2011 Copenhagen World Championships: Elite Men Road Race

[Libertine Seguros]

To be fair, if the weather had complied that might have served as the obstacle. As it was, we got a Tour Down Under stage at twice the length.

 

[maltiv]

Just came back from Copenhagen. Admittedly, I'm not entirely happy about the experience. Most of all I'm disappointed with the course, I genuinely thought that at least some people would give it a try, but ultimately it was impossible to get away from "UK-postal" anyway. It was just insane to see them pass us round after round at the front, just getting a little help from Germany once in a while. Every time they passed me it seemed as if Froome was on the front, so I wonder how many kms he actually did in the wind...

The atmosphere was obviously amazing, with an immense amount of spectators cheering for every single rider. One of the things that impressed me the most was that the guys who were minutes behind the peloton, riding solo while pedaling squares, would get just as much applause as the entire peloton. However, it soon became obvious that a few people started getting slightly bored, and there was occasionally complaints that nothing was happening. I was disheartened to hear people around say things like "Cycling is such a boring sport", because as we all know, it doesn't have to be.

As the peloton approached the line the crowd went wild. The belgians were yelling "where on earth is Gilbert?", the Norwegians were yelling for EBH and the danes were just yelling. When Edvald suddenly appeared in the screen, trying to launch his sprint from the wheel of Cancellara, the Norwegians went crazy, but most of us quickly understood that it was going to be Cavendish. When Cavendish passed the line first, there was a huge sigh from the crowd, whilst most people were screaming "noooo!" (there was a few english people in front of us who seemed slightly pleased but amazingly they didn't yell at all, how boring...). Fact is that amongst the spectators there were probably 50% danes, 30% norwegians, 10% belgians and 5% dutch, and neither of these were particularly pleased with either the winner or the race development. I can't even imagine how crazy the atmosphere would have been if a Norwegian had won, but instead there was just silence.

Anyway, I guess Cavendish sort of deserves a worlds title for being the fastest sprinter in the world. I just hope that there'll be at least another 10 years before we get another course like this...

 

[roundabout]

5 hours 40 minutes kinda short for a World Championship. Looks like it would have been possible to add an extra lap as the limit is 280km but it probably wouldn't have made a difference.

 

[GroupDK]

San Remo is flat and was awesome this year, Geelong was a bunch kick and was a brilliant race. You just need some sort of obstacle, and Denmark failed to provide any.

what obstacle, as I stated its the riders that make the race...

GB national team was strongest today and wanted it hold together for CAV..

and took the win..pretty straigt forward..

Maybe aint pretty but its works..

 

[Libertine Seguros]

what obstacle, as I stated its the riders that make the race...

GB national team was strongest today and wanted it hold together for CAV..

and took the win..pretty straigt forward..

Maybe aint pretty but its works..

Well that's just it, is it? The riders make the race? So how would YOU have DSed, if you were DSing a team other than GB, in order to make the race less boring? Given that there's a vague uphill drag, and the nearest thing to a hill on the course is neutralised by the feed zone, and there are practically zero places to use as a platform for an attack...

 

[roundabout]

The riders were given a very crappy route to make the race of it. Period.

 

[maltiv]

Well that's just it, is it? The riders make the race? So how would YOU have DSed, if you were DSing a team other than GB, in order to make the race less boring? Given that there's a vague uphill drag, and the nearest thing to a hill on the course is neutralised by the feed zone, and there are practically zero places to use as a platform for an attack...

I think I spotted about 10 riders who were actually dropped from the peloton due to exhaustion. Everyone who else who didn't finish in the front group got caught up behind crashes etc.

I think many amateurs could have finished in the front group today.

 

[Ragerod]

Riders can make a good cause boring but can't make a bad course interesting.

 

[GroupDK]

It aint pretty but thats how it works..

you supply your course and your effort to UCI and then they decide what direction from there choice, and what kind of rider they feels is up for the spot.

This year its decided a course there would suit the sprinters.

Denmark dont have "ad´ libitum saying in just planning the course.

Its UCI who diktates the WC and what kind of course there should be up for grasp this partically year and so will they do the flollowing years....

They put out the guidelines from what they seek and decide from what country who can supply that course.(this year it was the sprinters, and CAV knew this from day 1 that that Denmark and course was chosen)

Cant really come as a supprise.

Do you guys really think that Denmark have carl blanche in this matter. !!

UCI is the boss, dont ever forget that !!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think I spotted about 10 riders who were actually dropped from the peloton due to exhaustion. Everyone who else who didn't finish in the front group got caught up behind crashes etc.

I think many amateurs could have finished in the front group today.

