A sense of life beyond cycling brought him off the beaten track to Mexico and Colombia over the winter. He began his season in Argentina, will spend most of his year based in Tuscany and aims to return to the Tour de France this July. But in 2015, all roads lead home to Virginia for Ben King.
September’s World Championships in Richmond are the first in the United States since Moreno Argentin’s triumph in Colorado Springs in 1986, and for King – who grew up in nearby Charlottesville – the event has particular resonance.
“I go to Richmond all the time. I have family living in Richmond. I was born in Richmond,” King told Cyclingnews. “It’s definitely close to home. Well, it is home.”
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King has not raced at the Worlds since he was selected for Copenhagen at the end of his debut professional season in 2011 but the Cannondale-Garmin rider is hopeful of making the American selection this time around, particularly as the hosts are entitled to a full complement of nine riders.
“It’s still a long way away, I don’t even know if I have a spot on the team – there are a lot of strong American guys fighting for the spots,” he said. King’s willingness to perform a supporting role and his local knowledge might well tip the balance in his favour.
While a fully fit Taylor Phinney or rejuvenated Tyler Farrar could be contenders on the circuit, King recognises that the US squad will likely line up without one of the top echelon of favourites among their number. “I think the course favours a classics guy, like a [Tour of] Flanders rider, and the climbs after so many kilometres are going to be draining,” he said. “I’d just like to see an aggressive race, with the attacking starting from further out. It would suit the kind of team we’re going to be bringing.”
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