Genevieve, between Trixi Worrack from Germany (on the left) and Noemi Canteli from Italy
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Genevieve Jeanson |
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from VeloNews October 8, 1999
Savvy Jeanson bags second rainbow
By John Wilcockson
VeloNews Editorial Director
It seemed like a rash move when Canada's young wonder woman Geneviève Jeanson jumped away in a solo uphill attack on the first of four laps in this morning's 65 km world junior women's road race championship. After all, there were still 60 km to go, and the 60 riders behind posed a formidable challenge. But Jeanson knew what she was doing....
"We were only two riding for Canada, and I knew that France, Germany and Italy all had four (riders)," Jeanson said after the finish. "By attacking early, I thought I could destroy the team tactics (of the others)."
The 18-year-old Canadian's was right. Her attack on the 8-percent Torricelle hill took her 100 meters clear -- and only one rider was able to catch her before the top : Trixi Worrack of Germany. Two others tried to catch them : Paulina Brzezna of Poland and Juliette Vanderkerckhove of France. But these two were a minute back before the end of the opening 16.25 km lap, and that was the only serious challenge to Jeanson and Worrack.
Interestingly, Jeanson and Worrack were the gold and bronze medalist at last Monday's time trial, while Vanderkerckhove was the runner-up. Now on the hilly terrain of Verona instead of the flat roads of Treviso, the same junior women were in charge.
Jeanson made an abortive attack on the second climb up Torricelle, but Worrack quickly came back. "But I knew Trixi wasn't feeling so good," Jeanson said, "as she never attacked me."
The Québec teenager's instincts were right again, and when she made her strongest attack in a 39x17 gear on the final lap, Worrack could not reply. The gap between the two talented young cyclists topped at 15 seconds, and Worrack then tried all she could to catch back on the winding descent and subsequent run-in through the ancient streets of Verona.
"Another two kilometers and I think I could have caught her," Worrack said. But when the finish line came, just yards away from Verona's 2000-year-old Roman Arena, it was solo warrior Jeanson waving to the crowds as a double world champion, eight seconds ahead of Worrack. Behind them, Italian junior champion Noemi Cantele started a belated chase with Poland's Magdelena Sadlecka ; but they were a yawning 3:33 back by the finish, where Cantele easily sprinted to the bronze medal.
Verona: Corso Porta Nuova, 4 laps/ 65 km
Report by Jeff Jones CyclingNews
Canadian 17 year-old, Genevieve Jeanson, has notched up her second gold medal of this year's World Road Championships in Italy. After her time trial win in Treviso on Monday, she backed up four days later to take out the road race in fine style.
The first race in Verona began in calm conditions - a little overcast but no rain predicted. Perfect conditions for a fast race. However, the mood of Jeanson was just the opposite. The first time up the Torricelle climb she attacked, taking the "go hard, early and often" rule to heart.
Only one of the bunch was strong enough to respond - Germany's Trixi Worrack who clawed her way up to Jeanson's wheel and started to work with the Canadian. The two quickly established a lead and had a gap of 1:48 to the bunch by the second lap.
The pair were working well and gaining ground, looking strong enough to take out the gold and silver by a good margin. Meanwhile in the bunch, there was a counter attack. Polish rider Magdalena Sadlecka and Italian Noemi Cantele were trying to bridge up to the leaders. They'd certainly missed the boat though, and their only hope was to go for the bronze medal. Sadlecka's Polish teammates did a sterling job of holding up the bunch, giving her the best possible chance of achieving the medal.
Meanwhile up the front, it was Jeanson who attacked on the final lap up the climb, dropping Worrack by a good margin - the gap was up to 17 seconds at one point. But, on the descent the German came back and closed the gap considerably to Jeanson. The Canadian's time trialling skills stood her in good stead though and she held off Worrack's late charge to win by just 8 seconds. What a result for Genevieve, who is shaping up to be a future star in the elite ranks.
The battle for third went to the Italian Noemi Cantele, who picked up Italy's first medal of the Championships. The gap to Jeanson was over three and a half minutes! When interviewed on Italian TV, she said that she was taken by surprise by the Canadian's audacity in attacking so early. By the time she reacted, it was too late. Poland had some consolation though with Anna Skawinska winning the sprint for 5th place, some 5 minutes down on the leaders.
Golden sweep: Canadian wins junior road race title
VERONA, Italy (Louis Daignault - CP)
Jeanson, 18, also won the individual time trial on Monday. She is the only Canadian to ever win a world cycling road title at the senior or junior level.
"I still can't believe what happened but deep down I knew I was capable of winning two gold medals," said Jeanson, who decided to pursue a cycling career three years ago.
"I'm very proud of myself. I'll be taking some vacations now and I'll have a clear head that I absolutely did the best I could."
Jeanson clocked one hour 47 minutes 16 seconds for the win, edging German Trixi Worrack by eight seconds. Noemi Cantele of Italy was third, 3:33 back.
There were only two Canadians in the race compared to the powerhouse French, German, Italian and Spanish teams which fielded four riders apiece. Team strategies usually play a factor in the road race.
The Canadian's strategy was simple. Grab the lead early and keep it.
"I had to go early to prevent the other big countries from ganging up on me," said Jeanson. "When the race becomes a team game you can get into trouble and be in danger of being involved in crashes. I wanted to control the race."
The key area of the 16-km loop which the riders circled four times was a 4-km climb. Jeanson, a climbing specialist, was able to always gain enough seconds on Worrack going uphill that the speedy German couldn't catch her on the following descent.
"That hill didn't seem so bad in training but in the race when you're going full out it's a different story," Jeanson said. "But that hill was perfectly suited for me. The riders who were poor climbers fell out of contention early on. On the last lap I knew if I had the lead after the last descent the German wouldn't be able to catch me."
Catherine Pouliot of Ste-Foy, Que., was 50th.
Competition ends for Canadians on Saturday with the road race for the women's elite. No Canadians are entered in Sunday's men's elite race.
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This page of Genevieve Jeanson's www site (a section of VELOPTIMUM), was updated on
October 22, 1999 par