Worlds build up.

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Comments

  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Spanish are the team to watch out for. J Rod, Valverde, Freire, Contador...
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  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    ANyone know if Ballan has found any form yet?
    _
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    These "hilly" worlds courses are always hard to call as there are a huge number of riders who could win it, from a classics specialist who can climb a bit (like Boonen), to puncheurs like Gilbert and Gerrans and even full on mountain goats like Contador. Also the tactics of teams and individuals are often quite different, they don't always play out the way they would if it was Leige or Flanders.

    Personally I think Gilbert is coming in to form at the perfect time.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    esv wrote:
    A bit too hard for EBH perhaps? unless he gets away early. Think Nordhaug has a better shot, Gilbert even better.

    Is Vino racing?

    EBH - no form.

    Vino retired.


    That would be the EBH who won Ploay 2 weeks ago and took 5th on Sunday. If that's bad form I'm a shoe-in for this coming weekend...
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,548
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    ANyone know if Ballan has found any form yet?

    Even if he has, he won't be riding. The Italian Federation's ban on riders convicted of doping offences has been extended to include those currently under investigation, so Ballan is out due to the ongoing Mantova case.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,548
    iainf72 wrote:
    ALIHISGREAT wrote:
    I'm going for a British winner. JTL?

    Paging andyp.....

    Must. Not. Take. The. Bait.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    andyp wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    ANyone know if Ballan has found any form yet?

    Even if he has, he won't be riding. The Italian Federation's ban on riders convicted of doping offences has been extended to include those currently under investigation, so Ballan is out due to the ongoing Mantova case.

    Ballan's been under investigation longer than Jack the Ripper. The Italian authorites need to sh1t or get off the pot.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    RichN95 wrote:
    andyp wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    ANyone know if Ballan has found any form yet?

    Even if he has, he won't be riding. The Italian Federation's ban on riders convicted of doping offences has been extended to include those currently under investigation, so Ballan is out due to the ongoing Mantova case.

    Ballan's been under investigation longer than Jack the Ripper. The Italian authorites need to sh1t or get off the pot.

    Tend to agree.
    _
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,548
    FJS wrote:
    TailWindHome wrote:

    Is it unusual for the Worlds not to be multiple laps of a circuit?
    Since Beijing and Geelong a larger route followed by a finish circuit is the in thing.

    If you want to know how tough this can be, have a look at the results in 1998 on exactly the same circuit, the gaps between the top 15 and how many finished
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_UCI_R ... pionships_–_Men%27s_road_race

    That was a filthy day though, cold and wet, which meant half the field started with the idea of abandoning as soon as they could.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,548
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    andyp wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    ANyone know if Ballan has found any form yet?

    Even if he has, he won't be riding. The Italian Federation's ban on riders convicted of doping offences has been extended to include those currently under investigation, so Ballan is out due to the ongoing Mantova case.

    Ballan's been under investigation longer than Jack the Ripper. The Italian authorites need to sh1t or get off the pot.

    Tend to agree.

    The wheels of Italian justice move at a glacial pace, and that's before the inevitable appeals process kicks in.
  • andyjr
    andyjr Posts: 635
    Is there a full list of the various countries teams as yet or are they still being announced?
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    andyp wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    andyp wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    ANyone know if Ballan has found any form yet?

    Even if he has, he won't be riding. The Italian Federation's ban on riders convicted of doping offences has been extended to include those currently under investigation, so Ballan is out due to the ongoing Mantova case.

    Ballan's been under investigation longer than Jack the Ripper. The Italian authorites need to sh1t or get off the pot.

    Tend to agree.

    The wheels of Italian justice move at a glacial pace, and that's before the inevitable appeals process kicks in.

    They've evidently decided that like in the case of Lance Armstrong it would be better for the sport if they waited till he'd retired until they investigated him properly.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,718
    Is Nick Nuyens riding?
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    Is Nick Nuyens riding?

    Nope.

