September 30, 2003 – It wasn't until Steve Bauer's epic bronze medal ride at the 1984 World Championships that Canada began to appreciate the magnitude of this event. Not only for its importance on a global scale, but also for what Canadian performances would eventually mean, as Canada took its deserved place in the hierarchy of international road cycling. Only once has Canada won gold on the road at the Worlds, and she struck it twice.
Quebec's Genevieve Jeanson took home the junior women's road and ITT titles at the 1999 championships in Trevisio, Italy. A bronze medalist the year prior, Jeanson turned heads, foreshadowing greater things to come in the future. The future is now, and Jeanson, already the winner of races such as Redland and Sea Otter this year, has the media calling her the “new cannibal” as she crushes opponents in every aspect of the sport. Aggressive to a fault, Jeanson appears ready to showcase her climbing talents on the streets of Hamilton, Ont., this fall.
A probable teammate of Jeanson will be Hamilton native Susan Palmer-Komar, who has had the Hamilton 2003 Road Championships on her calendar since the day they were awarded. A veteran of many Worlds, Palmer-Komar, who recently returned to road after a stint in the mountain-bike scene, has posted many impressive international results, particularly at the Road Worlds. Besides a 20th-place finish in Colombia in '95, Palmer-Komar boasts an 11th-place finish in the 2000 edition in France, followed by a top ten the next year in Portugal.
Canadian women have consistently faired well in all major international races, the Worlds not withstanding. A bronze medal was awarded to B.C.'s Alison Sydor for her efforts at the Stuttgart Worlds in '91. Sydor, now of prolific mountain-bike fame, managed to outsprint speedster Sally Zack of the U.S. and the rest of the bunch to secure her spot on the podium. If Sydor competes in Hamilton, you can count on her experience and attitude to play a big part in the Canadians' success.
Canada was treated to another bronze in 1996 as wily veteran Linda Jackson improved on her eighth place the year prior in Columbia. Year 1995 was also the time Winnipeg native Clara Hughes won silver in the ITT and, of course, later stunned the cycling community with two bronze medals at the Olympic Games in Atlanta the following year. Hughes is yet another rider thrown into the mix in this year's long list of Hamilton hopefuls, as she juggles cycling with her winter pastime, speed skating.
Finishing second at the 2003 Tour l'Aude, Lyne Bessette is making sure no one forgets about her in the run-up to the Worlds. An accomplished stage racer and revered climber, the Knowlton, Que., native opened eyes with her 13th place at the 1999 Worlds. With relationships mended after some questionable tactics in Sydney, Bessette and Jeanson could be definite medal contenders.
World championship medals have not come easily to Canada, especially on the men's side. Aside from Bauer's ride in '84 and the fiasco between Bauer and Claude Criquielion in '88, Canadian men have had a hard time competing against European pros. Leading up to '84, Bauer continued to gain prominence in the cycling community, and with the boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, his Olympic silver there was no surprise. The real surprise came when this Fenwick, Ont., amateur blasted to the bronze medal at the Road Worlds that same year. In those days, the division between amateurs and pros was substantial and the two packs rarely mixed. In retrospect, his Olympic silver medal was truly a blessing, as the Olympic champion was forbidden to race the Worlds.
Bauer's aptitude for World championships races continued in '87 when he animated the winning break with a solo move that was countered by eventual winner Stephen Roche. It would be 1988's Belgian affair in Renaix that would be remembered for all the wrong reasons. After bridging to Maurizio Fondriest and Criquielion in the closing miles, Bauer chose to lead out the long false flat sprint. Tight against the barriers, Bauer wound it up, forcing the Italian and Belgian to come on the outside. Criquielion chose the inside line, bumping against Bauer and falling metres from the line, banging Bauer's wheel, impeding his sprint, and allowing a delighted Fondriest the win. Bauer came second, but tragically was disqualified over the infraction with Criquielion.
The '89 World Championships in Chambery, France saw Bauer in extraordinary form as he challenged the best in the world that day. Bridging across amidst a splintered field to the winning break, Bauer flatted at what was the most inopportune time. With another top-20 result in Japan the following year, Bauer consistently performed at the most important race on the road calendar. Canada's new generation of potential Worlds heroes is led by Ontario's Michael Barry, who has been patiently waiting for a chance to shine on home soil with a course that suits his abilities. The USPS rider and teammate of Lance Armstrong has what it takes to ride an inspired race, just 30 minutes from where he grew up. An eighth-place finish in the '96 espoir road race in Lugano, Switzerland was all it took for Barry to make the decision to pursue cycling full-time.
Canada's sole entry in the 2002 Road Worlds was Quebec's Charles Dionne. After winning the San Francisco G.P., Dionne was awarded the lone spot over Mark Walters. Finishing a respectable 37th after avoiding a late-race crash, Dionne, now with Team Saturn, will be gunning for a spot in Hamilton.
No stranger to world championships, or the winner's circle, Victoria's Roland Green has expressed interest in the ITT. Finishing 14th in this event in Lisbon, Portugal in 2001, he is spending more time on the road with his USPS teammates. Winning the climber's jersey in Malaysia this year, Green's potential in Hamilton is definitely exciting.
The World Cycling Championships in Hamilton this fall will be a unique opportunity for our Canadian team of cyclists to continue a tradition of excellence. Those lucky and skilled enough to make our National squad will be given an opportunity afforded probably only once in their lifetime. Racing the Worlds on home turf-wow, if that don't give you goosebumps.