August 2010

Junior World Championships, Offida, Italy

by Annie Ewart

Following Canadian Road Nationals in Devon, Alberta during early July, I was thrilled to be selected to represent Canada at the Junior World Championships, in Offida, Italy.

I was chosen to be one of two riders to compete in both World events – the 15 km Time Trial and the 80km Road Race. For the Road Race we would be in a team of four. As the only first year junior on the team, I was the youngest on the team and looked forward to learning from the others. We were also joined by six junior men.

On July 26th I left Victoria to travel to join the Canadian Team at their training base in Tielt, Belgium. Tielt is a very small town east of Brussels – there is not much there (a bakery and small grocery shop), so there are few distractions for the team - aside board games and training. The team is based in a rented house here because the location is close to races in Belgium, Holland, Germany and France. While at Tielt I got to train with the team, participate in a local kermesse race, and go to watch a post Tour De France race involving many of the big name riders, such as the World Time Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara.

On August 3rd our team flew from Belgium to Ancona, Italy (east coast), and from Ancona it was only an hour drive to our hotel base near Offida.

Offida is a very small village located in the hilly Marche Region, close to the east coast of Italy. The location was regarded as one of the hardest ever courses for Junior Worlds given the steep and twisty roads, and consistently hot August temperatures.

We spent the few days before competition began by riding the routes for both the Time Trial and Road Race. After training for two days we all agreed that racing would be physically challenging and technical.

My first race was the Time Trial on Friday August 6th. The Women’s start was at 11am – by which time it was already close to 30 degrees. Riders left every minute - I started at 11:10am and finished in 24:02 minutes; which ultimately had me place 20th overall. The winners’ time was 21:30 – with an average speed over the 15km of over 42 kph. My teammate finished in 23rd place.

Although disappointed by my final place my coaches were positive as they had noticed a few areas on the technical downhill sections where I could make improvements and increase speed. During the Men’s Time Trial our fastest rider crashed after 5km, breaking his nose and tearing knee ligaments (leaving him in a leg cast and out of any further racing). The other male rider finished 24h.

The Team was glad to get a break on Saturday from racing and get mentally prepared for the Sunday Road Race. Being part of a national team has some real benefits - for example a mechanic to get our bikes checked and ready, and a soigneur to help with massage and any medical issues.

The Sunday Road Race started in Offida and consisted of 5 laps of a 16km course: a steep uphill start, long technical descent, false flat, then demanding 3km climb (up to 12%) back to Offida. The Team had a tent near the start where food and water kept and where we met with the coaches.

Before our start time each of the 51 competing countries had to “sign in” against their race numbers. The whole event was televised throughout, and a helicopter with camera buzzed overhead to send live race updates back to the crowds in the main square and those watching at home.

The start of the race was at an insane pace on lap one, and I stayed with the lead group for the first 14 kms. My heart rate was at 198 (my maximum recorded during lab testing is 202 bpm) and on the steep ascent back to Offida the fastest 30 girls got a break on the rest of the field of almost 60 riders. I had one team mate who managed to stay with the break for 3 laps – unfortunately for me, I never saw the front riders again as their downhill speed was too fast for the rest of the chase groups to catch (although at one point we got to within 10 seconds of catching them).

The winner finished in 2 hours 32 minutes in a sprint finish of five – with an average speed of over 32 kph. The rest of the field was strung out behind. I finished in 40th place 10 minutes back - I was the second Canadian to finish; my team mate finished in 28th position (5 minutes ahead of me).

The Men’s race started at 2pm under blazing sun and temperatures which had soared to 33 degrees. After 120 kms our top place finisher was 69th, and like many other teams, a number of our riders pulled from the race because of the speed and heat.

Overall, our Canadian Team was disappointed by our results from both races. The other teams, especially the teams from the European countries are incredibly competitive and very well prepared.

For me this experience would not have been possible without the support of my few key sponsors and my parents and family – for which I am incredibly grateful. I learnt a lot from this, my first, international experience – how important it is to pay attention to the little details and what it will take to be Junior World Champion in 2011 in Copenhagen – my new goal starting this September.