Michael Matthews claims silver at road cycling world championships as Peter Sagan cruises to title
AUSTRALIA’S Michael Matthews sprinted to claim silver at the road cycling world championships behind Slovakian Peter Sagan in Richmond, Virginia.
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Peter Sagan rode hands-free across the finish line, popping off his bike and casting it aside with a flourish. He tossed his helmet into the adoring crowd and threw his arms into the air.
No need to wait for a gold medal to celebrate a world championship.
Sagan attacked with about a mile left in the elite men’s race on Sunday, gritting his teeth as he powered down Broad Street and away from his rivals.
Michael Matthews of Australia sprinted for silver in a reduced group of big names, while Ramunas Navardauskus of Lithuania took bronze.
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“I could not believe I crossed the line alone,” Sagan said with a grin. “I wasn’t thinking about a rainbow jersey this year and now I have it. It’s strange.”
It was the first world championship medal in the men’s road race for Slovakia, but hardly one that came as a surprise. Sagan long ago emerged as one of cycling’s biggest talents, even though he had an up-and-down season that including sharp criticism from his trade team owner.
Sagan may have been the only one who refused to anoint himself the favourite.
“I came here to win today and I knew I had the legs to do it,” Matthews said, “but yeah, the final there, Sagan slipped away and he was really strong, so unfortunately I sprinted for second.”
The day’s first breakaway formed shortly after riders departed from the University of Richmond and made their way downtown, where thousands of fans lined the 10-mile circuit.
A more dangerous break materialised with about two laps left, and included favourites such as Belgian one-day specialist Tom Boonen, Italian sprinter Elia Viviani, Dutch strong man Bauke Mollema and Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski, the surprise world champion of a year ago.
That failed as well, and the peloton was back together for the final lap.
“Nobody really went for it,” Kwiatkowski said. “We had more than a 30-second advantage. It was a nice gap, but everybody knew the last kilometres would decide it.”
Zdenek Stybar of the Czech Republic was first to attack on Libby Hill, and John Degenkolb of Germany went with him. A line of riders followed the duo, with Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium joining Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen in nailing back the move.
Sagan, who hid safely in the peloton all day, finally pushed to the front. He raced past Van Avermaet, got into a time-trial tuck and sped downhill to open a gap. By the time Sagan made the last left-hand turn onto the finishing straight, he was well clear of the field.
“It’s unbelievable for me,” said Sagan, whose brother Juraj was also part of the small, three-man Slovakia squad. “It’s my biggest victory and I’m very happy.”
Unbelievable for Sagan, painful for Matthews and the rest of the contenders.
“It was a bit heartbreaking,” he said, “to see the rainbow jersey ride away like that.”
Originally published as Michael Matthews claims silver at road cycling world championships as Peter Sagan cruises to title
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