Don't know about Amateurs (the first guy not on a UCI-sanctioned team was 116th in the group at 8'54" with Hushovd and the others caught up in the crash), but the following people from outside the top 2 tiers of cycling made the finish in the lead group:

- 25 Gediminas Bagdonas (Lithuania - An Post-Séan Kelly Team)
- 34 Matija Kvasina (Croatia - Loborika-Favorit Team)
- 41 André Cardoso (Portugal - Tavíra-Prio)
- 55 René Mandri (Estonia - Endura Racing)
- 58 Filipe Cardoso (Portugal - Barbot-Efapel)
- 59 Ricardo Mestre (Portugal - Tavíra-Prio)

 

[pmcg76]

I think I spotted about 10 riders who were actually dropped from the peloton due to exhaustion. Everyone who else who didn't finish in the front group got caught up behind crashes etc.

I think many amateurs could have finished in the front group today.

Are guys on continental teams considered pro because there were continental riders in that big bunch at the finish.

 

[El Pistolero]

It aint pretty but thats how it works..

you supply your course and your effort to UCI and then they decide what direction from there choice, and what kind of rider they feels is up for the spot.

This year its decided a course there would suit the sprinters.

Denmark dont have "ad´ libitum saying in just planning the course.

Its UCI who diktates the WC and what kind of course there should be up for grasp this partically year and so will they do the flollowing years....

They put out the guidelines from what they seek and decide from what country who can supply that course.(this year it was the sprinters, and CAV knew this from day 1 that that Denmark and course was chosen)

Cant really come as a supprise.

Do you guys really think that Denmark have carl blanche in this matter. !!

UCI is the boss, dont ever forget that !!

We're not blaming Denmark as a nation lol. Just the ones responsible for the course(who ever they may be, it doesn't matter if it is the UCI or a few Danish people or a combination of both).

Does it really have to be Copenhagen that hosts the Worlds? I'm sure there are hills out there in Denmark.

 

[GroupDK]

We're not blaming Denmark as a nation lol. Just the ones responsible for the course(who ever they may be, it doesn't matter if it is the UCI or a few Danish people or a combination of both).

Does it really have to be Copenhagen that hosts the Worlds? I'm sure there are hills out there in Denmark.

No I dont think you get the point.

Likely Denmark would not even been choosen if UCI didnt wanted such a ideel sprinter WC.

This year it was a course ideel for the sprinters, and that probaly why this course was choosen.

Remember it aint amateurs who organize such an event, its pro thrue out the game, -they know exactly what course would do what...(from past know how)

This year it was up for the sprinters, and that with the GB national team who was the strongest and had the best sprinter, -they race and intention was set from the beginning.

to sit here as an amateur, and proclame (I know what was wrong, it was the course !!) that is what it is, an amateur who think he can judge a course better then the best & most rutineret pro course planners in the world (UCI)..

They know exactly what course would do what..!! (or at least what likely scenario who were up for grasp, when they decide on a course.)

 

[El Pistolero]

No I dont think you get the point.

Likely Denmark would not even been choosen if UCI didnt wanted such a ideel sprinter WC.

This year it was a course ideel for the sprinters, and that probaly why this course was choosen.

Remember it aint amateurs who organize such an event, its pro thrue out the game, -they know exactly what course would do what...(from past know how)

This year it was up for the sprinters, and that with the GB national team who was the strongest and had the best sprinter, -they race and intention was set from the beginning.

to sit here as an amateur, and proclame (I know what was wrong, it was the course !!) that is what it is, an amateur who think he can judge a course better then the best & most rutineret pro course planners in the world (UCI)..

They know exactly what course would do what..!!

Everyone knows what a completely flat Worlds would do

Yes, UCI probably wanted a man like Cavendish in the rainbow jersey because of his media value and that's the reason for this Worlds, but that's only our guesses and can't ever be proven. Nor is there anything fundamentally wrong with that, it's just annoying for the cycling fans though.

 

[Mambo95]

Everyone knows what a completely flat Worlds would do

Yes, UCI probably wanted a man like Cavendish in the rainbow jersey because of his media value and that's the reason for this Worlds, but that's only our guesses and can't ever be proven. Nor is there anything fundamentally wrong with that, it's just annoying for the cycling fans though.

So are you claiming that the UCI picked Copenhagen, way back in January 2007, because they were desperate for a largely unheard of British neo-pro without a pro win to his name to be their champion?

 

[GroupDK]

as I recall, - you as a nation come up with an WC effort & courses to hold the WC.

and then present your effort for UCI and then they check out the courses manually (live), and then decide what effort and from what country they choose, and then grant you the WC and then you can as a nation planned it...

and this is why i point out the intention "It was a sprinter course that had been choosen this year" from day one..(or at least a sprinter ideel scenario)


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The process can´t really come as a supprise, its the same in any major WC sports events that your are being granted, you present your effort and then the world-union checks your effort out with officiels from that nation & then decide from what kind of scenario they wants or what agenda they have..
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[El Pistolero]

So are you claiming that the UCI picked Copenhagen, way back in January 2007, because they were desperate for a largely unheard of British neo-pro without a pro win to his name to be their champion?

No, for a pure sprinter like Cavendish who show off their rainbow jersey with a lot of wins.

Notice how I said "a man like Cavendish" instead of "they wanted Cavendish to win".

