2011 Copenhagen World Championships: Elite Men Road Race

[Anonymous]

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

I agree with this.

 

[Arnout]

thanks for that - was just about to watch the recording.

everyone please take this as a reminder to try and avoid spoilers in active threads.

Apologies.

 

[Maxiton]

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.

I totally see what you're saying and I don't disagree. I just don't have a problem with a one-off parcours that highlights cycling's extraordinary sprinter.

 

[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).

And also importen to remember that the britain is strong at the moment, (what the latest pro tour result also showes) and build a strong team for OL on there ground, and they set the pace today, and choosed that CAV should take this from the beginning.

dont forget that...othervise your fooling your self..

 

[Amsterhammer]

..........

 

[Libertine Seguros]

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.

Which only makes it worse that they served up such a stinker of a course. I'm not expecting them to putt Kiddevej in a course in Vejle or anything, but SOMETHING, and for goodness sakes don't put the feed zone on the only hill that could possibly be a platform for attacking!!!

 

[FignonLeGrand]

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

All this moaning about the course is ridiculous. I agree it wasnt an interesting parcours but on the other hand its right that many countries get the opportunity to host it and not find a course in the middle of no where to make it interesting.

Seems that this forum wants every race/ stage to be a combination of the best classics routes every single race. Its just not gonna happen.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

..........

habahabahaba :d

 

[Anonymous]

..........

the last one is wearing a shoe which looks very dominatrix

 

[palmerq]

..........

ahahahahaha, half of the forum is delighted the other half disgusted and you are busy scouting the podium girls it is a nice change from a lot of the other posts.

 

[Echoes]

yes they should. As should classics men and climbers.

Classic men and climbers can attack or pull a group. Can Cav? No ! Hence he doesn't deserve any major win, whether Worlds or any other races.

Cavendish is widely seen as a sprinter. But first and foremost, he's a WHEELSUCKER.

Pozzato is sometimes considered a wheelsucker but at least he has the decency to pull a group or to attack every now and then.

And it has nothing to do with the route, it has to do with the guy. He's a disgrace, just like Cipollini, Petacchi, Blijlevens, etc. These guys suck all the way.

The Cureghem kermess was flat but didn't end with a sprint.

Cureghem > Worlds, this year.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Hmm, anyone spot Gilbert at the finish? Sagan?

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

You mean no-one saw Gilbert because he actually is Cavendish?
So that gives him 30+ wins, but shouldn't shape shifting be on the doping list?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I totally see what you're saying and I don't disagree. I just don't have a problem with a one-off parcours that highlights cycling's extraordinary sprinter.

Would you have a problem if the Ponferrada worlds do nothing but climb up to Alto del Morredero over and over again?

I mean, that would make it pretty processional for the elite climbers, and it would be pointless anybody but a small handful turning up. Just like today.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I totally see what you're saying and I don't disagree. I just don't have a problem with a one-off parcours that highlights cycling's extraordinary sprinter.

I disagree entirely. It's the seductive tyranny of the middle way she's arguing for. I'd rather have a bit of variety than try to concoct a course that allegedly gives lots of people a chance, but in practice means the race is decided by the same 10 guys every year.

 

[The Hitch]

Geelong wasn't really a sprinters race, more a classics course imo. Madrid was also way harder than this, Valverde was contesting the sprint ftw, not guys like Greipel, Cav and Goss.

Does anyone btw know what the course in Madrid was. Ive tried looking on the internet but cant even find a picture of the race, yet alone a profile or a map

 

[El Pistolero]

Hmm, anyone spot Gilbert at the finish? Sagan?

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

No, rider of the year 2011 is Philippe Gilbert. Cavendish winning his 6th Tour de France stage this year doesn't change that.

 

[El Pistolero]

Does anyone btw know what the course in Madrid was. Ive tried looking on the internet but cant even find a picture of the race, yet alone a profile or a map

It was hilly, but not super hilly. Many people thought Boonen would be dropped, but he "surprised" everyone. He was the only real sprinter left of that group. Bettini was the strongest of the race though.

 

[ScottyMuser]

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.

Although I agree with some of your points, I would ask what about a hilly-ish course, which would have been tailored for Gilbert - would that devalue it as much as it wouldn't be a sense of occasion as it would just be another "Gilbert attacks in hill in last 3kms and wins easily" like a load of other races he wins.

 

[The Sheep]

Does anyone btw know what the course in Madrid was. Ive tried looking on the internet but cant even find a picture of the race, yet alone a profile or a map

The finish had a group of 20-30

 

[hatcher]

I disagree entirely. It's the seductive tyranny of the middle way she's arguing for. I'd rather have a bit of variety than try to concoct a course that allegedly gives lots of people a chance, but in practice means the race is decided by the same 10 guys every year.

Yep.

Evidently a World Champion should come from the same 10 classics rider every year.

There is no course that gives everyone a chance.

 

[sublimit]

I was surprised with so much work Britain had to do in the race though clearly Germany helped until the crash. I thought Australia might of put a couple of riders up in chasing.. but kind of surprised nobody wanted to help Britain bring the breaks back apart from King for the USA.

But I reckon they could of gone for another 50 k and still won.

 

[Amsterhammer]

ahahahahaha, half of the forum is delighted the other half disgusted and you are busy scouting the podium girls it is a nice change from a lot of the other posts.

I already joined the disgusted camp, so.....remember guys, looking at boobs is good for your health!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

All this moaning about the course is ridiculous. I agree it wasnt an interesting parcours but on the other hand its right that many countries get the opportunity to host it and not find a course in the middle of no where to make it interesting.

Seems that this forum wants every race/ stage to be a combination of the best classics routes every single race. Its just not gonna happen.

Even in Copenhagen they could have made it more interesting. Hell, even if it's pancake flat, include a tight, technical section that allows people to think they can sneak away! The complaints about the course are NOT to do with it being in Denmark. They're to do with the course being terrible, and the Danes could have done so much better. No, scratch that, the Danes SHOULD have done so much better.

Maybe it would still have been a sprint. But it wouldn't have been such a garbage race until then.

 

[3wheeler]

GB did what was Required... Everyones else Gameplan didn't seem entirely Clear apart from sitting on the Brits for 90% of the Race and Praying that the Cav Would Fail and one of their own Sprinters could Profit..

 

[luckyboy]

Wonder what the outcome would've been if it was something crazy like 360km.