Marathon World Championships wrap-up

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Can nobody stop her?(Image credit: Øyvind Aas)

By Steve Medcroft

In the men's race, Frischknecht, in a statement to media and fans, said he felt strong the morning of the race and was able to avoid the mechanical and physical struggles that are so common in endurance racing. “Not that I haven't won any big races before,” he said. “But one that goes with no problems, doubts and struggles; one that unfolds just the way I planed it, never happened before.”

Knowing that the first 85 kilometres of the race would run over mostly on fast, predictable fire roads and the final loop around Lillehammer on more technical singletrack, Frischknecht says he gambled his bike set-up that the race would be decided in the final twenty kilometres. “Most riders set their bikes up for the first part of the race; hardtail, skinny tires with lots of pressure.” Frischknecht rode full-suspension.

Then, “Bart flatted and got a wheel from his team-mate. We waited since it was still a long way to the finish and we needed his power on the flat sections.” Frischknecht says he could see Brentjens suffering and struggling a little in the technical trails with his fire-road bike set-up so he attacked early on the last loop, risking a physical blow up. “The problem was that I had no information on the gap to the others, which is common thing in marathons (especially point to point races). Even though I had a good feeling I was safe, I looked back so many times the last 10 k's.”

Frischknecht had reason to worry. He's been caught from behind before. “Two years ago at worlds in Lugano, Bart came back on me just 3 km to go.” But Frischknecht got the word from trailside friends trailside with one kilometre to go; he was two minutes up on the field and could sail to the World Championship Jersey. “The last 1000 meters with the thousands of crazy Norwegian spectators was pure enjoyment,” he said. “I realised that this was probably the best race of my career. Just perfect!”