2011 Copenhagen World Championships: Elite Men Road Race

[Libertine Seguros]

First off, terrible course. WTF is it doing in a country as unfit for a world championship as Denmark?

Secondly, so the greatest wheelsucker of all time was delivered to the finish once again to be the fastest man over 200m. Big deal.

Bogus World Champion. Bogus World Championship course.

The country wasn't the problem, the course was. They could have made an interesting parcours somewhere in Denmark. I'm sure they could have found something better even in Copenhagen. But they didn't, and they served up the worst WC course in living memory.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

The only thing we all agree on...the podium girls

they saved the week really

 

[saganftw]

avatar bet?

if cav goes to OPQS i ll put tony martins sad face as my avatar

 

[Michielveedeebee]

if cav goes to OPQS i ll put tony martins sad face as my avatar

it's a deal if he doesn't go I'll wear a Rebellin avatar for a month

 

[sublimit]

you are of course right.

I am not saying their is much logic in my disappointment regarding cav, he won on what was giving to him, kudos.

But it is a frustrating result, from a poor course. As a result, me and evidently others can't help but vent their frustration directing it at cav. Emotions in their prime i guess.

The course leaves a bad taste which devalues the stripes imo.

I'm kind of proud how well The Brits rode, like Froome in particular for some hard pulling for like several hours.

Last year we had 3 riders in total in the Worldsand they were shot out the back mid race. I'm happy but I realise a lot of people are hacked off with this result.

 

[3wheeler]

Looking Good For the Olympics Next Year.. GB are Coming to Form Nicely.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Quick search result...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

avatar bet?


yes they should. As should classics men and climbers.

When was the last time we had a true climbers' WC? As in one that the classics men couldn't compete at?

I don't think we should have a "mountain WC" that only the climbers can compete at. Mendrisio was good, as it wasn't tough enough to put classics men like Gilbert, Cancellara and Kolobnev out of contention. But that's probably as tough as it should get.

But since I don't think we should have a WC where only the pure climbers can win, I similarly don't think we should have a WC where only the sprinters should win. A "hard" worlds should at least be easy enough to give other classes of cyclist a chance to feel they can compete, but just as that, an "easy" worlds should at least have something hard enough to give other classes of cyclist a chance to feel they can compete. A worlds that is less selective than the first three stages of the Tour de Pologne put together is no Worlds at all.

 

[Sørensen]

then get the **** out and make a life for you..

you also got the world best means for buisness ..

http://www.forbes.com/2010/09/07/be...washington-best-countries-10_land.htmlhttp://

and dont operate with the concept of perfect when you relate to a relative factor like a hole country..

the main problem is so many are on welfare..

and with the new goverment (red) its now means that you have to earn more then +6000 $ pr month before it make sense to work, and not get more on welfare.. and thats a big problem.

but that debate, is not suited here..back to topic..

Dude you are not well I think.. What is "get the feck out and make a life" even supposed to mean? Then you ramble on about red governments and politics. If you don't want to take on my advice and keep embarrassing yourself so be it.

Lastly you might wanna work on your english, it's worse than Villys

 

[saganftw]

Quick search result...

good to see not everything is flat in denmark

 

[richwagmn]

Course wasent very good no. But why is Denmark as nation unfit for a wc?

See topographical map of Denmark.

 

[spalco]

Didn't Genghis Kahn say that?

I think it was Conan the Barbarian.

 

[Maxiton]

Hushovd didn't have to work more than Cav personally last year, and in his case not even his teammates did any work. But Geelong rocked.

The problem is the course, not that sprinters are lesser cyclists because they're fast enough to fancy their chances in a bunch sprint.

Right. But we knew what the course was for a year or better. And it's been a pretty sure bet that it was going to result in a Cav win. Everyone except Sean Kelly thought so. Now that it's happened, though, people are shocked . . . .

Piece of sh*t worlds. What a horrible afternoon. This must have been almost as boring as a day in the life of Stephen Hawking.

Deserved win, but who the hell cares. I do not remember experiencing such boredom and annoyance in a long time, only thing I can remember that comes close is watching an episode of "Friends" with people that think it's a hilarious show.

Even worse than advertised.

Are you kidding? Stephen Hawking spends his afternoons sitting on a lightwave, riding through the cosmos. After an afternoon like that, you or I would be (even more) blubbering incoherently.

2010 was a sprinter's Worlds. That was a course that was just hard enough for other types of riders to think they could do it, but not hard enough to stop the sprint. That was an example of how to do a flat Worlds really well.

This year was an example of how to make the Worlds look worthless.

I think that's a little harsh, personally. UCI gave one of its favored sons the best chance at winning. The UCI devalue everything they touch, granted. But in this case, I don't think the WC stripes are devalued by being on the arms of the Fastest Man Alive.

Am I the only one that's happy with the result?

Nope.

 

[roundabout]

The country wasn't the problem, the course was. They could have made an interesting parcours somewhere in Denmark. I'm sure they could have found something better even in Copenhagen. But they didn't, and they served up the worst WC course in living memory.

Zolder was worse/just as bad. Oslo was pretty bad but it was a different era of cycling and riders and the weather made a race of it.

