The last time the UCI Road World Championships were held in Norway Thor Hushovd was but a 15-year-old boy. In October 1993 he and his family travelled to Oslo and camped on the side of the road during the event. The then-teenager watched on as first, national hero Dag Otto Lauritzen put in a late attack, and then Lance Armstrong won in the rain. Hushovd remembers it all. Lauritzen's move, Armstrong's win and especially a bike ride leading up to the race when he tagged along with the Spanish team that included Miguel Indurain. For a young, aspiring cyclist it was a dream.
Now almost 40, Hushovd acts the ambassador for his home Worlds in Bergen. He's just as trim and lean as when he last turned the pedals and remains Norway's only winner of the men's elite road race after taking the title in Geelong in 2010. Since then Norway has come close with Edvald Boasson Hagen in 2012 but on Sunday, with a nation watching on, a strong performance from a united squad is what the local wants first and foremost.
"In the men's elite we have Edvald who has been really strong and we have Alexander Kristoff as well. We have guys who can win the race," Hushovd tells Cyclingnews.
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Both Boasson Hagen and Kristoff arrive in Bergen with form. The Dimension Data rider has had a hugely successful few weeks, while Kristoff recovered after a poor Tour de France with a win in the European Championships. However, just twelve months ago it looked as though a lack of unity was running through the Norwegian camp. Both Boasson Hagen and Kristoff hit the final sprint in Doha and rather than work together they competed against each other. Both failed to make the podium and a painful post-race autopsy was conducted in public.
It's no secret that Boasson Hagen and Kristoff are not the best of friends. They don't have to be and their relationship is one that you might classify as 'professional'.
"We saw last year that they didn't work well," Hushovd says.
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