2011 Copenhagen World Championships: Elite Men Road Race

[Waterloo Sunrise]

2 weeks ago this course was too hard and a majority were happy to say Cav had no chance.

He wasn't even bookies favourite this morning.

But then he wins and the usual suspects pile in with their moans of how predictable it was.

Just pathetic.

 

[pastronef]

i dont like Cav very much, but it's a huge achievement for team GB, and above all I am super happy for two great guys among them
Wiggo and Millar

@bradwiggins Cav wins, I think its safe to say tonight we are all going to get s**tfaced! Lock and load

@millarmind Proud doesn't even begin to describe how we feel. Rod Ellingworth, he dared dream we could do this.



just a little itch for greenedge not getting the rainbow jersey next year

 

[El Pistolero]

Like Freddy Maertens & Mario Chip then.. Think they were 3rd raters (Not) to

Mario Cippolini's world title is a joke as well. Maertens? Nope, rewatch that race will ya

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Cav had his shot last year. But he got dropped... Because he isn't a good enough cyclist.

His palmarès claims otherwise.

 

[El Pistolero]

2 weeks ago this course was too hard and a majority were happy to say Cav had no chance.

He wasn't even bookies favourite this morning.

But then he wins and the usual suspects pile in with their moans of how predictable it was.

Just pathetic.

No, I don't mind a predicted result. It's the fact that he had to do nothing till the final sprint again

As far as I'm concerned Froome, Wiggins and Millar deserve the rainbow jersey instead of Cav.

 

[El Pistolero]

His palmarès claims otherwise.

That he gets dropped in every decent one day race in his career so far except San Remo? Ok.

 

[Sørensen]

sørensen@

keep those personal attacks for yourself..

I dont got time to role around with you on the floor.

so get back to topic right now, or dont reply to me (pretty simple)

Nps. Villy. I'll leave you alone since you don't wanna listen to advice.

 

[Maxiton]

Gilbert winning might have been predictable but at least there would have been some racing leading up to it.

This victory was routine for Cavendish, just the same as your average TDF flat stage. This wasn't his win into Aubenas or his win in Sanremo. Those were good races and victories to be proud of.

He impressed me more in the almost valueless Commonwealth Games RR last year than he did winning this Worlds, because it was just Cavendish doing what Cavendish does in a course designed with Cavendish in mind. Well done to him for winning it, but I'm not going to pretend it was anything other than the dullest World Championships race I've ever seen (with the possible exception of yesterday's Women's race) and a race that makes the World Championships seem pretty worthless.

The women's race was proof of the adage that the riders make the race . . . and directeurs sportif unmake it, for I believe the latter were responsible for the sorry display that was yesterday. It made for a win but clearly not for a race.

The race we saw today was also proof that the riders make the race, but proof by contrast, because what I saw were exciting attacks and intense efforts and the suspense of not knowing how it would come out until the last few kilometers. And even then he still had to win it. All of which makes it far more than worthless.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

With a course like that and with how hard a race like this is contested, all you'd have seen would be mass-crashes deciding the race for a random lucky rider not getting caught behind, possibly the worst way to determine a world champion.

Exactly. Obstracles shouldn't be too dangerous at a WC course. And the opportunities north of Copenhagen made a beautiful course indeed, though not competitive for a bigger separation, more technical obstracles would have spoiled the race. I will anytime rather see Cavendish as a world champion than a no-name rider that have won because of a major crash.

But as I mentioned before, there are plenty of alternatives in Jutland, should the WC visit Denmark once again:

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

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Like Freddy Maertens & Mario Chip then.. Think they were 3rd raters (Not) to

Maertens wasn't a one-dimensional rider.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

2 weeks ago this course was too hard and a majority were happy to say Cav had no chance.

He wasn't even bookies favourite this morning.

But then he wins and the usual suspects pile in with their moans of how predictable it was.

Just pathetic.

I think the problem was that it seemed like it might be too hard on paper. But after watching the women's race yesterday it became clear that what we had thought was wrong, and a sprint was the only logical conclusion.

