MENDRISIO, Switzerland—Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara will attempt to go for double gold at the road world championships when he returns to his native Switzerland for the first time in 13 years.
Cancellara is the favorite in Thursday’s time trial, which he won in 2006 and ’07. He also has Sunday’s grueling road race in his sights.
“I’m waiting with impatience for these races,” Cancellara said Tuesday. “For me, it’s one time in my life that I have the chance to race to be the world champion at home.”
Britain’s Bradley Wiggins will challenge in the time trial, while a strong Italian team will chase a record fourth straight road race title.
Yet the 28-year-old Cancellara, nicknamed “Spartacus” for his competitive streak and strength, has proven he can double up.
He took bronze in the Beijing Olympics road race last year and struck gold four days later in the time trial, though the exertion left him too exhausted to go for a worlds hat trick.
Cancellara is relishing the expectation of his home fans on the Switzerland-Italy border.
“We’re in a cycling region of Switzerland. I feel good. I have the mentality for winning and that’s important,” he said.
Racing begins Wednesday with the men’s under-23 time trial, over 20.6 miles, and the 26.8-16.7-mile women’s time trial.
Defending champion Amber Neben, who graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1997, leads a strong United States challenge alongside Kristin Armstrong, the Olympic champion and 2006 winner.
