2008 Cyclo-cross World Championships - CM

Treviso, Italy, January 26-27, 2008

Photography

Race 4 - January 27: Elite Men

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Enrico Franzoi (Italy) runs past some Belgian fans.
• Lars Boom (Netherlands) powers up the step section.
• The pace was high all round the La Bandie course in Treviso.
• The Belgians had plenty of fans and riders, but couldn't bring the title home.
• Lars Boom (Netherlands) is the new World Champion at 22 years old.
• The elite men's podium (l-r): Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic), Lars Boom (Netherlands) and Sven Nys (Belgium).

Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews.com

• French fans before the men's race.
• Lars Boom (Netherlands) gets a good start.
• Elite men are off.
• Lars Boom (Netherlands) finishes exhausted, but a World Champion.
• Jonathan Page (United States) after a tough day.
• Tim Johnson (United States) surprised himself today considering he thought he had bad form.
• Radomir Simunek (Czech Republic) after an impressive showing.
• Sven Nys (Belgium) is content with third, knowing he could not do better.
• The press gather after the finish.
• Lars Boom (Netherlands) explains how he won the race.

Race 3 - January 27: Elite Women

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany) manages a no-hander on the steep ramp towards the finish.
• Kupfernagel celebrates as Marianne Vos (Netherlands) steams towards the finish after passing virtually the entire field.
• That's four! Kupfernagel shows off her fourth gold medal at the Cyclo-cross World Championships. Her other victories came in 2000, 2001 and 2005.

Images by AFP Photo

• Kupfernagel approaches the finish line in Treviso.
• Time for a sit down at the finish.
• The women's podium (l-r): Marianne Vos (Netherlands), Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany) and Laurence Leboucher (France).
• Kupfernagel shows off her fourth gold medal at the 'Cross Worlds.

Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews

• The Dutch showed well in the day's action.
• The start of the women's race.
• The US women heading off for the race.
• Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (France) after a hard day and finishing fourth.
• Wendy Simms (Canada) exhausted but happy with her seventh place.
• Rachel Lloyd (United States) happy to have finished ninth.

Images by Davide Tricarico/www.ladiescycling.net

• Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany) attacks on the hill.
• Marianne Vos (Holland) in classic cross position.
• Francesca Cucciniello (Italy) suffering on the ascent of the hill.
• The hill was difficult with its 26 percent.
• A French supporter enjoying the day.

Race 2 - January 26: U23 Men

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Niels Albert (Belgium) streaked away from the start and was never seen again.
• Albert was out on his own for virtually the entire race.
• Albert had plenty of time to celebrate with the nearest chasers over 30 seconds behind.
• After three years of trying, Albert finally has the rainbow jersey.
• Cristian Cominelli (Italy) delights the crowd by sprinting to third place.

Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews

• The start of the under 23 race led by Thijs Van Amerongen of Holland.
• A couple of Italians find themselves with a poor start to the under 23 race.
• Ole Quast (Germany) was last off after bad luck with his chain.
• Lukas Kloucek (Czech Republic) reflects after a hard-fought race.
• Jamey Driscoll (United States) finished 34th and admitted he did not have a good race.
• Nicholas Weighall (United States) finished in 43rd for the day.
• Brian Robinson (Canada) was satisfied with his 42nd place finish.

Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews

• The people from the Basque Country create some ambiance along the course.
• The French spectators are happy with their second medal in two championship races.
• Niels Albert looks relieved after finally winning the world title.
• The Belgians showed up in great numbers to see their hero on the podium.
• Niels Albert can finally wear the rainbow jersey.
• The carabinieri have to keep an eye on enthusiastic Belgian fans.
• Niels Albert at the post race press conference.
• This is the Italian way of organising a post race press grill.

Race 1 - January 26: Junior Men

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• The junior men's race tears away from the start line.
• Arnaud Jouffroy (France) tackles the stairs.
• Arnaud Jouffroy (France) claims the Junior World Cyclo-cross Championship with Peter Sagan (Slovakia) behind.

Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews

• The start of the junior race.
• The riders cover the short area between the start line and the finish line.
• Riders hit the deck shortly after the start.
• Elia Silvestri (Italy) finishes in fourth.
• USA Junior National Champion Luke Keough finished 10th in his first cyclo-cross Worlds.
• Valentin Hadoux (France) after the race.

Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews

• Luke Keough (USA) explains that he met his expectations.

Images by Riccardo Scanferla/riccardo@ciclismoweb.net

• Arnaud Jouffroy (France) does his best on his way to earning gold.
• Lubomir Petrus (Czech Republic) on the 26 percent run-up.
• Italy's Elia Silvestri rode to an eventual fourth.
• Lars Van Der Haar (Netherlands) was forced off his bike in the steep sections like many of his competitors.
• Arnaud Jouffroy (France) wins the junior's event.
• Arnaud Jouffroy (France) tops the podium with Peter Sagan (Slovakia) and Lubomir Petrus (Czech Republic), l & r.

Pre-Worlds - January 25

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Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews

• Grassy parcours means fast racing – Francis Mourey, who won last year's World Cup in Italy, could once again prevail.
• The finish has been moved some 50 metres from last year's World Cup, making for more uphill.
• The twisty run leading to the lakeside ride.
• Home rider Enrico Franzoi trying the the parcours of Le Bandie.