European U23 Road Championships - CC

Athens, Greece, August 15-17, 2003

2002 results Stage List Preview Past winners

The Program

Race 1 - August 15: Individual Time Trial, 24/32 km (W/M)
Race 2 - August 17: Road Race, 105.6/158.4 km (W/M)

Worrack going for gold at Athens Olympic dress-rehearsal

Trixi Worrack (right) kickin' back with team-mate Judith Arndt
Photo: © Ellen Plas

The road race at this weekend's European championships in Athens, Greece will provide an opportunity for 2004 Olympic hopefuls to reconnoiter and race the course that will be used in the 2004 olympics. One rider who is very much looking forward to the challenge of defending her title in Athens is reigning U23 European champion Germany's Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nürnberger).

In an interview with www.radsport-news.com, Worrack said, "I am really looking forward to the European championships. It will be a chance to measure myself against the best riders in my age group in Europe."

Worrack's preparation for the European championships has been hindered by the flu she's been suffering from since the Thüringen-Rundfahrt der Frauen last month. She also believes the competition this year will be stronger than ever. "The new generation in women's racing hasn't only taken things up a level a Germany," she said. "It will be very hard to defend the title and you always need a helping of luck, but I will give it everything." Worrack's main rival will be the hot favourite Nicole Cooke. The 20-year-old from Wales has already won two World Cups this year.

Past winners

Time Trial

Men

2002 Jonas Olsson (Swe)
2001 Manuel Quinziato (Ita)
2000 Evgueni Petrov (Rus)

Women

2002 Olga Zabelinskaia (Rus) 
2001 Nicole Brandli (Swi)
2000 Lada Kozlikova (Cze)

Road Race

Men

2002 Michael Albasini (Swi)
2001 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) 

Women

2002 Trixi Worrack (Ger)
2001 Mirella Van Melis (Ned)

Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com