Cadel said the course wasn't tough enough to suit someone like him...and I'm sure he meant it.
But having ridden the course today it's a very tough reality check for the rest of us if it's true. The loop around and through the centre of Geelong is VERY hard. To think that the men's event rides 85 km from Melbourne then does this 17km loop ELEVEN times is jaw dropping. There's some really steep pitches in the circuit that are too long to blast up, but not long enough to get into a climbing rhythm.
Cadel's point is that the Swiss circuit that he won on last year had about 4500m of climb in it, compared to about 3200m in Geelong. However given the only climb in the first 85-90kms is in the service lane of the Westgate Bridge it means there's an awful lot of up once you hit the streets of Geelong.
The course looks fantastic. All the stands are up in the finishing straight (in Moorabool Street, the main heart of Geelong) and the barricading is in place for almost the whole 17km...including a temporary wider bridge over the Barwon that's been built for the event. Even some of the Geelong shops have got on board with window displays and street decorations. They must sense a dollar to be made here.
The circuit also runs along the rowing course known well by many of us. All those ordinary looking motels along that strip have been decked out in the flags of the national teams that are staying there. It looks very international and exciting. Not at all like Geelong really.
I rode into Geelong from Queenscliff and then just followed the barricaded circuit with a few dozen other would be World Champs. After being somewhat traumatised by the course I retired back to Queenscliff for breakfast, having completed just one loop. It was over breakfast that the final blow was struck. Reading the local rag about street closures etc I realised that I'd actually ridden the easier course, the one for the Time Trial .. the one that avoids the steepest hill up Challambra Crescent.
The scary thing is that I'm sure Cadel's right...the course probably isn't tough enough for someone like him.
But having ridden the course today it's a very tough reality check for the rest of us if it's true. The loop around and through the centre of Geelong is VERY hard. To think that the men's event rides 85 km from Melbourne then does this 17km loop ELEVEN times is jaw dropping. There's some really steep pitches in the circuit that are too long to blast up, but not long enough to get into a climbing rhythm.
Cadel's point is that the Swiss circuit that he won on last year had about 4500m of climb in it, compared to about 3200m in Geelong. However given the only climb in the first 85-90kms is in the service lane of the Westgate Bridge it means there's an awful lot of up once you hit the streets of Geelong.
The course looks fantastic. All the stands are up in the finishing straight (in Moorabool Street, the main heart of Geelong) and the barricading is in place for almost the whole 17km...including a temporary wider bridge over the Barwon that's been built for the event. Even some of the Geelong shops have got on board with window displays and street decorations. They must sense a dollar to be made here.
The circuit also runs along the rowing course known well by many of us. All those ordinary looking motels along that strip have been decked out in the flags of the national teams that are staying there. It looks very international and exciting. Not at all like Geelong really.
I rode into Geelong from Queenscliff and then just followed the barricaded circuit with a few dozen other would be World Champs. After being somewhat traumatised by the course I retired back to Queenscliff for breakfast, having completed just one loop. It was over breakfast that the final blow was struck. Reading the local rag about street closures etc I realised that I'd actually ridden the easier course, the one for the Time Trial .. the one that avoids the steepest hill up Challambra Crescent.
The scary thing is that I'm sure Cadel's right...the course probably isn't tough enough for someone like him.
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