Jonny B

First off, congrats to the Swede that won (forget her name, last year's champ). But why wasn't she wearing her stripes? Don't women get them (Nicole Cooke didn't have them on her sleeves, dispite being 3-times a World champ)?

Anyway, to the rest of the race. Why, when Jennie Longo was ten, fifteen, twenty seconds off the front, was the chaisng pack not, well, chasing? They all seemed to be just farting around, waiting for everyone else to make the move. I know that every one of them wanted to win (and thus not go first), but surely if no-one went then Longo wouldn't get caught. In the end she was, but only inside the last 1500m or so, and she still finished an impresive seventh (even more impressive as she is 44 years young ).

And another thing, why did Cooke decide to attack on the big decent on the third-from-last lap? Why that early in the race? Why not on the climb? I was worried that she would tire herself out too early, but she still seemed to have the juice to stay with the leading bunch and finish third, if only by an inch or two. As good as I know she is (World Cup champ and all), her strategy for this race didn't seem as good as it could have been. She didn't really look comfortable at the head of the pack, where she spent a lot of time on the last two laps; and she was in a bad position as the sprint started, and had to change her line a few times. Could it be that the lack of 'team' backup hindered her chances? Of course during the World cup races she has at least a few allies to help her during the day, but today only one other Brit finished (as far as I know) and she was a long way behind, leaving Nicole without a leadoff wheel for the sprint.

One last thing, I saw on Eurosport that one of the guys in the Junior race was badly hurt in a crash. Anyone know his condition? I really hope he's OK, no-one wants to see someone get injured, especially at such a young age.

brent_dube

That chase group really looked like a bunch of amateurs at one time, late in the race. They seemed very unorganized... I figured it was almost more efficient to be out on your own, at your own steady pace, with your own line through the corners, than in such a variable chase group.
Yeah I was suprised at Cooke's attack as well. She said something like she didnt feel like her heart was in it, during the race? I dont know.
That was a great try by Jennie Longo. I was amazed to hear she was 44 years!
A great race though.

pinerider

Kevin Lacombe, 18 of the Canadian Team was the injured rider. According to the Hamilton Spectator, he's still in hospital in stable condition, with a broken orbital bone above his right eye and serious head trauma. He is doing really well, consious, alert and talking. He also plays hockey at the elite level, in the Quebec Major Junior League.
Another rider, American John Devine suffered a shoulder injury on the last lap, is expected to make a full recovery