A1. 2009 in Mendrisio, Switzerland Australian Cadel Evans attacked to win solo and although he had won stages in stage races as well as overall titles in stage races, he had never won an open road race as a professional prior to this! He quickly made sure it was not his only road victory, however, as he won the April’s Flèche Wallonne Classic in Belgium the following spring, resplendent in his rainbow stripes! It is notable that 2009 was the last time Switzerland hosted the Worlds!
A2. Yes! British rider Nicole Cooke won gold in both Olympic and Worlds Road Races in 2008 and Dutchwoman Marina Vos did it again in 2012. It has not happened on the Men’s side in either road or time trial, but I wouldn’t bet against Remco.
A3. It hasn’t been that long! Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen “did the double” in 2020 in Imola, Italy. It has never been done on the Men’s side, although Spaniard Miguel Indurain came close in 1995 when he won the time trial and then took silver in the road race behind his victorious countryman Abraham Olano.
A4. On the women’s side, it hasn’t been long … Annemiek van Vleuten did it in 2022, when she remarkably won not only the Tour and the Worlds, but also the Giro and the Vuelta…an historic first! On the men’s side, it hasn’t happened since 1989 when none other than American Greg Lemond won both! As for winning the Giro, the Tour, and the Worlds? It has happened only twice…in 1987 by Stephen Roche and in 1974 by Belgian Eddy Merckx.
A5. Four, as set by French rider Jeannie Longo (1995-97, and 2001). Interestingly enough, on the Men’s side the record is also four by German Tony Martin and Swiss Fabian Cancellara. Had Dygert not suffered that horrific crash in 2020 that severed nearly 80% of her quadricep, she would likely be going for her fourth…or even fifth or sixth!!!
