3 August 2023 will probably go down in the history books of cycling. On this day, the "Super World Championships" will begin in Scotland - the first global title fights in which rainbow jerseys will be awarded in almost all cycling disciplines within ten days at one venue. On the road in the individual time trial, in the road race and in the mixed relay, as well as in the Granfondo - the cycling marathon competition for which you can qualify worldwide as an amateur athlete.
World Cycling Championships 2023: Numerous disciplines at one event
In addition, the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow is home to precious metals in all track disciplines, while next door in the Emirates Arena, the artistic cyclists and cycle ballers will meet at the 2023 World Cycling Championships. Not everything has room in the 600,000-strong city of Glasgow: the mountain bikers determine their fastest downhill riders in Fort Williams, not far from Scotland's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. The cross-country bikers, on the other hand, meet in Glentress Forest south of Edinburgh for their championship races. The handicap cyclists will also be there with their road and track disciplines. "The inclusive World Championships will - hopefully - bring us a lot of attention," says national para-cycling coach Gregor Lang. BMX specialists will also be competing, and the world's best trial specialists will also be on show.
Cyclocross and gravel not included
Only cyclocross, traditionally a competition for the winter months, and gravel racing are not on the programme of the title fights - just like e-sports and the disciplines on snow (surprisingly in view of climate change) that have just been introduced by the UCI. The World Championships in Scotland are likely to attract more attention in cycling competitions that otherwise tend to attract less attention - however, the compression of the disciplines into a few event days will not please everyone. While Mathieu van der Poel wants to try his hand at a double start on road bike and mountain bike, the other super all-rounder, Englishman Tom Pidcock, will probably want to concentrate on the mountain bike race. And the US American Chloe Dygert, already world champion on the road and on the track, would like to see the programme equalised.
"I would prefer it if the track events were moved back to winter or spring, then there would be more opportunities to compete in both disciplines," says the 26-year-old American. The 2019 world champion in the individual time trial and multiple track world champion is one of the candidates for the 2023 World Cycling Championships who could excel in several disciplines thanks to her versatility. Here we present interesting personalities of the 2023 World Cycling Championships - with their stories, which tell of the versatility of the athletes in various cycling disciplines.
Personalities of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot - Superwoman
The Frenchwoman was the superwoman of cycling when there was no such thing as a super world championship: in September 2015, she achieved an unprecedented success. She simultaneously held the World Championship titles in mountain bike cross-country, road racing and cyclocross - the only woman to do so to date. A man has never won all three titles. In the meantime, the 31-year-old has almost completely returned to off-road disciplines - she hardly ever competes in road races at the moment. But that could change: "I originally came from road cycling," she says. "Of course I would like to return to the road one day. Not now, but after the Olympic Games in Paris." Like Pidcock, Ferrand-Prevot is part of an interdisciplinary project at Team Ineos Grenadiers. After all, Pinarello, the bike sponsor of the British world-class team, has developed and launched a mountain bike again after a long break.
Take a look: Women's mountain bike cross-country (12 August)
Personalities of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Mathieu van der Poel - the all-rounder
The super all-rounder from the Netherlands is considered the top favourite in two disciplines with which he still has unfinished business: On the mountain bike, he crashed heavily in the hunt for Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021 - since then he has taken a break from the international cross-country championships. Alongside serial world champion Nino Schurter from Switzerland and Olympic champion Tom Pidcock, the 28-year-old would be one of the favourites to start. He would also be competing for a starting place in the 2024 Olympic mountain bike race. Since his debut in Yorkshire in 2019, van der Poel has always been considered a title contender in the road race, but has so far come away empty-handed. Last year in Australia, he abandoned the world championship race after just a few kilometres, exhausted and exhausted after a late-night argument in the team hotel. He has held the cyclocross title since the beginning of the year - he could become the first men's world champion in three disciplines in Glasgow.
Take a look: Road race men (6 August) and MTB cross-country men (12 August)
Personalities of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Michael Teuber - Rehab World Champion
The perennial favourite of the German para-cycling sport: Michael Teuber is now 55 years old, but is also a medal candidate in the C1 individual time trial at his 16th World Championships. The Upper Bavarian has been completely paralysed since a car accident in 1987. "In para-sport, competitions can be contested at an international level for longer. But you can't say that age isn't a problem," explains national coach Gregor Lang, adding: "Michael can stay at the top of the world for so long because he puts in an enormous amount of training and focusses his whole life on cycling." Although the Odelzhausen native also competes in road races, he focusses on the individual time trial. An end to his career is not in sight in Glasgow either: "I'm now looking ahead to Paris 2024, where I want to win a medal in the time trial. After that, I'll ride for as long as I feel like it and am competitive, i.e. have a chance of winning a medal," he says - and hopes to attract the public attention in Glasgow that he usually only gets at the Paralympics.
Take a look: Individual time trial (EZF) in handicap class C1 (10 August)
Personalities of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Harrie Lavreysen
Currently the world's best track sprinter, two-time Olympic champion and multiple world champion, he was once one of the best BMX racers as a youngster. As a teenager, Dutchman Harrie Lavreysen was the European BMX champion. However, he switched disciplines after dislocating both shoulder joints at the same time at the age of 18. The day after his serious fall, he decided to put his BMX bike in the corner and try his hand at indoor track riding in future. Quite a few in the scene consider the BMX cycling school of the now 26-year-old to be the key to his current superiority. BMX requires acceleration speed, bike control for high and long jumps and a high cadence. Team-mate Jeffrey Hoogland has the same background. "We make each other better," says Lavreysen about his compatriot and competitor. In his younger years, he was coached by the German former sprint world champion Rene Wolff, who had to leave the Dutch federation at the beginning of the year.
Take a look: Men's sprint, keirin and team sprint (3-9 August)
Personalities of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Thomas Ulbricht & Robert Förstemann - Team Inclusion
From sprint racer to tandem pilot: Robert Förstemann, once one of Germany's best track sprinters, has switched to handicap sport. In Glasgow, the 37-year-old native of Thuringia is competing in tandem competitions on the track as Thomas Ulbricht's front man. Both have to pedal - Förstemann, whose 38-year-old team-mate Thomas Ulbricht suffers from a visual impairment, will be steering. "Both have to put the maximum amount of power into their sports equipment," explains national coach Gregor Lang. "So Robert is not just the sighted pilot. He also has to support the visually impaired pilot in everyday tasks, such as getting on and off the tandem or orientating himself in unfamiliar places." Ulbricht switched from para-athletics to cycling due to an Achilles tendon injury and recently won silver and bronze with Förstemann at the World Championships in Paris in the sprint and 1000 metre time trial in the B class.
Take a look: Time trial/sprint para-cycling track (4, 6-7 August)
Personalities of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Chloe Dygert - golden comeback?
The US-American is the female counterpart to the Italian Filippo Ganna: pure power with great strength in the individual time trial. But the 26-year-old has gone the other way round, so to speak - from outside to inside on the track. "I started racing on the road as a junior," explains Chloe Dygert. "After I won the junior world road race title in Richmond in 2015, I was asked if I wanted to switch to the US track cycling programme. The two disciplines complement each other really well - I've been doing it my whole career." For Dygert, a tough battle for her comeback could end successfully in Glasgow. She crashed heavily while attempting to defend her world championship title in the individual time trial in Imola in 2020 and has had recurring health problems ever since, which forced her to take another 14-month break from racing until last spring. Will it be a golden comeback at the World Championships?
Take a look: Track pursuit (3-5 August) and EZF (10 August)
Andreas Kublik
Editor
