Matthew Goss has book ended his 2011 season by fighting for second place in a hectic bunch sprint at the UCI World Championships Elite Mens Road Race in Denmark behind Great Britain and HTC Highroad team mate Mark Cavendish by a matter of centimetres.
After numerous attempts of breakaways the race came back together with 10km to go, lead by Great Britain Bradley who were putting it all on the line for the Manx Missile. At 3km to go, with the peleton still together, the Australian’s momentarily took control of the front thanks to strong work from Stewart O’Grady, Michael Rogers, Simon Gerrans and Heinrich Haussler setting things up for Goss. It was hard for them to maintain control of the front in the lead into the line with riders all across the road. Cavendish had lost his team mates and had fixed himself to Goss wheel and exploded first to the finish.
Goss has battled illness in the lead up to these championships after pulling out of the Vuelta Espania, but obviously has been able to put together some solid training. Second place can be an uncomfortable result, being so close to finishing as a World Champion Goss. There has been some talk of what may have been with the shock omission of Mark Renshaw from the Australian squad, who may have been the difference in the final 150m to get Goss into the winning position. With Goss signed for Australia’s first ever pro tour team, Green Edge things are looking great for a big 2012!
