Denmark’s recent success in the Junior men’s road race world championship continued on Saturday, as Albert Philipsen won gold from a breakaway in Glasgow, Scotland. Danish junior men also won the rainbow bands in 2016 and 2017. Charles Bergeron was the top Canadian in 50th.
The Course
The Junior women having already tested out the 14.5-km circuit of short, steep-ish climbs and many corners, the Junior men faced nine laps for a total of 127.7 km.
The Canadian contingent was Charles Bergeron, Ethan Powell and Matthew Ney.
The sons of 2012 Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins and 2002 Tour de France runner-up Joseba Beloki were in the race. Ben Wiggins was upset to abandon with four laps to go.
On the first lap, the Dutch sent a rider up the road for the other countries to chase. He suffered a mechanical on one of the climbs on Lap 2 and the peloton nabbed him. A Norwegian was the next to flare off and apply the pressure. A teammate, a Dane and a German bridged over and suddenly there was a dangerous quartet out front, 18 seconds clear going into Lap 3. The action left a small chasing peloton.
More riders found the front. The French were just starting to chase when one of their riders crashed.
Break heads up the Montrose Street climb. No Canadians in the move. 5 laps to go. pic.twitter.com/5fIMk1NakQ
— Canadian Cycling Mag (@CanadianCycling) August 5, 2023
With four laps remaining, the septet held a 1:08 gap over the bunch, a Belgian in between. Multiple surges in the peloton brought them closer. Slovenia’s efforts helped to bring the lead down to 36 seconds with three laps to race.
France and Slovenia continued to toil, Norway trying to disrupt. On the penultimate climb of Montrose Street, an attack from Dane Albert Philipsen cracked the breakaway. His Norwegian breakmates had to do the chasing.
All-in for golden glory 🥇
Albert Philipsen 🇩🇰 is 5km away from being crowned UCI Men Junior Road Race World Champion#GlasgowScotland2023 pic.twitter.com/GofG36aqss
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) August 5, 2023
Philipsen couldn’t be caught, and a Norwegian and a German claimed the other medals.
2023 Road Race World Championships, Junior Men
1) Albert Philipsen (Denmark) 3:06:26
2) Paul Fietzke (Germany) +1:19
3) Felix Ørn-Kristoff (Norway) s.t.
50) Charles Bergeron (Canada) +12:29
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