Eternal flame
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ByEurosport
Published 02/10/2004 at 07:56 GMT
Jeannie Longo, a veritable eternal flame of cycling, shoots for a 14th world title Saturday, the soon-to-be 46-year-old lining up in the women's road race with riders a fraction of her age -- notably 21-year-old British hope Nicole Cooke.
Third at the Hamilton, Canada Worlds last year and a scrappy instigator at the Athens Olympics, where she finished a frustrating fifth, Cooke is reportedly in flying form, honing in, she hopes, on a first senior-level world title.
Cooke will face a stellar women's field, including defending world champ Susanne Ljungskog of Sweden, but not Athens Olympics gold medallist Sara Carrigan, the Australian having called it a season.
Though not a serious threat in the eyes of the young guns of the pack, the rider to watch may be Longo, a wily veteran with an expert eye for tactics.
The Frenchwoman almost scored a coup last year in Hamilton, Canada, ditching the bunch on a final-lap escapade before being reeled in 300 metres from the finish.
"Last year the girls kind of forgot about me," Longo smiled before Saturday's start.
Considered a long-shot for the 2004 road race crown -- particularly after her lacklustre 15th place in the time-trial -- Longo is again hoping to take her rivals by surprise.
"I like this course and I like my current form," she said.
"If everything comes together, I'll have my chances."
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