Cycling: Gilbert, Boonen lead a powerful team

VALKENBURG: Philippe Gilbert and Tom Boonen will lead a powerful Belgian team as the world championship road race takes centre stage on the roads around Valkenburg today. “No other team will be as strong as Belgium with Tom as a sprinter and myself as an attacker,” boasted Gilbert ahead of the 267 kilometre race over rolling terrain on the final day of the one-week championships. Defending champion Mark Cavendish is being given little chance of retaining the rainbow jersey, while Britain’s team come into the race with little left in the tank and Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins and runner-up Chris Froome feeling the effects of an exhausting season.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2012.