Cooper: 2013′s top-10 moments in cycling
With the close of 2013 approaching, Canadian Cycling Magazine’s writers are reflecting on the major moments of the past year. Recently retired pro Marsh Cooper weighs in with his top-10 list.
10. Meier’s double Grand Tour season
Christian Meier, Mr. Reliability, had a rock solid 2013 season. Completing both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España as a domestique on a sprint-heavy team is no easy task. Meier is often asked to ride the front for kilometre after kilometre to ensure the early breakaway is caught and the bunch sprint is secured. With both the Giro and the Vuelta under his belt, I’m wondering when the Tour squad will come calling.
9. Zach Bell from the track boards to Canadian road race champion
Zach Bell’s exploits on the velodrome are well known. Multiple-time national champion, World Cup winner, world champion and Olympian are all results and accolades he has earned. But when he sprinted up the final incline of the Canadian road championship race and secured the top step of the podium, his transition to road racer was complete.
8. Leah Kirchmann makes becoming the national champion look easy
Leah Kirchmann secured her second national criterium championships in a dominant fashion. She controlled the field by chasing any attempted breakaway, rode on the front of the pack for multiple laps and then sprinted well before the finish line. She won the race through a combination of tenacity, tactical nuance and brute force.
7. Parisen’s well-timed sprint nets him first WorldTour win
François Parisien waited for his opportunity to strike at 2013 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. It came on Stage 5 when the expected bunch sprint occurred. Parisien relied on a strong team lead-out to rocket out of the pack. He finish off the stage with his arms in the air. On his way to the line, he beat established WorldTour riders, such as Samuel Dumolin (Ag2r-La Mondiale in second) and Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-QuickStep in seventh).
6. Ryan Anderson flies through the second half of the 2013 season
Held back from racing for the first half of the 2013 season due to contract disputes, Ryan Anderson burst into the cycling scene at the Canadian road race championships with a second place finish. The Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies rider followed nationals with a podium performance in just about every race he entered for the remainder of the season. His accomplishments secured him third place in the UCI America Tour in just four months of racing.
5. Joëlle Numainville wins both national championship time trial and road races
Joëlle Numainville didn’t scaled back her ambition a year after the Olympic Games. She showed determination and a killer instinct to win major races throughout the 2013 season. At the Canadian championships, she struck with 100 per cent accuracy winning both the time trial and road race in a dominant fashion.
4. Hesjedal’s forgetful season
Ryder Hesjedal staked the first part of the 2013 on returning to the Giro and once again securing the maglia rosa. Instead, on Stage 13, he was forced to abandon due to illness. He re-focused and showed promise at the Tour of Suisse before crashing and again having to abandon. He then struggled through the Tour de France and rode a largely anonymous race. Finally,with evidence mounting, he was forced to admit to his cheating past.
3. The Canadian women’s team pursuit squad
It seems any combination is a winning one. The women’s team pursuit squad of Beveridge, Steph Roorda, Laura Brown, Jasime Glaesser and Gillian Carleton looks stronger than ever. Winning a silver medal at the season’s first World Cup in Manchester, England and another in Aguascalientes, Mexico, these women continue to lower the Canadian national record and raise the expectations coming into the next Olympic cycle.
2. Tuft’s Tour de France
Svein Tuft’s road to cycling success reads like a sport adventure novel. From mountain man to established European professional, Svein added another chapter to his illustrious and unique career. First, he was selected to ride the Tour de France for his Orica-GreenEdge team. Next, he was a key member during the team time trial and the stage win. Despite multiple crashes during la Grande Boucle he finished the Tour, albeit in last place.
1. Veilleux rides Dauphiné success into Tour de France start
Stage 1 of this year’s Critérium du Dauphiné saw an aggressive David Veilleux attack out of a small breakaway group and solo on to victory. He then held the leaders jersey at one of the biggest stages races in world for the next three days. This secured him his spot on the Tour de France roster.
Check out our other top-10 lists by Charles Bryer, Kirsten Frattini and Rob Sturney. What other events might you add?
