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News Feature, September 18, 2008
Worlds course preview
The road World Championship returns to Varese 57 years after Ferdi Kubler's win over Italian Fiorenzo Magni. It's a challenging parcours that will suit the likes of Samuel Sánchez, Phillip Gilbert and defending champion Paolo Bettini as Cyclingnews' Gregor Brown discovered during a mid-September day.
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The International Cycling Union (UCI) confirmed the return of the world championships to Varese three years ago in Madrid. The governing body bestowed the honour upon the Lombarda città over its southern Toscana rival, Lucca, and Valkenburg in the Netherlands. It's only four years since Italy last hosted the Worlds in 2004 - in Verona - but if any country can get behind this annual event it is the land renowned for its passionate sports supporters.
Italy boasts over 18 world champions on the road, with Paolo Bettini taking the most recent of those victories. Passion for the sport flows so freely in the bloodlines of this cycling-rich country that Varese has changed its ordinary Le Bettole horse track into the Mapei Cycling Stadium, the host for the start and finish of all six of this year's world title events.
Tom Boonen became world champion three days after the UCI announced that the 2008 title would be decided in Varese. And while the Madrid parcours suited his 'built for speed' body type, it quickly becomes apparent that this won't be the case on the Varese course. It has 237 metres of climbing over the 17.35km course, with the men facing 3,555 metres of climbing over their 15 laps.
Course description
Montello
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The Montello climb greets the riders from the gun, and they'll face it at the start of each circuit. This short, steep kilometre-long climb will provide an opportunity for selection as the laps count down. Villa Bernocchi, on the left, starts the climb and Scoula Europea ends it, but in between there are pitches of 10 percent. The climb, last used in the Giro d'Italia's stage 18, is still marked with the name of 2007 Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti.
The Montello is a prime spot for an opportunist to form a move and gain time on the dive down to Santuario di Sant'Antonio. The gradual descent passes the 15km to go marker before a sharp left and a flattening out as Lago di Varese can be seen to the right side.
Flat and further down
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Flat roads followed by a fast descent follow the Montello. Riders come down Via Marzorati, right around Santuario di Sant'Antonio's and onto Via Crispi. This road is straight, with a long left bend on Via Campigli, allowing the peloton full view of any developing breakaways. Under a bridge, the 10km and 9km to go markers pass, and then riders will have to touch their brakes through a chicane – right and left – before heading down to Via Macchi and the 8km to go marker.
A left-hand turn onto more flat terrain on Lungolago della Schiranna provides a bit of respite before the next climb begins. Along the one-kilometre stretch, with views of Lago di Varese, riders will size each other up for the Ronchi.
Watch for some of the big teams to send one of their men in a move on Montello's descent. Early on in the race a break could get established here and then build up some distance along the Lungolago run. A chance for Spain's Luis León Sánchez or Ezequiel Mosquera, Italian classics rider Alessandro Ballan or Belgium's Stijn Devolder.
Ronchi
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The 3.13km Ronchi comes at 10.66 kilometres into the course; it's long and will be loaded with crazed fans the week of the world championships. Its twists and turns – averaging 4.5 percent but kicking up to a maximum 11 percent – will allow for attacks and counter-attacks, and it will likely be the location of the winning move on the last lap.
Turning left off Schiranna, riders will follow signs for Villa Recalcati where the climb begins gradually before ramping up steeply into a series of two switchbacks. The 6km to go marker comes before the second switchback, where Ivan Basso and Visconti's names dot what was a peaceful road on the day of our preview.
The peace was broken after a left turn and the kick of the 11 percent grade. Any gaps taken need to be gained upon here – from 1,000 to 1,500 metres into the climb – before the grades ease up into the power climber's territory on the Montebello.
The Ronchi eases off but keeps gaining altitude as it passes the Ivan Basso club to the left. After a right-hand turn onto Via Trentini, the course passes under a bridge, to the right past Villa Recalcati and onto the final kick up Montebello. The open grassy fields at the base are exchanged for the more intimate affair of Recalcati and the closed roads edged with churches. It's the last chance for climbers to capitalise on their advantages and drop those with a sprint.