    Belgium for the UCI road world championships

    Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
    Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
    Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
    Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
    Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
    Gianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
    Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
    Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin - Sharp
    Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
    _
  • Tom BB
    Tom BB Posts: 1,001
    I can see J-Rod or Piti taking it. Maybe Gilbert....I think that it will be too selective for EBH and maybe Sagan too.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    CLM. Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) et Jérémy Roy (FDJ-BigMat).
    Course en ligne. Maxime Bouet (Ag2r La Mondiale), Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Jérôme Coppel (Saur-Sojasun), Mickaël Delage (FDJ-BigMat), Jérémie Galland (Saur-Sojasun), Tony Gallopin (RadioShack-Nissan), Vincent Jerome (Team Europcar), Arthur Vichot (FDJ-BigMat), Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar).
    Remplaçant : Jérémy Roy (FDJ-BigMat)
    Contador is the Greatest
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    FJS wrote:

    If you want to know how tough this can be, have a look at the results in 1998 on exactly the same circuit, the gaps between the top 15 and how many finished
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_UCI_R ... pionships_–_Men%27s_road_race

    That was some result for Italy in the U23s.

    So given the U23 result in 1998 and the Italian ban of anyone previously banned or under investigation, Nocentini must be a shoe in this year :lol:

    Have I mentioned I'm going. Stupidly excited already.
  • Tom BB
    Tom BB Posts: 1,001
    Ooh what about Tommy V....he has been climbing well this year. Anyone think that he could do it?
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Tom BB wrote:
    Ooh what about Tommy V....he has been climbing well this year. Anyone think that he could do it?

    No.
    _
  • Tom BB
    Tom BB Posts: 1,001
    Lol. Me neither. He was 8th at Flanders this year, but doesn't really seem to do as well away from stage races. I'd say that he's a better bet than JTL though!
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,548
    Most of the peleton are a better bet than JTL. I'd be surprised if he even finishes the race.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Tom BB wrote:
    Lol. Me neither. He was 8th at Flanders this year, but doesn't really seem to do as well away from stage races. I'd say that he's a better bet than JTL though!

    Won the Brabantse pijl solo this year.
    _
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    given that JTL's never ridden a 1 dayer of this distance before, cant disagree
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Tom BB wrote:
    Lol. Me neither. He was 8th at Flanders this year, but doesn't really seem to do as well away from stage races. I'd say that he's a better bet than JTL though!

    Won the Brabantse pijl solo this year.

    Chalk and Cheese. BP is in a funny spot when the cobbled classics guys have had their fun and the Ardennes specialists are keeping their powder dry.

    EBH has won GW, but he can't win Flanders.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    inkyfingers wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Tom BB wrote:
    Lol. Me neither. He was 8th at Flanders this year, but doesn't really seem to do as well away from stage races. I'd say that he's a better bet than JTL though!

    Won the Brabantse pijl solo this year.

    Chalk and Cheese. BP is in a funny spot when the cobbled classics guys have had their fun and the Ardennes specialists are keeping their powder dry.

    EBH has won GW, but he can't win Flanders.

    I know I know.

    Just showing off my knowledge.
    _
  • Tom BB
    Tom BB Posts: 1,001
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Tom BB wrote:
    Lol. Me neither. He was 8th at Flanders this year, but doesn't really seem to do as well away from stage races. I'd say that he's a better bet than JTL though!

    Won the Brabantse pijl solo this year.

    Yup I know-it's still not a staggering one day palmares though. I'd like to see him i contention, and he has the right kind of attributes as a rider...

    What is Boonen's form like atm?
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    inkyfingers wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Tom BB wrote:
    Lol. Me neither. He was 8th at Flanders this year, but doesn't really seem to do as well away from stage races. I'd say that he's a better bet than JTL though!

    Won the Brabantse pijl solo this year.

    Chalk and Cheese. BP is in a funny spot when the cobbled classics guys have had their fun and the Ardennes specialists are keeping their powder dry.

    EBH has won GW, but he can't win Flanders.

    I know I know.

    Just showing off my knowledge.

    Or your naivety :wink:
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Tom BB wrote:

    What is Boonen's form like atm?

    Pretty good.

    Won Paris Brussels this weekend and the World Port Classic thing.
    _
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    I thought the race was finishing on the climb. The short, flat section after the top will make picking a winner harder I reckon. I wonder what Valv's form will be like post Vuelta?
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Pross wrote:
    I thought the race was finishing on the climb. The short, flat section after the top will make picking a winner harder I reckon. I wonder what Valv's form will be like post Vuelta?

    Yeah. Like the old Amstel Gold.

    Boonen should do well.
    _

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