recent rider to do so being current Italian coach Paolo Bettini in 2006 and 2007.
After a busy season, including a full Classics season, the Tours of California and Switzerland, and the Tour de France – where he won two stages and wore the yellow jersey for a week – Hushovd needs to recover before he can be fit enough to take on the World Championships.
“I have to recharge myself after the Tour,” he said, “rest a bit at home before my preparation begins.”
Hushovd was speaking after having raced the Sørlandsparken Grand Prix in Kristiansand, one of the post-Tour criteriums, where riders are paid big fees o attend and the result is generally worked out in advance. He went on a long solo break with just a few laps to go but was eventually caught by Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) and went on to finish third, with Gilbert taking the victory.
“I had wanted to win but so did the others,” said Hushovd, “but with so many people there was an incredible atmosphere here.”
Approximately 50,000 people attended the race, and were given the rare opportunity to see some of the sport’s biggest stars racing on Norwegian soil. As well as Gilbert and Cancellara, the assembled names included Hushovd’s compatriot and fellow double-stage winner Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) and Alberto Contador’s key teammate Richie Porte (Saxo Bank-SunGard).
“I’m proud to have them here when Norway turns out like this,” Hushovd proclaimed. “There was tremendous joy and enthusiasm here today.”