It is the second world title for the only 21-year old rider from the Dutch town of Vlijmen this year,
since he had already won the world championships cyclo-cross in the same age category in the Belgian town of Hooglede-Gits
in January. In total, this is his third world-championships gold because Boom is also the 2003 world champion cross with the
juniors.
Boom laid the foundation for his world title in the middle part of the 38.1-kilometers long track. There he
rode away from all of his rivals. At the first measuring point, for example, Ignatiev was still eight seconds faster then
the Dutch captain but the latter was five seconds ahead at the second measuring point. At the third and final measuring point,
that difference had increased to ten seconds. The Russian only nibbled a second off of that in the final seven kilometers.
It was clear that Ignatiev could not threaten Boom anymore when the Russian still had five hundred meters to go and therefore,
the latter could start cheering in a subdued manner in his hot seat next to the podium.
After the runner-up's finish, there was still some disbelief with the young Dutchman. "I have been working
toward this day all year. Actually from the moment I became the cyclo-cross world champion. I was determined to perform well
today, especially because I did so poorly at last year's world championships," laughed Boom, who had only finished 26th in
Salzburg. A position unworthy of someone with his talent. "The comeback is complete, but I did not expect that it would lead
to a gold medal. Ignatiev was the favorite for a reason."
He started fast and found the right rhythm very quickly. "It felt good all the time. I could get all the gears
around pretty easily and it just went well. Morale during the race was perfect," confessed Boom. Boom also felt that the track
suited him as a cyclo-cross specialist. "Many turns and short twists. A technical track with changes of pace. It resembled
the tracks and intensity of cyclo-cross racing a little bit. So that was good for me."
In the road race coming Saturday, Boom and the Dutch team, for one-hundred percent consisting of Rabo cyclists,
aim for gold once again. "We have a really strong team. A friend's team. We have grown even closer in the Tour de l'Avenir.
A great unit. We are going to try, and if a team mate wins the gold, great. I already have my medal." Jos van Emden, who rode
a respectable time trial on Wednesday, will also start in the road race.
Women
Hanka Kupfernagel won the gold medal in the women's individual time trial. Kupfernagel
was 23 seconds faster as defending champion Kristin Armstrong (USA). Christiane Soeder (Australia) clocked the third
time.
