World Championships news for September 11, 2000

Danish World's team reduced

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

Denmark will only have ten riders on their team in the World Championships road race. The Danish cycling federation, DCU, thinks that no more than ten riders actually can ride a good race at Plouay.

However the Danish national coach Jørgen Marcussen is questioning the decision, "It is strange to send only ten when we are entitled to twelve. The World's is the most important race for the federation and when we are entitled to twelve riders on the team we should also send a full dozen. I cannot understand the argument. Out of twelve we will certainly have two without a chance to win, but they can take part in the tactics and also help the others on the team," he told Danish TV station TV2.

According to president Peder Pedersen and managing director Jesper Worre it is not a question of economy, "We have the money, but we think that our chances won't be any less with ten on the team. We are going for a top result and after having studied several riders' programmes for the rest of the season, we came to this decision," said Pedersen who also claims that several riders support his decision.

Worre points out that in Valkenburg two years ago, most Danish riders abandoned, "Some of them should never have started. And last year it was Rolf Sørensen that saved the day by riding far better than expected. Chances won't be less with ten rides and you cannot get in form for the World's by racing at home in Denmark."