2011 Copenhagen World Championships: Elite Men Road Race

[uphillstruggle]

Anyone know when the TV coverage of the actual race proper is likely to begin (Eurosport seem to have pretty much their whole morning and afternoon dedicated to it)?

Apparently it is on BBC red button from 9am.

 

[hfer07]

Edvald Boasson Hagen or T Voeckler would be fantastic

 

[Swede1]

I think if Cav is there at the end, and he gets the best leadout out of anyone by Wiggins and Thomas, then I think he will win. If it is raining and raced hard, I dont think he will be there at the end and a break could win like a 2 man TT by Gilbert and Cancellara.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think I might just have an orgasm if GVA wins.

I think I might too. He has a good sprint after a long hard race on such a finish.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Whoever's got Bennati's wheel with 100m to go will win.

 

[blaxland]

Fingers crossed we get lots of rain,that would spice up the race a little.Otherwise i fear a long 6 hours in the saddle and a sprint finish.(Around 85 riders)Cavendish/Goss/Greiple are my picks.

 

[El Pistolero]

Not that it would happen, but: would it be feasible to do a race that does a few of the cobbled climbs of belgium, and some the cobbled stretches of PR? I'm no good at geography, but it's more or less the same region, no?

Most of the famous cobbled hills in the Ronde are in East-Flanders(province), so it may be stretching the race a bit, but it would be possible yes.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Cancellara and tactics going right hasn't really happened this year

peloton may be focusing on Gilbert or Thor...someone's got to sneak in an excellent move.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Again only BMC fans believe Van Avermaet is a good sprinter, looking at the post of dws and acf

 

[hrotha]

Again only BMC fans believe Van Avermaet is a good sprinter, looking at the post of dws and acf

In all fairness, the finish is not just for fast sprinters, and it suits Van Avermaet about as well as any finish could.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

maybe if the final group is 20 man big

van avermaet can't place himself for sh***t, we saw that again this vuelta, when the group is bigger than 50 men

 

[Shardi]

The usual BMC hype from certain specific pubescent posters. Nothing to see here moving on..

Riding for BMC and beeing in the top 20 in a spring race doesn't make u a Worlds RR contender by default.

--

Hoping for a hard race where the sprinters really have to dig deep to stay in contention. Lots of nice little splits and selections dragged together or apart in the last lap, with a small, select group-sprint at the end.

 

[hrotha]

maybe if the final group is 20 man big

van avermaet can't place himself for sh***t, we saw that again this vuelta, when the group is bigger than 50 men

Oh, definitely. I think he's one of a few dozens who could get a top 10, but anything else would be a surprise.

 

[cineteq]

My favorites according to different scenarios:
Bunch sprint: Sagan or Greipel
Attack with 500m to go: Either Hushovd & EBH
Attack with 1 to 2km to go: Cancellara or Gilbert
Braekaway: Voeckler or Gerrans

 

[el chava]

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

velodrome route must suit the aussies, so i don't know what you're complaing about.

 

[Ferminal]

Gilbert is a better finisher than Van Avermaet in any situation.

 

[rrj1170]

My best guesses: Cav; Thor; Spartacus; Eddy H; and Sagan in that order. Although I'd like Gilbert win it, if the finish is similiar to the U23 today, a true sprinter/ strongman will take the win. Obviously, Gilbert can't beat Cav in a sprint. Even though it's on a bit of an incline, it's not enough to give Gilbert an advantage. Timing will be important. If Cav starts too soon, I could see him falling to Hushovd or Cancellara. Cav has proven he can win at distance a la San Remo so if he's in the fray at the end, he should win. He also has a formidable team unlike the Swiss or Norwegians.Finally, weather will not be a factor. We're it to be cold/rainy, I'd definitely go with Gilbert. Regardless, it should be a fantastic race. The overall talent competing is quite amazing.

 

[greenedge]

I can somehow predict that Cavs' lead out train will be too short or he shall get boxed in.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Cav will win this easily, he has the best team and he proved stage 5 of tour de france that he can win an uphill finish!!!

oh really. news to me.

also lol @

being a comparison.

 

[simo1733]

I think I might too. He has a good sprint after a long hard race on such a finish.

If a GVA win will give you an orgasm, then what kind of phisiological response can we expect if you see Frodo in rainbow bands, crying and thanking his awesome teamates.

 

[Pippo_San]

Isn't it curious that, once again, there's a high chance we'll see the new world champion changing team, like the last two did?
Just think: Cav is changing, Thor, Gilbert, Spartacus and Bennati, Gerrans, Goss are changing too...

to tell you the truth I had nothing interesting to say, just impatient to see the race

 

[Eric8-A]

oh really. news to me.

also lol @

being a comparison.

Don't look uphill to me.

I want to see how Wiggo works himself as part of the leadout. I remember seeing his leadouts for CJ in the '09 Herald Sun Tour, and it seems like he pulls off way too quick.

 

[auscyclefan94]

The usual BMC hype from certain specific pubescent posters. Nothing to see here moving on..

Riding for BMC and beeing in the top 20 in a spring race doesn't make u a Worlds RR contender by default.

--

Hoping for a hard race where the sprinters really have to dig deep to stay in contention. Lots of nice little splits and selections dragged together or apart in the last lap, with a small, select group-sprint at the end.

If you get what you are hoping for then it is possible Van avermaet will be up there. You are kidding yourself if you don't believe van Avermaet is a contender. Did you actually watch Geelong RR last year? Open your eyes. GVA was excellent. He rode very hard for Gilbert on the front all day trying toset it up for him and still came 5th on an uphill finish. The actualy final straight is a bit harder although the course is much easier so I doubt he will feature int he results.

Again only BMC fans believe Van Avermaet is a good sprinter, looking at the post of dws and acf

He's not really a sprinter though even blind freddy can see that van Avermaet is no slouch in a sprint.

In all fairness, the finish is not just for fast sprinters, and it suits Van Avermaet about as well as any finish could.

Thanks you...+1

 

[auscyclefan94]

3.5 hours till it all starts.

 

[simo1733]

Isn't it curious that, once again, there's a high chance we'll see the new world champion changing team, like the last two did?
Just think: Cav is changing, Thor, Gilbert, Spartacus and Bennati, Gerrans, Goss are changing too...

to tell you the truth I had nothing interesting to say, just impatient to see the race

Did you just say "Gerrans" and "World Champion" in the same sentance?