After initially floating the possibility that he might not participate in the world championships, Fabian Cancellara has confirmed that he will indeed ride both the road race and time trial events in Australia.
The Swiss rider held a press conference today and announced that he would target both events. He tried to win two gold medals last year, being motivated by the fact that the championships were being held on home soil, but had to settle for a dominant first place in the time trial and then fifth in the road race. He was regarded as one of the strongest in the latter, but was marked very closely.
“When I take the world championships in Mendrisio in 2009 as a comparison, when the situation was similar, I am confident,” he said today at the conference. “I’m on the right track and the legs feel good. I must now just make a click in my head.” However he doesn’t want the tag of favourite for the road race. “I’m an outsider,” he insists.
If anything, this year’s road race course might suit him better than that of 2009. Last year’s was very hilly and while he can handle climbs when in top form, many of his biggest wins have come on slightly flatter courses.
In addition to three world time trial titles, he has also taken two Paris-Roubaix, plus the 2008 Milan San Remo and the 2010 Tour of Flanders.
He suffered a rare defeat in the final time trial in the Vuelta a España, placing only third behind Peter Velits (HTC Columbia) and Denis Menchov (Rabobank). That led to doubts in his mind about taking part in the worlds but, after pulling out of the Vuelta and resting, he has decided that his form is good and that he has a chance of going for gold.
His biggest rival is likely to be the German rider Tony Martin, who has been riding very strong in time trials this year. He beat Cancellara in the Tour de Suisse, but was unable to replicate that in the Tour de France. Cancellara won the prologue and also the stage 19 time trial there.
World championships aside, the Swiss rider must also decide where he will race in 2010. He has decided to buy himself out of his current contract with the Saxo Bank team, and is thought to be on the wish list of a number of squads including Team Sky, the BMC Racing Team, Katusha and the new Luxembourg team led by the Schleck brothers.
He said today that he would make a decision after the worlds. “I have received multiple offers,” the 29 year old confirmed. If he nets another rainbow jersey or two, the number of suitors would rise even further.