Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003


 By Kris Westwood

 The organizers of the cycling world championships couldn't have asked for better weather as racing opened today with the junior women's and espoir men's individual time trials.

 As they enjoyed the mild and sunny weather, racing fans were treated to a fine performance by the German delegation, as Bianca Knoepfle left with the junior women's gold and Marcus Fothen pulled on the espoir men's rainbow jersey.

 "Today is a good day," said Fothen's personal coach Peter Weibel after the racing ended. "I think Canada is a good country for us."

 There was no particular indication that the day would turn out so well for Germany. In fact, neither Knoepfle nor national coach Jochen Dornbusch had tipped her as a title contender.

 "For me, the absolute favourite was the Australian (Stephanie Williams, who finished sixth)," said Dornbusch after the race. "The problem with the juniors is you see them so seldom, you don't have any chances to compare them.

 "I haven't seen Bianca very much - she was German champion but she rides mostly mountain bikes."

 As for Knoepfle, when she stepped off the podium after receiving the gold medal she was speechless and had tears streaming down her cheeks.

 "I can't imagine to have this medal - it's incredible," she managed at the press conference. "It was only my fourth or fifth time trial."

 Granted, Knoepfle, 18, won the German time trial championships this year, but her main focus has been mountain biking, a sport she started at age nine.

 Knoepfle had just a month to prepare for this race because she also competed in the mountain bike world championships in Lugano, Switzerland, at the beginning of September, where she finished 9th.

 Three weeks ago she received her new bike and embarked on a specific training program for the worlds.

 Holland filled both the second and third steps on the podium, with Loes Markerink in second and Iris Slappendel in third. Markerink has been competing since age 11 after a short ice hockey career. Slappendel started cycling as training for speedskating, and started racing three years ago.

 Despite her success, Knoepfle is determined to concentrate on finishing her studies at the Olympic training centre in Freiburg, where she lives and trains.

 Canadians Audrey Lemieux of Alma, Que. and Emilie Roy of St.-Cuthbert, Que. finished 16th and 18th respectively, a disappointing result according to national development coach Jacques Landry.

 "To be honest, I think they could have done better - they rode too conservatively," he said. "But it's good because I think in the road race (on Friday) one or the other can get the podium."

 In the afternoon the espoirs took to the course for their 30.8 kilometre race, and they immediately showed the kind of speeds they can do. Third starter Jure Zrimsek (Slovenia) stormed around the two laps of the course to post a 39:20.88 - and average speed of almost 47 kilometres per hour. Rider after rider set off at one-and-a-half minute intervals to try and best Zrimsek's time, but it would be nearly an hour before Niels Scheuneman of the Netherlands took over the lead with a 38:54.28 effort.

 But the fastest riders were still to come. Charging down the final descent at close to 80 km/h, Germany's Marcus Fothen set a mark nobody was able to beat with a 38:35.29. Scheuneman held on to the silver and Alexandr Bespalov of Russia snatched third with a 38:56.57 in the dying minutes.

 With such a competitive field there was no question of holding energy in reserve.

 "It's no longer possible to use tactics in a time trial," esplained Fothen's coach, Weibel. "You have to ride at the maximum effort."

 This has been a bumper year for the 22-year-old Fothen, who comes from Kaarst in western Germany. He won both the German and the European time trial titles and recently signed a professional contract for 2004 with the Gerolsteiner team. With his future assured, he was calm and collected yesterday.

 "In the morning I had a good feeling," he said after the race. "After the first lap, I heard I had the best time and then it was all or nothing to the finish."

 Scheuneman's silver medal was an improvement over last year, when he finished eighth, and 2001, when he was third in the junior category.

 The one thing he was missing this year was a bigger gear. "I could have used a 10," he said.

 Bespalov, who only speaks Russian, said through a translator that he was happy with his bronze, even though he won silver last year. The hilly Hamilton course didn't suit him at all, so he was surprised to be on the podium.

 Top North American was Michael Creed of the U.S., who finished sixth, though for a short while, before the fast men finished, it looked like he would be a contender for a podium spot.

 "If I didn't get top 10 today I would have been disappointed," he said, but although he accomplished this goal he still had some regrets.

 "If I could change anything about my ride I would have gone faster on my first lap," he said. He rode about half a minute faster on his second lap of the course and finished with plenty of energy in reserve.

 Canadians Dominique Rollin of Boucherville, Que., and Chris Isaac of Newmarket, Ont., had an anonymous day, finishing 42nd and 43rd respectively.

 "I was happy that I pushed myself but not too happy with my time," said the 21-year-old Isaac.

 For the German team, tonight will be a chance to celebrate, just not too much.

 "We'll have a party - a little party," said Fothen, who races again on Friday.