Geelong/Madrid should just about be the limit to how easy the Worlds should be.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

When was the last time we had a true climbers' WC? As in one that the classics men couldn't compete at?

I don't think we should have a "mountain WC" that only the climbers can compete at. Mendrisio was good, as it wasn't tough enough to put classics men like Gilbert, Cancellara and Kolobnev out of contention. But that's probably as tough as it should get.

But since I don't think we should have a WC where only the pure climbers can win, I similarly don't think we should have a WC where only the sprinters should win. A "hard" worlds should at least be easy enough to give other classes of cyclist a chance to feel they can compete, but just as that, an "easy" worlds should at least have something hard enough to give other classes of cyclist a chance to feel they can compete. A worlds that is less selective than the first three stages of the Tour de Pologne put together is no Worlds at all.

Can't say I disagree with you, but imo a true climbers WC and a true sprinters WC should be included every 10 years.

 

[simo1733]

I notice one of the Aus riders seemed to go back just to take Cav out of his train.Luckily Stannard made an epic recovery.

 

[Benotti69]

The course yet again proved that the UCI know absolutely nothing about cycling.

 

[Sørensen]

See topographical map of Denmark.

You don't believe there are any places in DK, fit for a wc course? What's your thoughts on next year in Nederlands then, You watched a topographical map of that country?

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

First off, terrible course.

When it comes to competitive opportunities, I totally agree.

WTF is it doing in a country as unfit for a world championship as Denmark?

Apparently, you don't know Denmark, if you say Copenhagen = Denmark. Plenty of opportunities to make a very hard course several places in Jutland (main land), that would seperate the peleton into pieces.

EDIT: For instance a route in Vejle could consist of the following:
Kiddesvej 450m @ avg 11.1% / max 21%:

Munkebjerg 1000m @ avg 7.1% / max. 12% :

Gl. Kongevej 475m @ avg 13.7% / max 22%

- and you could as a bonus host it as a city world championship. That was just to mention a few hills. Plenty of opportunities in Jutland.

To held a race in Denmark does not mean that you have to include sand gravel in half of the route before it gets exiting ;-)

 

[GroupDK]

Denmark is a totally flat country..(have that in mind)

and likely Denmark was chosed because we have a fully-integrated cycling culture..like no other country, and that makes a kapital / copenhagen the most green city in the world.(and set a good example in the green house effect problems)

About the cycling culture..

http://www.streetfilms.org/cycling-copenhagen-through-north-american-eyes/

But dont forget a WC is primary a show, and just to todays round about course there was 250.000 spectators (police estimates).

 

[palmerq]

Hmm, anyone spot Gilbert at the finish? Sagan?

Face it haters: Mark Cavendish - the rider of the year 2011!

I saw sagan in a photo he was quite far back, didnt see gilbert all race though...

I dont think this win makes cavendish rider of the year though, good win from him on an interesting course, well done.. I was hoping cancellara would win it so i am disapointed

 

[Anonymous]

the Brits out in full force here as they were during the vuelta where is midnightfright?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

When was the last time we had a true climbers' WC? As in one that the classics men couldn't compete at?

I don't think we should have a "mountain WC" that only the climbers can compete at. Mendrisio was good, as it wasn't tough enough to put classics men like Gilbert, Cancellara and Kolobnev out of contention. But that's probably as tough as it should get.

But since I don't think we should have a WC where only the pure climbers can win, I similarly don't think we should have a WC where only the sprinters should win. A "hard" worlds should at least be easy enough to give other classes of cyclist a chance to feel they can compete, but just as that, an "easy" worlds should at least have something hard enough to give other classes of cyclist a chance to feel they can compete. A worlds that is less selective than the first three stages of the Tour de Pologne put together is no Worlds at all.

spot on.

This was terrible. It provided little opportunity for anything else.
This WC encouraged a strong team effort more then individual strength.

World champs should really test the riders, encourage courageous efforts, not end in a big *** group sprint.

just yuk.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think that's a little harsh, personally. UCI gave one of its favored sons the best chance at winning. The UCI devalue everything they touch, granted. But in this case, I don't think the WC stripes are devalued by being on the arms of the Fastest Man Alive.

The WC stripes are not devalued by Cav having them. But they are devalued by being given out for a race less selective than a flat stage in the Tour of Turkey. It doesn't feel like Cavendish has truly ACHIEVED anything out of the ordinary by winning this race. It doesn't feel like a World Championship, more like a neverending Scheldeprijs.

The UCI obviously wanted Cavendish in rainbows because it's marketing gold, and that's fine. Nothing against Cavendish for winning a course that was selected to give him the best chance.

But if there's no sense of occasion, and nothing special about a World Championship win, then it begs the question why have them at all. This was nothing more than routine for Cavendish, the only difference was he was wearing a British jersey, sorry, skinsuit, instead of an HTC one.

The race was abysmal and provided no spectacle, and the sport should be embarrassed to call it a World Championships.

 

[FignonLeGrand]

Looking Good For the Olympics Next Year.. GB are Coming to Form Nicely.

For the road maybe, but the Aussies look much better on track. And actually if the race is hard I am not sure Cav will get over the hills in the last lap or 2.