1998
Mountain Biking
World Championships

Mont Sainte- Anne,
Quebec, Canada
September 18-20

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Mighty Miguel

The 1998 World Championships got off to a bang here in the hills of Mont Ste-Anne in Quebec on Friday. The sound of that "bang" was Cadel Evans (AUS, Volvo-Cannondale) blowing up during his U-23 race against Miguel Martinez (FRA, Sunn-Un) - the Aussie wunderkind exploding in the fifth and final lap and losing the rainbow jersey for the second year in a row.

Racing took place on Friday afternoon, a cold wind blowing off the North Atlantic and cutting through the red and orange trees of this scenic World's venue. Most chilled by this autumnal condition was the fast - and apparently worn - Evans who, for whatever reasons physical and mental, couldn't keep up with his rival on this 36.5 km race.

Cadel Blew Up

Evans and Martinez were racing in the new U-23 division, a special competition held on Friday and open only to riders under the age of 23. While they race with the seniors during the world cup season and (in Evans' case) win crystal globe trophies, they aren't able to race against their peers in World Championships. It has the effect of creating an epic rivalry between two of the sport's best riders.

This day, however, a third top rider was introduced to the party. Christoph Sauser (SUI, Diamondback) who, for this season has been riding brilliantly for the DBR squad, paced off the two leaders and marked his time. He didn't expect it, but what he got was a second place finish when Evans went backward in the last lap.

Also riding in that chase group was Roel Paulissen (BEL, American Eagle) who, along with Sauser, moved onto the podium in the last lap. It had the effect of pushing Evans off the podium and into a 4th place finish.

The Pack

Martinez won these Worlds last year in Chateau d'Oex when the U-23 race was first introduced. With his repeat win, he has become all the more sure that he is indeed the world's greatest cyclist. While it hasn't endeared him to his peers or the press, it has gone a long way to make the small Frenchman go really fast.

Evans, meanwhile, has his world cup title to keep him warm during the upcoming winter months. That and the pending road worlds should go a long way to easing the pain of his loss Friday. Either way, both these riders will be back next season to go at it again, with part three of the sport's most entertaining rivalry. Thank God for the U-23 race.

— Rich Neare for The Mountain Zone