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cycling: Cycling World Cup: Alejandro Valverde finally crowned world champion

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Alejandro Valverde World Cycling Championship

Cycling: Alejandro Valverde has finally become world champion. The 38-year-old Spaniard won the road race of the World Cycling Championships in Innsbruck after a tough battle in the sprint of a group of four ahead of Romain Bardet (France) and Michael Woods (Canada). For him it is the first gold medal at a World Championships, having previously landed on the podium seven times, but was never able to celebrate at the top.

Peter Sagan gets out early at the World Cycling Championships

At 9:51 a.m. on Sunday morning, the final act of the 2018 Cycling World Championships started. In Kufstein, the best pros of their nations got on their bikes in sunny temperatures of around 20 degrees. After an 84,9 kilometer journey to the destination in Innsbruck, the showdown for the rainbow jersey was to take place on a 23,9 kilometer circuit. The round with the 7,9 kilometer climb up to the bob run in Igls had to be completed a total of seven times. Once the pros had put these hardships behind them, the dreaded Höttinger Höll awaited them just before they crossed the finish line. It is logical that many drivers could not make this effort on the route designed by ex-professional Thomas Rohregger to the end. Among other things, is also defending champion Peter Sagan from Slovakia dropped out of the race early.

Cycling World Cup Innsbruck road race profile

Prominent drivers have to give up early

Even before the city of Innsbruck was reached, a normal racing situation arose in which eleven riders were able to break away from the peloton. Daniel Fominykh (Kazakhstan), Vegard stake lengths (Norway), Tobias Ludvigsson (Sweden), Kasper Asgreen (Denmark), Rob Britton (Canada), Jacques Janse van Rensburg (South Africa), Laurent Didier (Luxembourg), Karel Hnik (Czech Republic), Ilia Koshevoy (Belarus), as well as Ryan Mullen and conor dunne (Ireland) were able to open up a large lead. Behind them, the big nations controlled the pace in the peloton, above all the Spaniards and the British. Around 50 kilometers before the finish, well-known drivers attacked for the first time. Among other things, tried greg van avermaet (Belgium), Omar friar (Spain) and Damian Caruso (Italy) in vain. The pace increase fell with Daniel Martin (Ireland), Wout poels (Netherlands), Simon yates (Great Britain) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) but prominent drivers victimized.

decision in hell

The Italians took control of the peloton in the last 40 kilometers. However, not for Vincent Nibali, because the multiple Grand Tour winner couldn't follow in the last lap. Kasper Asgreen and Vegard stake lengths were placed as the last outliers. The only 30 or so riders left in the peloton were to fight for the medals over the last 20 kilometers. After an impressive attack up to Igls, the Dane drove Michael Valgren 30 seconds ahead as the first into the Höttinger Höll. But the small gap shouldn't be enough, because of course the pace didn't slow down behind them. The French sat with Thibaut Pinot their final attack and hardly anyone could follow - not even the captain Julian Alaphilippe. Romain Bardet suddenly became the new leader who, together with Michael Woods (Canada), Alejandro Valverde (Spain) and Gianni moscon (Italy) formed a quartet.

All against Alejandro Valverde

After an attack by Michael Woods also joined Gianni moscon the engine off. The medals seemed to have been awarded, but suddenly the Dutchman came on downhill Tom Dumoulin approach again. Instead of going straight through, the time trial vice world champion slowed down. The four leaders stalked each other in the last 1.000 meters, since fifth Gianni Moscon was far enough away. Everyone knew that Alejandro Valverde is the strongest sprinter among them. That's why the Spaniard had to start the sprint all over again - and he did. The 38-year-old, who has been on the podium seven times at world championships but has never won, finally fulfilled his lifelong dream. Alejandro Valverde no longer let anyone pass. In tears, the old master cheered in the finish area with his supervisors and teammates. Silver secured Romain Bardet before Michael Woods and the unfortunate Tom Dumoulin.

Anna van der Breggen races into the rainbow jersey with a brilliant solo

Already yesterday the women in Tirol fought for medals. As with the Individual time trial on Tuesday the Dutch women also dominated the road race. Four Oranje pros ended up in the top 9 - but only one of them managed to win a medal. Anna van der breggen rode into the rainbow jersey with an impressive solo. When the Olympic champion attacked about 40 kilometers from the finish, only very few expected that they would see Anna van der Breggen again at the finish. The Australian secured herself with a deficit of 3:42 Amanda Spratt Silver in front of the Italian Tatiana Guderzo. They also benefited from a tactically shaped race in which Anna van der Breggen's flight meant that the pace in the main field was no longer there. Countrywoman drove through a late attack Annemiek van Vleuten still in seventh place, although she broke her tibia head in a fall about 100 kilometers from the finish. Was significantly happier after the hard race Clara Koppenburg. In 18th place, she was able to be celebrated as the best German. 22nd was the Swiss Jolanda Neff.

Tags:Alejandro ValverdeAmanda SprattAnna van der breggenAnnemiek van VleutenClara KoppenburgInnsbruckYolanda NeffMichael WoodsNewsCycling World CupRomain BardetTatiana GuderzoWeltmeisterschaft

More than Michael Behringer

Cycling with all its tactics, stage analyses, placements and forecasts are Michael Behringer's great passion. In 1996 he tracked his first Tour de France. Since then he has observed almost every race. His passion for cycling has been with him for over two decades. There is no end in sight.