The winner of the 2010 world road race championship, Thor Hushovd, has ruled out a drive to capture this year’s rainbow jersey, saying that he has other targets for the remainder of the season.
The BMC Racing Team rider had a lean period after winning gold in Geelong three years ago, suffering a virus last year and also having a quiet spring this year. However he bounced back recently by winning the Norwegian road race championship, a stage in the Tour of Austria and two in the Tour de Pologne.
Still, his ambitions don’t extend to this year’s championships in Florence, Italy.
“First and foremost, the Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg and the GP Plouay in France in the first weekend in September is most important,” he told Fædrelandsvennen. “I focus more on those than the world championships. That is not a goal for me.”
Hushovd’s declaration is likely due to the nature of the Florence course, which is regarded as the most difficult in many years. While he has performed well in the past on lumpy terrain, it is thought that explosive climbers are more likely to fight for the medals this year.
Team selector Stig Kristiansen has said that he understands Hushovd’s position and the importance of those other events to him.
“It is quite natural that Hushovd has big goals for the races. They fit him well and he has performed there earlier,” he explained.
Hushovd is currently taking part in the Arctic Race of Norway and was fourth on yesterday’s opening leg, beating beaten for the win by Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil DCM), the latter’s team-mate Barry Markus and Rüdiger Selig of Katusha.
He said that he was disappointed with the outcome, but remained in the hunt for the overall. “My team had to do a lot of work,” he explained. “In the end, we brought it all back together. I'm not really happy with my sprint but we are still there for the GC.”
However BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Yvon Ledanois saw an upside. “I think for the team and for Thor, this is not a bad result. It's more the responsibility now for Vacansoleil, which is better for us,” he stated. The race continues today with a 156.5 km beginning and concluding in Svolvær.