Swag of Medals for ORICA-GreenEDGE and ORICA-AIS
29 September 2014
Going into the race as one of the favourites, Gerrans didn’t disappoint, showing his cards in a small break over the final climb that came agonisingly close to catching the solo escape of Michal Kwiatkowski (POL).
Opening up his sprint Gerrans was the strongest finisher, but a few moments of hesitation by the chase in the closing kilometres meant his efforts were in pursuit of a minor medal.
“Happy with the result, but at the same time just slightly disappointed," the Australian champion said.
The world championship silver medal caps off another incredible season for Gerrans, who continues to deliver at the world’s biggest races.
For the second time in three years the 34-year old’s season began with a national championships win, followed by a third Tour Down Under victory before he returned to Europe to become the first Australian winner of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
Leading into the world championships, Gerrans also became the first rider to win the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Montreal WorldTour double in the same season.
In other ORICA-GreenEDGE performances today, Michael Matthews (AUS) remained in the reduced bunch ready to pounce in the event of a sprint finishing 14th, Daryl Impey (RSA) two position behind in 16th.
Simon Clarke (AUS), Michael Albasini (SWI) and Esteban Chaves (COL) were also active in the final two laps, the trio working to join and shut down breakaway efforts as racing heated up.
After a calm start to the race by the peloton, Johansson was active in shaping a thrilling final two laps that saw her claim the minor medal from a significantly reduced sprint by the narrowest of margins.
“I have never been so close to gold,” Johansson said. “I am still proud of what I dared to do out on the road, that I dared to try for the gold medal.
With five kilometres to the finish Johansson attacked what was left of the peloton creating a dangerous four rider breakaway alongside Lizzie Armitstead (GBR), Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) and reigning champion Marianne Vos (NED).
Trading blows, the 31-year-old Swedish champion put in another of the stronger efforts with three kilometres left to ride, but couldn’t shake her breakaway counterparts.
“The plan was that I would run myself into the ground and drive really hard on the climbs,” Johansson explained. “It meant that everyone else must drive on the climbs and they would hopefully get tired. If I was tired but could manage to make them tired, I still had one more chance to perform in a sprint.
“My sprint does not get worse when I'm tired. I have almost always the same sprint, it's a little strength and also my weakness. When there is an easier race I don’t have a super sprint but when people start to get tired, I am still as strong.”
Unfortunately the game of cat and mouse out front resulted in a small group of chaser riders making the catch in the final kilometre. Johansson battled bravely again in the sprint, but finished narrowly behind Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (FRA) and Lisa Brennauer (GER) who claimed the gold and silver medals respectively.
Photo Credits : TDWSport.com
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