Worlds build up.

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  • dsoutar
    dsoutar Posts: 1,746
    frenchfighter wrote:
    Don't want Sagan to win.

    I'm curious - why not ?

    I have mixed feeling about him; he's very cocky, too cocky perhaps but lets face it he's very young, precociously good (although he knows it) so I've cut him quite a bit of slack.

    The future of bike racing even (to re-quote an oft-quoted phrase)
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    I like Sagan. I wouldn't mind him winning it later. I just think there are others that deserve it more and who I would prefer.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • step-hent
    step-hent Posts: 62
    Interesting - I didn't get the impression that Sagan was cocky, just confident in his ability. He doesn't seem to go in to races saying he's going to cream everyone, he just has a good celebration ready when he does. Seems to be aware of the fact that there's still lots to learn when he doesn't get it right, too. But then again, I don't think Cav's that cocky either...
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    With Sagan there's a certain inevitability about him that doesn't excite me.

    So when he's powering away on his own you think "yeah yeah".

    Which is odd, because when Canc or Boonen does it I get very excited.

    The irrational mind of a cycling fan eh?
    _
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    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


    Helluva lot of future stars in the U23/Junior ranks in that one. And the the (alas still) last Irish medal of any description at the WC's.

    Also noticed the Russian lady that scooped two bronzes at the Olympics scooped two silvers as a junior that week.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    I think Sagan lacks a strong team and also a bit of tactical nous. Too often you see him doing too much work on the front or pulling back attacks himself. It's all very impressive but in long classics those efforts take a lot out of you.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    TheBigBean wrote:
    Can't see Sagan winning.

    Anyone think Contador has a chance?
    No, but Oscar Camenzind might do a solo break on the last lap. :roll:
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    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.
    Interesting though that he's still happily doing the Worlds for BMC in the TTT. Bizarre system
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    The Spanish team is ridiculous - all captains, no helpers. Pretty much all of them apart from Lastras and Castroviejo could be in it to win it, or would claim so at least. Plenty of egos. Can't really see many of those doing the bottle carrying in the first 150km.

    Alberto Contador
    Oscar Freire
    Dani Moreno
    Joaquim Rodriguez
    Pablo Lastras
    Juan Antonio Flecha
    Alejandro Valverde
    Jonathan Castroviejo
    Samuel Sanchez

    The Belgian and Italian selections are much more balanced
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    The more you think about the course and the list of riders there are just so many different ways this race could pan out and dozens of potential winners. That's why they call it the World Championship I guess.

    I reckon Gilbert might have found his legs and his racing brain just in time for the worlds.
    I think Sagan lacks a strong team and also a bit of tactical nous

    Have to agree. There's just so many more riders who know how to win a one-day race of this quality.
  • Lichtblick
    Lichtblick Posts: 1,434
    Hi there

    I've come late to the Worlds (saw a bit of one a coupla years ago but have not studied it), and have some questions. I hope some others have the time/patience to reply, please.

    Where are the rider lists? I had a quick look, but must have been looking in the wrong place.

    OK, so, it's run on national lines, not Pro-Team lines. (got that one, I'm smart like that). But as someone said earlier, so many top riders in the Spanish team for instance - Contador + Valverde + Rodriguez - how does that work out on the road? They were deadly rivals only days ago....... :shock:

    Hushovd and Cavendish won recently, but so did Evans. It's not A Sprinter's Race then? Forgive my ignorance, but if it were a "sprinter's race", why put AC and AV and JR in it - for instance?

    Why finish with ten laps? What's the point of that?

    The last question is pretty pointless: who d'you want to win? I can't even start to say, because apart from the aforementioned, I don't know who's in it!

