2011 Copenhagen World Championships: Elite Men Road Race

[auscyclefan94]

2011 Copenhagen World Championships: Elite Men Road Race, 266km

Interactive Startlist

2010: Thor Hushovd
2009: Cadel Evans
2008: Alessandro Ballan
2007: Paolo Bettini
2006: Paolo Bettini
2005: Tom Boonen

Who will take home the rainbow jersey from Copenhagen?

 

[Eric8-A]

2011 Copenhagen World Championships: Elite Men Road Race, 266km

Interactive Startlist

2010: Thor Hushovd
2009: Cadel Evans
2008: Alessandro Ballan
2007: Paolo Bettini
2006: Paolo Bettini
2005: Tom Boonen

Who will take home the rainbow jersey from Copenhagen?

I love how it looks all mountainous and difficult, but your thoughts change when you look to the left.

 

[RedheadDane]

Looking forward to it!

It's gonna be FUN!

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

I love how it looks all mountainous and difficult, but your thoughts change when you look to the left.

I did exactly the same thing, even though I watched the u23's yesterday

Even though the course isn't the best, I think it will be quite exciting - between the teams who want a sprint vs those who want to make it hard (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-wants-to-make-worlds-as-hard-as-possible - I love this headline). As has been said elsewhere, the finish is hard for the likes of Cav, but too easy for the like of Gilbert so no-one is really sure what's going to happen. Throw in the likes of Thor, EBH or Sagan (if he's still there), and it's anyone's game... As for a prediction, I would love to see Cav win, but think he will only podium. I'll go for one of the Norwegians

 

[Eric8-A]

Looking at the profile, is it similar to the rolling hills used in the Tour of Missouri?

 

[Dalakhani]

As has been said elsewhere, the finish is hard for the likes of Cav, but too easy for the like of Gilbert so no-one is really sure what's going to happen. Throw in the likes of Thor, EBH or Sagan (if he's still there), and it's anyone's game... As for a prediction, I would love to see Cav win, but think he will only podium. I'll go for one of the Norwegians

Me, too.

Based on what I saw yesterday, the finish looks perfect for them.

Steve

 

[Descender]

The only real action we're going to see before the final sprint will be the numerous falls and crashes.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Looking at the profile, is it similar to the rolling hills used in the Tour of Missouri?

That's probably an optimistic rendering, which is depressing given how dreadful the Tour of Missouri was. Only a handful of stage races that I can think of that had worse parcours than MO. The Niedersachsen Rundfahrt is the gold standard of dreadful stage races though. Makes the Danmark Rundt look like the Giro del Trentino.

All of the hills bar the final super climb of about 3-4% are early in the loop, and even then we're talking 800m at 4% as a climb. I wouldn't expect too many sprinters to be dropped here - if it's not a sprint (though a minor uphill one that may make it harder to do pure leadouts for) then it will be a breakaway. We're not seeing a particularly thinned out bunch here, save for those riders who would have been dropped anyway.

 

[greenedge]

On Cycling Central Goss seemed confident. I think he might be getting some good form in. Italy is getting more and more of a threat. Along with Australia they have good chances in a break/ reduced sprint. ( However Goss could maybe beat Cav ) especially since it is a hill. Germany if they can get their lead-out right will be dangerous. I think Ciolek looks to be in good form but he will have to work for Greipel.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Italy should just put Visconti in the break and tell the other teams to work.

If he were in form Haussler would be a bigger threat than Greipel.

 

[sublimit]

If the Gorrila has his Tour form I would back him to win, but I dont know if he's raced that much recently.

Italy do have options and also Hushovd will ride a clever race as usual but whether he has the gas to beat the quicker guys is any ones guess.

 

[Cobblestoned]

It was as early as yesterday evening, when I watched the startlist and thought:
"Why not Heinrich Haussler?"

Has shown nothing this season. Perfect story.

 

[auscyclefan94]

On Cycling Central Goss seemed confident. I think he might be getting some good form in. Italy is getting more and more of a threat. Along with Australia they have good chances in a break/ reduced sprint. ( However Goss could maybe beat Cav ) especially since it is a hill. Germany if they can get their lead-out right will be dangerous. I think Ciolek looks to be in good form but he will have to work for Greipel.

