World Championships Discussion (With Spoilers)

[weisan]

Actually, Sagan is fairly predictable. He seldom deviates from his usual path. The problem is, even if you know what he's going to do in advance, there's nothing much you can do about it except choosing to ride against him and making sure he doesn't win.

[Mackers]

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[echappist]

that's unfortunate... really like Gaunier

they are massing at the front, marshaling. would have preferred to see them send out a rider into the break instead

[echappist]

this is what hubris looks like: one rider from the U.S. dragging the whole field, with 4 GB and 5 Dutch riders (both groups having representation in the break) sitting comfortably behind

[echappist]

that's the race deciding move

[choke]

Wow...who would have guessed that ending? The Dutch women ride so well in the WC.

[echappist]

Originally Posted by choke

Wow...who would have guessed that ending? The Dutch women ride so well in the WC.

And they actually ride as a team, both in the sense of tactics and in team cohesion. Blaak initially got away after a group containing VdB and van Vleuten was brought back. She and two others dangled off the front for a good 8 kms and was swept up when the real climbers threw down. Already impressive to have hang tough on the climb.

Had the Dutch been more selfish, they'd have gotten one more medal. Surely there was no way Blaak could have been brought back with 2km left, and that would have been the perfect time to attack or up the pace to get another medal, but they opted to make sure they got a win.

[choke]

The Dutch and the Italians are both good at riding for the team....a win by one is a win for all. Chantal was a deserving winner, she did a lot of work earlier and came back from a crash.

Here's an interesting tidbit:
WC RR - Chantal Blaak
WC ITT - Annemiek van Vleuten
Euro Champ RR - Marianne Vos
Euro Champ ITT - Ellen van Dijk
And of course Anna vdB with the Olympic RR

That was a great ride by Susanne Andersen, she's only 19 and finished 7th.

[harlond]

If tomorrow's champion produces a ride half as gutsy, savvy, and tough as Chantal Blaak's ride today, it will be a great race.

[weisan]

That Junior champ is dominant and demonstrated riding maturity beyond his category.

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by weisan

That Junior champ is dominant and demonstrated riding maturity beyond his category.

He really is. His finish line gesture was very Zabel-like.

Next year's Innsbruck-Tirol course looks brutal:

The 2018 Road World Championships route looks set to be one of the toughest in history, with organisers of the race in the Austrian city of Innsbruck including ramps of up to 25 per cent in the elite men’s road race.

The official routes for all of the 2018 events, which take place from September 23-30, were revealed at the 2017 Worlds in Bergen with the elite men’s road race set to cover almost 5,000m of climbing over a distance of 265km.

http://innsbruck-tirol2018.com/en/

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[echappist]

Originally Posted by cadence90

He really is. His finish line gesture was very Zabel-like.

Next year's Innsbruck-Tirol course looks brutal:


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holy s***, looks like the message is: Colombians only, rest needs not apply. Though Froome is probably circling this in his calendar...

sustained sections at 10+%, wow... Not sure it would actually make for exciting racing.

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by echappist

holy s***, looks like the message is: Colombians only, rest needs not apply. Though Froome is probably circling this in his calendar...

sustained sections at 10+%, wow... Not sure it would actually make for exciting racing.

No kidding on all counts.

[ultraman6970]

Actually a route that contador could win and now he retired, good for valverde if he can make it back from the dead... now we have TD aswell... sagan wont make it in that WC at all. Sky has a good team for that one, just do what they do in the tour and the britts could win this one aswell maybe with froomey?

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by ultraman6970

Actually a route that contador could win and now he retired, good for valverde if he can make it back from the dead... now we have TD aswell... sagan wont make it in that WC at all. Sky has a good team for that one, just do what they do in the tour and the britts could win this one aswell maybe with froomey?

Sagan next year...no way.

ESP might count on Landa rather than Valverde? COL will surely contend, and FRA could be strong.

As for today, I don't think ITA has a shot, but maybe Trentin will have a good race.
It would be fantastic if Daniele Bennati has a great day; he's been nominated captain and today is his 37th birthday.


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Wow, this rocky/watery landscape around Bergen is spectacular. It would be a great place to visit someday.
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