Finale
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The final 3.5km are flat and this is the place where a lead is consolidated or tension built as the field chases over the closing circuits. Riders will take Via 25 Aprile to Via Sacco and enter Varese's citta centro. Sunday city-goers will see the elite field zoom past on its way to the final gallop.
The long stretch down Via dei Mille leads to the red triangle and Viale Valganna. Approximately 400 metres remain from the final turn, a left-hander onto Viale dell'Ippodromo. It is the finale of a challenging Varese circuit; the short stretch that leads to a right-hand turn into the Mapei Cycling Stadium and the smooth asphalt finish on the barriered straight. Glory awaits.
The Giro's stage 18 utilised the same circuit, but the finish line was closer to the top of Ronchi, on Via Sacco. This time the riders will face an extra three kilometres – predominantly flat – before arriving at the line. This will spoil the chances of the attacking rider and give way on the final lap for a scouting move. If a team has more than one rider in the group, it will play tactics by sending one up the road. Look for the moves on the tricky streets though the centre of Varese, like Via Casula.
Side note
The course is tough and technical, but not dangerous. The new asphalt along most of the route will keep the racing safe even if rain dampens the events. The most demanding point – after the start of the Montello descent – will require attention to avoid crashes.
For more information see the race maps or the preview of race favourites.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Gregor Brown / Cyclingnews
- The Montello climb greets the riders after half a kilometres of racing.
- What lies behind Montello's first corner...
- The Montello rises 75 metres in 1.15 kilometres.
- The Villa Bernocchi signifies the start of the climb.
- The -16km marker is on the Montello climb.
- A look down one of Montello's turns.
- The Montello climb at 6.5% average gradient is stiffer than the Ronchi, 4.5%.
- Around another left bend on Montello...
- The Montello climb continues.
- The decent of Montello on Via Marzorati.
- Santuario di Sant'Antonio will be on the riders' right after descending Via Marzorati and turning right on Via Crispi.
- Santuario di Sant'Antonio could see a solo attacker taking advantage of time gained on Montello.
- The straight shot down Via Crispi.
- The long left bend down Campigli.
- Going down Via Daverio the riders will pass -10km.
- A chicane (a right here) faces the riders off of Via Daverio.
- Locals promised to be there when the riders weave through and saved a seat (and beer) for Cyclingnews.
- The quick right is followed by a left and a straight shot down Via Macchi.
- The riders will be on the flat of Lungolago della Schiranna following a left turn at the roundabout.
- Schiranna is about one kilometre long and all flat.
- Views of Lago di Varese will be off to the riders' right but they will be thinking of the left turn to start Ronchi.
- Left turn to Villa Recalcati, it is only 3km ... but all uphill.
- The start of Ronchi ... behind the right turn lies pain.
- Ronchi comes at 10.66km into the course. It is 3.1km and averages 4.5% gradient.
- Two switchbacks come at the -6km marker, right after a gentle right and left.
- The left turn at 1° comes after 2° and views of the lake and climb come next.
- Ivan Basso's name marks the road with Lago di Varese back behind.
- Giovanni Visconti's name remains from stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia.
- The Ronchi rises
- After this left-hander the riders hit 11% grades.
- The Ronchi levels out but keeps climbing.
- On the left is the Ivan Basso club, which explains his name on the road even though he won't be racing.
- Still climbing... ahead is a right-hand turn onto Via Trentini.
- On Via Trentini for 100m, then right after passing the bridge (this road is descended in the other direction before -10km).
- Climbing and passing Villa Recalcati on the left. A left turn follows.
- On Via Montebello the climbing continues.
- Mass will end and church goers walking out the doors here will witness the pain on the riders' faces.
- The Varese Questura will be on the riders left going from Montebello to Via 25 Aprile. (It is also passed coming off Via Campigli)
- Via Sacco is a quick and straight run.
- Past the theater the riders head into Varese's centre.
- In the historic centre
- Heading through Varese...
- Starting the last kilometre along Viale Valganna.
- And the home straight to stardom (note, the traffic will be cleared before the events)
- The last turn near 400 metres to go.
- The Mapei Cycling Stadium provides the start and finish of all six events.