Goss has no form. I saw that interview and his comments about his form were clearly coming from his back side. I don't see how he will be competitive. Hasn't shown any form. Haussler hasn't shown anything much for ages and I don't believe he'll be up there. CJ is just not quick enough to beat some of the other sprinters. If Goss was on form I would give him a good chance to win here but he just isn't. Australia need to attack with the guys that are on form such as Gerrans, O'Grady & Clarke. It is a shame as those guys are on great form and if it were next years world championships course then I believe we'd be in a good shot of the win.

by the looks of the u23 race, it is very hard to get away due to the pace of the field chasing down the moves. I think Wiggins said that the peleton will be around 53km/h then ou'll have to be travelling 57km/h just to get a gap. No way this won't be sprint and I doubt Gilbert will win this also. Course is simply too flat and fast to get a gap.

 

[Netserk]

Where are you going to stand on the route to see it? (those of you who do watch it live)

I'll stand around the finish to see the sprint, although I heard that the Belgian area is where the party will be

 

[cineteq]

Italy should just put Visconti in the break and tell the other teams to work.

That's what the other stronger teams like Belgium, Spain, Germany and GB are going to do as well, let the others work for them.

 

[movingtarget]

Goss has no form. I saw that interview and his comments about his form were clearly coming from his back side. I don't see how he will be competitive. Hasn't shown any form. Haussler hasn't shown anything much for ages and I don't believe he'll be up there. CJ is just not quick enough to beat some of the other sprinters. If Goss was on form I would give him a good chance to win here but he just isn't. Australia need to attack with the guys that are on form such as Gerrans, O'Grady & Clarke. It is a shame as those guys are on great form and if it were next years world championships course then I believe we'd be in a good shot of the win.

by the looks of the u23 race, it is very hard to get away due to the pace of the field chasing down the moves. I think Wiggins said that the peleton will be around 53km/h then ou'll have to be travelling 57km/h just to get a gap. No way this won't be sprint and I doubt Gilbert will win this also. Course is simply too flat and fast to get a gap.

Not sure why some people seemed to think this was not a course for sprinters. There is nothing challenging about the route. Australians made a big mistake leaving out Renshaw. Gerrans cannot win on this course. Looks like Cavendish and other elite sprinters to fight this out. Be very surprised if Gilbert was up there. Give Hushovd a chance also. Sutton will finish ahead of Goss but not sure if Sutton is good enough to win, like you said.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

i think cav can win.
a sprinter of some sort anyway.

 

[El Pistolero]

i think cav can win.
a sprinter of some sort anyway.

If Cav has his Tour form he'll win easily. The only 2 factors in this race are called Cancellara and Phil. Curious to see what Cancellara will do anyway, he's the only one that can turn this into an interesting race. I've heard he focused extra on long distances in his training instead of his time trialling. So he thinks he has a shot here.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

Don't see how tomorrow does not end in a bunch sprint.

 

[Boeing]

I would like to see Sagan, Bouche and King lead a world of hurt in a breakaway that breaks all sprinters legs and forces riders to fend for themselves rather than pull tempo or bridge for a group sprint.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Just put the men on a velodrome. what a ****ing disgrace.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

I would like to see Sagan, Bouche and King lead a world of hurt in a breakaway that breaks all sprinters legs and forces riders to fend for themselves rather than pull tempo or bridge for a group sprint.

On this parcours you can keep dreaming I'm afraid

 

[dlwssonic]

I would like to see Sagan, Bouche and King lead a world of hurt in a breakaway that breaks all sprinters legs and forces riders to fend for themselves rather than pull tempo or bridge for a group sprint.

Thats some American fanboyism!

 

[El Pistolero]

Just put the men on a velodrome. what a ****ing disgrace.

That would make for a very interesting race actually with everyone pushing and stuff like that. Unlike the one we're getting tomorrow.

 

[dlwssonic]

Come on cancellara, you are the gladiator!!!