    Sorry about this, in a bit of a rush, thanks in advance.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Lichtblick wrote:
    OK, so, it's run on national lines, not Pro-Team lines. (got that one, I'm smart like that). But as someone said earlier, so many top riders in the Spanish team for instance - Contador + Valverde + Rodriguez - how does that work out on the road? They were deadly rivals only days ago....... :shock:
    Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It's a delicate balance which the team boss tries to manage, often unsuccessfully. Tales of divisions within teams aren't rare, particularly with Italy and Belgium
    Lichtblick wrote:
    Hushovd and Cavendish won recently, but so did Evans. It's not A Sprinter's Race then? Forgive my ignorance, but if it were a "sprinter's race", why put AC and AV and JR in it - for instance?
    Ever year is a different route in a different venue. Sometimes it suits sprinters, sometimes climbers, usually somewhere in between
    Lichtblick wrote:
    Why finish with ten laps? What's the point of that?
    So the crowd gets to see them more often. The question should be, why aren't more races run like that
    Lichtblick wrote:
    The last question is pretty pointless: who d'you want to win? I can't even start to say, because apart from the aforementioned, I don't know who's in it!
    I've tipped the Colombians to do something, so I want them to go well.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    Colombia have got a great looking team.

    Fabio Duarte
    Rigoberto Uran
    Sergio Henao
    Nairo Quintana
    Winner Anacona
    Carlos Betancur
    Miguel Angel Rubiano
  • Lichtblick
    Lichtblick Posts: 1,434
    THANKS RICHN95
    RichN95 wrote:
    Lichtblick wrote:
    OK, so, it's run on national lines, not Pro-Team lines. (got that one, I'm smart like that). But as someone said earlier, so many top riders in the Spanish team for instance - Contador + Valverde + Rodriguez - how does that work out on the road? They were deadly rivals only days ago....... :shock:
    Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It's a delicate balance which the team boss tries to manage, often unsuccessfully. Tales of divisions within teams aren't rare, particularly with Italy and Belgium

    Where are the team lists, please? Who's the team boss in the Spanish one, for instance? :shock:
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    No coverage of any of the Junior or U 23 events from host broadcaster NOS.
    Almost a blank week, in fact.
    All we get are the TTT, plus the men's and women's ITTs and road races.
    Thank ferc that VOS if from NOSland, is all I can say.

    The Dutch dish out the most pathetic Worlds coverage of the millennium,
    after being treated to the best Olympic coverage, ever.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    That is really annoying. U23 should be the minimum shown.
  • Lichtblick
    Lichtblick Posts: 1,434
    The World Championships: has Lance Armstrong ever done it?

    I'd have thought that being the World Champion would exactly fit his Alpha-Male ("it's not enough to win, everyone else has to lose") personality.

    :?:
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    Lichtblick wrote:
    The World Championships: has Lance Armstrong ever done it?

    I'd have thought that being the World Champion would exactly fit his Alpha-Male ("it's not enough to win, everyone else has to lose") personality.

    :?:

    He won it in 1993.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXsOR5O5hb0
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    No coverage of any of the Junior or U 23 events from host broadcaster NOS.
    Almost a blank week, in fact.
    All we get are the TTT, plus the men's and women's ITTs and road races.
    Thank ferc that VOS if from NOSland, is all I can say.

    The Dutch dish out the most pathetic Worlds coverage of the millennium,
    after being treated to the best Olympic coverage, ever.

    The recession has hit NOS quite hard.
    _
  • Lichtblick
    Lichtblick Posts: 1,434
    Turfle wrote:
    Lichtblick wrote:
    The World Championships: has Lance Armstrong ever done it?

    I'd have thought that being the World Champion would exactly fit his Alpha-Male ("it's not enough to win, everyone else has to lose") personality.

    :?:

    He won it in 1993.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXsOR5O5hb0

    Thanks for that clip, but at over 9 minutes long.............

    1993 eh? So before the cancer. Ok.
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    Lichtblick wrote:
    Turfle wrote:
    Lichtblick wrote:
    The World Championships: has Lance Armstrong ever done it?

    I'd have thought that being the World Champion would exactly fit his Alpha-Male ("it's not enough to win, everyone else has to lose") personality.

    :?:

    He won it in 1993.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXsOR5O5hb0

    Thanks for that clip, but at over 9 minutes long.............

