Israel sends two young riders to road worlds

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Israel will send two Under 23 riders to the UCI Road World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, this week. Ran Margaliot and Niv Libner will fill two of a possible five road race spots for Israel, marking the first time the nation has sent Under 23 racers to compete in the road championship.

Both Margaliot and Libner have been racing overseas for the Fuji-Trasmiera team, the Under 23 development team of Fuji Servetto in Spain. The two were the only Israeli riders to finish the European Championships in Belgium in June, when they earned their spots on the worlds teams.

Margaliot has been preparing in Livigno, Italy, where he was training with Israeli pro mountain biker Dror Pekatch (Subaru / Gary Fisher). Libner, on the other hand, trained at home as well as raced in Romania and Bulgaria.

The pair will race under the guidance of national team manager and ex-cyclist David Reznik. They are hoping to surprise the peloton and make it into a breakaway.

"Both riders are well-suited for this kind of course, and we did our best to put them on the start line in the best shape," said Reznik. "It's an important mission for Israel. There is no doubt the cycling has been a growing sport in Israel over the past few years, and this worlds is only the beginning for us." In fact, Haifa will host the 2010 European Championships in mountain biking.

Previous achievements by Israel at road worlds have included a 46th place finish in San Sebastian in 1997 and a 41st in Valkenburg / Mastricht in 1998 - both by Benjamin Lobrant in the elite men's time trial.