And if a sprint is the only logical conclusion, then unless there is something selective in the course (which there wasn't), then it follows logically that Cavendish MUST be favourite, because he's the best sprinter in the world.

 

[GroupDK]

Who have the strongest national team at the moment. ??

In my book its GB, (also with the comming OL in mind) and there tactics today was that CAV should take it.

so the race-happening was as could be expected, in regards to what national team is the strongest and there tactics at the giving moment.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I think the problem was that it seemed like it might be too hard on paper. But after watching the women's race yesterday it became clear that what we had thought was wrong, and a sprint was the only logical conclusion.

And if a sprint is the only logical conclusion, then unless there is something selective in the course (which there wasn't), then it follows logically that Cavendish MUST be favourite, because he's the best sprinter in the world.

So you piled on at the bookies then? He wasn't even favourite, even after the women's race.

I wish I was as rich as you must be right now.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Who have the strongest national team at the moment. ??

In my book its GB, (also with the comming OL in mind) and there tactics today was that CAV should take it.

so the race-happening was as could be expected, in regards to what national team is the strongest and there tactics at the giving moment.

Depends on the course.

Certainly on a course like today (and with Froome carrying his miraculous Vuelta form on especially) the UK had the best team out there. And working for Cav was their only sensible option.

On a different course the Belgians, Italians or Spanish could have been strongest.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Who have the strongest national team at the moment. ??

In my book its GB, (also with the comming OL in mind) and there tactics today was that CAV should take it.

so the race-happening was as could be expected, in regards to what national team is the strongest and there tactics at the giving moment.

It just depends on the course, obviously GB look awesome because they have cav and a reason to control the race.

On cycling on a whole, No way GB imo.
They have improved a great deal in the past few years tho, and kudos to that.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

So you piled on at the bookies then? He wasn't even favourite, even after the women's race.

I wish I was as rich as you must be right now.

I don't gamble. Never have done, never will.

Sometimes I regret it. Most of the time I don't.

 

[Izzy eviel]

As far as I'm concerned it's a win for Team GB not just Cav. Worked hard all year to qualify and then worked their socks off for Cav in the race. I'm happy for the team that he won.

Would've loved it had Voeckler managed to stay away though.

 

[jens_attacks]

ok congrats to cav and the brits(hell of a job to set the pace for more than 220 km or so) but that's it.
2002 zolder,2011 copenhagen,probably 2020 some flat country,flat parcours again.untill then i pray for hard routes.bring on ponferrada!

 

[sublimit]

Now I saw a third rate cyclist winning the WC ;-)

The Belgians didn't even turn up. At least the Brits had a go.

Van Summeren suicidle attack apart.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

The Belgians didn't even turn up. At least the Brits had a go.

Van Summeren suicidle attack apart.

Lodewyck had an impressive go as well

 

[El Pistolero]

The Belgians didn't even turn up. At least the Brits had a go.

Van Summeren suicidle attack apart.

Erm, Belgians were in all the escape attempts?

We don't have a sprinter since Boonen crashed in the Vuelta. Oh, and we got fifth, but then Goss boxed Roelants in or we could have gotten third.

So now its Brits? I thought Cav was from Island of Man, Froome from Kenia and Wiggins from Belgium?

 

[The Hitch]

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=690528&postcount=1000

Thanks man. WHere did you find that? You know if there is a map somewhere?

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Regardless of the arguments about the course I'm still kind of surprised about the no-show from Gilbert. I mean Cancellara finished 4th and Gilbert has been competitive on a finish like this before. Maybe it's just one race too many for him this season or maybe he needs to do the Vuelta to show his best in this race ?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Erm, Belgians were in all the escape attempts?

We don't have a sprinter since Boonen crashed in the Vuelta. Oh, and we got fifth, but then Goss boxed Roelants in or we could have gotten third.

So now its Brits? I thought Cav was from Island of Man, Froome from Kenia and Wiggins from Belgium?

Roelandts was actually really quick. Goss dashed his momentum.

 

[Mambo95]

Thanks man. WHere did you find that? You know if there is a map somewhere?

You're not looking very hard, are you?

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2005//worlds05/?id=map