    1993 eh? So before the cancer. Ok.

    I'd avoid tuning in to Eurosport to watch the race then, it can take up to 7 hours.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Turfle wrote:
    Colombia have got a great looking team.

    Fabio Duarte
    Rigoberto Uran
    Sergio Henao
    Nairo Quintana
    Winner Anacona
    Carlos Betancur
    Miguel Angel Rubiano

    Yeah, pretty bloody good. Any idea who they are riding for? Or no clear leader? Betancur if he has the distance in the legs will be odds on to contest the win.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Uran obv.
    _
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    Lichtblick wrote:
    Turfle wrote:
    Lichtblick wrote:
    The World Championships: has Lance Armstrong ever done it?

    I'd have thought that being the World Champion would exactly fit his Alpha-Male ("it's not enough to win, everyone else has to lose") personality.

    :?:

    He won it in 1993.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXsOR5O5hb0

    Thanks for that clip, but at over 9 minutes long.............

    1993 eh? So before the cancer. Ok.

    Yes, he was a good one day rider prior to his illness (he was also pretty good after but rarely did any). I liked him as a rider back then - would have been interesting to see his career had he not opted to change paths!
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    I reckon EBH could do well here. Also, is Vino riding? World and Olympic champion - uurrgghh, but I could see him doing well on that course with the right preparation. Its an interesting mix, actually quite pleased its not an uphill finish, got bored with those in the Vuelta...
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    BigMat wrote:
    I reckon EBH could do well here. Also, is Vino riding? World and Olympic champion - uurrgghh, but I could see him doing well on that course with the right preparation. Its an interesting mix, actually quite pleased its not an uphill finish, got bored with those in the Vuelta...

    No Vino.
    _
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    I reckon EBH could do well here. Also, is Vino riding? World and Olympic champion - uurrgghh, but I could see him doing well on that course with the right preparation. Its an interesting mix, actually quite pleased its not an uphill finish, got bored with those in the Vuelta...

    No Vino.

    That's a relief.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Italian teams for the world championships:

    Elite men's road race: Diego Ulissi (Lampre-ISD), Luca Paolini (Katusha), Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Oscar Gatto (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia), Giacomo Nizzolo (RadioShack-Nissan), Vincenzo Nibali, Eros Capecchi, Moreno Moser (Liquigas-Cannondale), Matteo Trentin, Dario Cataldo (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM).

    Elite men' time trial: Marco Pinotti (BMC), Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD)

    Elite women: Giada Borgato, Giorgia Bronzini (Diadora Pasta Zara), Noemi Cantele, Dalia Muccioli (BePink), Francesca Cauz (Top Girls), Elena Cecchini, Tatiana Guderzo (MCipollini Giambenini), Elisa Longo Borghini (Hitec Product), Rossella Ratto (Verinlegno Fabiani).
    Contador is the Greatest
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    frenchfighter wrote:
    Italian teams for the world championships:

    Elite men's road race: Diego Ulissi (Lampre-ISD), Luca Paolini (Katusha), Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Oscar Gatto (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia), Giacomo Nizzolo (RadioShack-Nissan), Vincenzo Nibali, Eros Capecchi, Moreno Moser (Liquigas-Cannondale), Matteo Trentin, Dario Cataldo (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM).

    Elite men' time trial: Marco Pinotti (BMC), Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD)

    Elite women: Giada Borgato, Giorgia Bronzini (Diadora Pasta Zara), Noemi Cantele, Dalia Muccioli (BePink), Francesca Cauz (Top Girls), Elena Cecchini, Tatiana Guderzo (MCipollini Giambenini), Elisa Longo Borghini (Hitec Product), Rossella Ratto (Verinlegno Fabiani).

    Go Pinotti!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,317
    BigMat wrote:
    Its an interesting mix, actually quite pleased its not an uphill finish, got bored with those in the Vuelta...


    :lol:

    Cycling fans make me laugh.

    Fickle.

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