UCI World TTT Champs *Spoilers*

Art Vandelay

Next Sunday September 16th it's the UCI World TTT:
11.00 - 12.30 - Team Time trial for UCI teams, Women (34,2 km) Sittard/Geleen - Valkenburg
13.30 - 16.40 - Team Time trial for UCI teams, Men (53,2 km) Sittard/Geleen - Valkenburg

The World Championship TTT was last run in 1994, where teams of 4 riders represented their country over a 100km course. The new version includes teams of six, riding distances of 53.2 km for men and 34.2 km for women. Another key difference is that for the first time in the history of the World Championships the national aspect of the race is put aside because the riders will represent their commercial team rather than their home country. UCI WorldTour, Pro-Continental and Continental teams will participate, so their six best riders, regardless of nationality, will have the opportunity to ride

All teams from the men's UCI WorldTour will participate. There is also space for Pro-Continental and Continental teams to qualify. Competitors will come from the following:
- Top 20 teams in the European Tour
- Top 5 teams in the American Tour
- Top 5 teams in the Asian Tour
- Best team in the African Tour
- Best team in the Oceania Tour

The routes chosen for the team time trials are certainly not flat out and back! Both the men’s and women’s events start in Sittard and finish in Valkenburg. The women's 34.2 km route includes two climbs; the Lange Raarberg, after around 20 km, and of course the Cauberg. The men’s 53.2 km route features the Lange Raarberg and also the Bergesweg in Voerendaal. The men also finish close after the Cauberg

As far as I know Greenedge are the only team yet to announce their squads. Men's team is:
Luke Durbridge, Svein Tuft, Cameron Meyer, Sam Bewley, Sebastian Langeveld and Jens Mouris.

A couple of things I'm no sure on - If a team wins the TTT who gets to wear the TTT rainbow jersey's at a subsequent TTT - only the members of the winning team? What happens if one of the riders moves to a different team?

Be interesting to see what squads are sent and who's taking this seriously. Quite a few teams could put out serious squads (Sky, BMC, Radioshack...) but I'm not sure whether they'll want to...

Richmond Racer

I get the impression that Sky are just not bothered...Sky / GB seem to be approaching the whole Worlds this year fairly nonchalently, all the planning's gone into the Tour and Olympics.

OGE and Garmin are taking it very seriously though.

DeadCalm

Richmond Racer wrote:

I get the impression that Sky are just not bothered...Sky / GB seem to be approaching the whole Worlds this year fairly nonchalently, all the planning's gone into the Tour and Olympics.

OGE and Garmin are taking it very seriously though.

Well this is Vaughters' baby isn't it?

Turfle

The long lists:
http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getOb ... Y&LangId=1

Richmond Racer

DeadCalm wrote:

Richmond Racer wrote:

I get the impression that Sky are just not bothered...Sky / GB seem to be approaching the whole Worlds this year fairly nonchalently, all the planning's gone into the Tour and Olympics.

OGE and Garmin are taking it very seriously though.

Well this is Vaughters' baby isn't it?

True. Wouldnt care to bet against them winning it either

Turfle

Only 6 riders, and quite a difficult course. Might make it a hard one to predict.

Along with Orica and Garmin, I reckon:

Rabo with Boom, Flens, Clement, Kelderman, Sanchez, + 1 look good.
Sky if they go with EBH, Dowsett, Flecha, Thomas, Stannard, Rogers should go close.
BMC with Phinney, Pinotti, Gilbert, Quinziato, TJVG, Bookwalter

DeadCalm

Turfle wrote:

Only 6 riders, and quite a difficult course. Might make it a hard one to predict.

Along with Orica and Garmin, I reckon:

Rabo with Boom, Flens, Clement, Kelderman, Sanchez, + 1 look good.
Sky if they go with EBH, Dowsett, Flecha, Thomas, Stannard, Rogers should go close.
BMC with Phinney, Pinotti, Gilbert, Quinziato, TJVG, Bookwalter

What about OPQS?

Martin, Chavanel and Grabsch ought to make the core of a reasonable team, no?

Turfle

Yep, them too!

Martin, Cataldo, Chavanel, Grabsch, Stybar, Terpstra looks nice.

And Liquigas are never far away.

graeme_s-2

Katusha have ridden some good TTTs recently as well haven't they?

LangerDan

Plenty of opportunity for some major bust-ups between national and trade team managers. I'd have thought that it would have been a high-risk strategy for pre (road) race favourites like Gilbert to be taking part in the sort of event that frequently sees a touch of wheels and someone sliding down the road on his snotter.

Tom BB

Not sure what to make of it myself. Obviously Euskadi are the stand out contenders though?

greasedscotsman

Nobody fancy Movistar after the win at the Vuelta?

thomthom

...

andyjr

Astana look half decent

inkyfingers

I'm struggling to find any enthusiasm for this.

Turfle

Looking forward to this. Some struggles going on up the Cauberg in the women's TTT.

flite

Sorry if this has been asked before, I have been away.
Are the world champs being shown on any TV channel?

milton50

They're on Eurosport I think.

Turfle

Yeah, Eurosport 1.30 today for Men's TTT and highlights of the women's TTT.

Art Vandelay

You've probably read by now - no jerseys for the winners, just a badge they have to stitch on to their kit up for grabs. If you leave the team - no badge for you. If the team disbands - no badges for anyone.

Some good teams - Vacansoleil look good but OPQS, BMC and Orica start as favourites.

RichN95.

Art Vandelay wrote:

You've probably read by now - no jerseys for the winners, just a badge they have to stitch on to their kit up for grabs. If you leave the team - no badge for you. If the team disbands - no badges for anyone.

Badges?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsVi2RqE7ek

milton50

I'm just waiting for the coverage of the men's competition to start and they're showing highlights of the women. I'm sure Harmon just said that Emma Pooley has the highest power:weight ratio of anyone. Man or Woman. Amazing if I've heard that right.

Richmond Racer

Milton50 wrote:

I'm just waiting for the coverage of the men's competition to start and they're showing highlights of the women. I'm sure Harmon just said that Emma Pooley has the highest power:weight ratio of anyone. Man or Woman. Amazing if I've heard that right.

Heard him say that too :shock:

graeme_s-2

Interesting to see the last AG2R rider coming across the line still in an aero tuck long after he'd been dropped. Just using it for a bit of TT practice?

FJS

Hadn't realised they do the Cauberg just before the finish in the TTT too :shock: . Liquigas immediately dropped 2 riders there. They had numbers to spare, but could become interesting with teams that have lost more riders earlier

Rabobank and OPQS exactly the same time at first time check. Ahead of Orica, BMC, Liquigas, and Garmin, but all very close.

Rusvelo fastest for the moment

FJS

Liquigas smashes Rusvelo's time

Blancmange

Milton50 wrote:

They're on Eurosport I think.

They're on BBC 301 at the moment.

FJS

Rabobank making huge mistakes here (what's new :? ) - completely falling apart on the Cauberg

FJS

Rabobank finishing 3 seconds behind Liquigas. They easily lost those on the hill waiting to regroup

milton50

OPQS absolutely nail it. They take over 1min off Liquigas's time.

Tom BB

What an awful spectacle....crowd size is similar to the Tour of Qatar too.