ALL CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ACTION ON SATURDAY
Warnings of flooding in Kentucky prompt schedule changes; Sportsnet to broadcast event
(Ottawa, ON – February 01, 2013) The 2013 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships are to be held this weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, and Canadian cycling fans can watch the action on SportsnetOne and live on the UCI YouTube Channel.
Canada is sending its strongest team ever to the event, which for the first time being held outside of Europe. Among the list of 16 athletes representing Canada for the event, will attend are Olympians Geoff Kabush of Courtenay, BC (SCOTT-3RoxRacing) and Emily Batty of Brooklin, ON (Trek-Subaru), who both represented Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, GBR this past July.
Riders are expecting it to be a fast circuit, even if it does rain, which is a strong possibility. So far, riders have experienced a mixture of rain, warm weather and cold snowy conditions in training, and the weekend forecast includes the possibility of snow for the first races on Saturday.
Belgium swept the Men’s Elite podium last year, and are expected to be among the favorites once more this year. Defending World Champion and 2013 World Cup Champion Niels Albert and former World Champion Sven Nys are both present, and will be racing with the one goal in mind to win the title. In the women’s Elite race, Marianne Vos (NED) has won the title for five consecutive years, and will looking to make it six. Local rider and 2013 World Cup Champion Katie Compton (USA) will be offering a tough challenge for Vos.
The move of the prestigious event to North American ground comes after an impressive rise in popularity of the cycling sport in North America. The Cyclo-cross World Championships have been held for 64 years on European grounds. Louisville has embraced the sport and the event, with a crowd of 15,000 to 18,000 spectators expected for the racing on Saturday.
The action will be broadcast live on the UCI You Tube Channel. Canadian broadcaster Sportsnet will also carry the event on SportsnetOne. Please check your local listings for more broadcast information.
CHANGE OF SCHEDULE
The programme for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships taking place in Louisville (USA) this weekend has been modified in the light of flood warnings at the competition site. All the races will now take place on Saturday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that high water levels in the Ohio River will cause Beargrass Creek to flood the low lying areas of Eva Bandman Park in Louisville, Kentucky, in the early hours on Sunday morning. The water level is expected to continue rising for the next 48 hours.
CANADIAN DELEGATION – 2013 UCI CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Louisville, KEN
Elite Women
- Mical Dyck (Victoria, BC/Stan’s No Tube)
- Wendy Simms (Nanaimo, BC)
- Emily Batty (Brooklin, ON/Team Subaru-Trek)
- Pepper Harlton (Edmonton, AB/Juventus Cycling Club)
- Julia Lafrenière (Oxford Station, QC/Xprezo-Borsao)
Elite Men
- Geoff Kabush (Courtenay, BC/SCOTT-3Rox Racing)
- Craig Richey (Victoria, BC/SponsorConnected.com-Ridley Bikes)
- Mike Garrigan (Toronto, ON/ Blacksmith Cycle)
U23 Men
- Evan McNeely (Ottawa, ON/Specialized Canada)
- Andrew l’Espérance (Halifax, NS/Norco Factory Team)
- Michael van de Ham (Edmonton, AB)
- Connor O’Brien (Ottawa, ON/ Stevens p/b The Cyclery)
Junior Men
- Peter Disera (Barrie, ON/ Cycle Solutions-Angry Johnny’s Cycling Club)
- Trevor Pearson (Delta, BC/DEVO)
- Isaac Niles (Tuner Valley, AB/Team Alberta)
- Neil Symington (Sussex, NB/Outdoor Elements-Atlantic Cycling Centre)
REVISED SCHEDULE – Eastern Time
Saturday, February 2, 2013
- 9:45am: Men Junior
- 11:00am: Elite Women
- 12:30pm: Men U23
- 2:30pm: Men Elite
Full schedule: http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTYzMDQ&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=ODQyMjA&LangId=1
