U.S. Cyclist Turns Focus to Rio 2016 -- On the Scene

(ATR)U.S. professional cyclist Taylor Phinney tellsAround the Ringsthat heis looking forward to next year's Olympics in Rio.

"I think it's going to be a unique course, but we can adapt. We'll see."

Phinney caught up with ATRafter finishing 85th overall in the men's elite road circuit at the 2015 Road World Championships.The UCI championships ended Sunday in Richmond, Virginia after a week of racing. Phinney, who suffered an injury to his left leg last May, said that the Richmond 2015 course had its challenges.

"It was definitely a unique course, as all world championships courses are."He added, "Team USA did what we came to do."

Slovakia's Peter Sagan won the gold medal in the men's elite race. Australia's Michael Matthews came in second followed closely by Lithuanian cyclistRamunas Navardauskas.

U.S. cyclist Tyler Farrar, who finished 79th overall, also caught up with ATR after the event. The 31-year-old said that as an American, nothing beats competing in a road worlds on U.S. soil.

"It was just an insane day out there.I had goosebumps from start to finish.

"The cheers from fans were deafening on the climbs. I've never had a six and a half hours on a bike go by so fast.

"That just shows you the way American cycling has grown. It's really something special."

Farrar said that all things considered, Team USA rode the best race it could."It was important for us to put on a good show and race aggressively and we did.

"You saw Ben King riding the early break, Taylor Phinney getting out front, I gave it a go in the end, Alex Howes ended at 12th, so it's not a total wash."

Farrar also pointed out that his teammate Ben King, a professional cyclist born in Richmond, benefited from the fan support on Sunday.

"Ithink being a Virginia native, he had extra motivation today."

Following the race, King told ATR that seeing his family and friends in the crowd made this world championships stand out to him.

"It was just incredible to have that kind of support.

"I knew where my parents were in the crowd.I think it was exciting for them too.

He added, "A lot of my friends that came to watch the race had never been to an event like this.

"It's just such a beautiful sport."

The course for the men's elite event this year was approximately 162.4 miles.

Overall, around 1,000 athletes competed at the 2015 Road World Championships, which started on Sept. 19.Organizers say a total of 645,000 spectators came out to watch competition.

Viewers in 150 countries watched this year's championships on TV.More than 40 TV partners, including 17 TV networks, were broadcasting live from Richmond during the road worlds.

Next up on the road to Rio 2016, UCI leaders will stage a test event fortrack cycling at the Barra Olympic Park, March 18-20.

Written and reported in Richmond byNicole Bennett

Home page photo: Getty Images

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