 

[spanky wanderlust]

Everyone knows what a completely flat Worlds would do

Yes, UCI probably wanted a man like Cavendish in the rainbow jersey because of his media value and that's the reason for this Worlds, but that's only our guesses and can't ever be proven. Nor is there anything fundamentally wrong with that, it's just annoying for the cycling fans though.

nope. it's annoying for you. YOU are annoying for cycling fans. jeebus, it is like the WCs of ****ing and moaning in here.

let's see if i get this straight. you claim to speak for all cycling fans. you are such a fan of cycling that the only way that you can show this is by *****ing and moaning for hours about how much you don't like such and such.

i always thought that not liking something meant that you were not a fan of it. and if you are not a fan, how can you speak for all cycling fans?

and then are you also saying, that i am not really a cycling fan because i did not find enough to complain about in today's race? i suppose only a real bona fide guru of cycling could know that.

oh master, thank you for showing me that to really love cycling, i must go on and on about how much i hate it. i am on the path to enlightenment.

 

[VoxpopJay]

I'm not sure what race most people were watching? Apparently nothing happened?

Chuzhda attacking from the start
Roux in a televised break
Bert and Froome organising the pace on the peloton
Crash near the front of the peloton holding up some of the favourites
Bak giving it everything in front of a massive home crowd
Voeckler with his race face on up the road
Hoogerland with a 0.01% chance of success entertainment break
Belgian riders flying off the front at every opportunity
TT silver medallist hammering the course without the peloton in his wheel
Australian breaking the GB lead out train
TT bronze medallist outsprinting many of the worlds fastest men

Just some of the things that made this a memorable worlds for me. Perhaps that is all boring?

Kittel, Farrar and Sagan will be kicking themselves for missing out on such an easy race.

 

[El Pistolero]

nope. it's annoying for you. YOU are annoying for cycling fans. jeebus, it is like the WCs of ****ing and moaning in here.

let's see if i get this straight. you claim to speak for all cycling fans. you are such a fan of cycling that the only way that you can show this is by *****ing and moaning for hours about how much you don't like such and such.

i always thought that not liking something meant that you were not a fan of it. and if you are not a fan, how can you speak for all cycling fans?

and then are you also saying, that i am not really a cycling fan because i did not find enough to complain about in today's race? i suppose only a real bona fide guru of cycling could know that.

oh master, thank you for showing me that to really love cycling, i must go on and on about how much i hate it. i am on the path to enlightenment.

Someone went live to Copenhagen and wrote his experiences here. The crowd found it boring if he's to believe. His post is somewhere in this thread on the final pages. I can understand why the crowd found it boring as nothing ever happenend. I'm not a fan of a race where nothing happens, I admit. I'm sorry if you are, didn't mean to hurt your feelings

 

[Sørensen]

We're not blaming Denmark as a nation lol. Just the ones responsible for the course(who ever they may be, it doesn't matter if it is the UCI or a few Danish people or a combination of both).

Does it really have to be Copenhagen that hosts the Worlds? I'm sure there are hills out there in Denmark.

Some on here seem to blame DK as a nation tho...

Anyway from what I understood, DCU got a huge discount on the event, because of the Copenhagen as a cycling city and all that crap. Normally it would be very hard to get funding for that kind of event here.

Eastern/southern Jutland with Århus as the main city would have been a far better choice imho. It could have made for a much more interesting route, while still gathering around the same crowds, but sadly in Denmark everything has to be in our capital city.

I do think there's a few positives to take from this wc tho. There were huge crowds almost double as many as in Australia last year, and they have some of the most successfull riders in cycling at the moment, compared to DK who had no chance of medals after losing Breschel and Rasmussen. People on the streets made a huge party out of it and it will have given the sport a big boost despite the crappy course.

I hope DK gets another chance in some years, and it will be held in a better location, because the interest and the big crowds are definitely there.

I think it was a mild success this year, but only because of the crowds, not the course nor the riders...

 

[Sørensen]

Someone went live to Copenhagen and wrote his experiences here. The crowd found it boring if he's to believe. His post is somewhere in this thread on the final pages. I can understand why the crowd found it boring as nothing ever happenend. I'm not a fan of a race where nothing happens, I admit. I'm sorry if you are, didn't mean to hurt your feelings

Maybe the die-hard ultras cycling fans found it boring and I can really understand why. but for the casual fan, it was a big big party, be very sure about that.

 

[GroupDK]

Its a major sportsevent where people from all over the world should come and have great time, and experience an atmosphere they will newer forget..

can see Pat Mquaid / UCI states.

We are waiting for the officel datareply / evaluation, but its certainly looks like it has been the most succesfull WC in newer time.

Especially the atmosphere was like newer seen before at WC, and first time ever that WC are being held like that in center of major city.

estimates 500.000 spectators.(that a lot when you remember the hole country is 5.5 mio. and Copenhagen 1.2 mio.)

http://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/cykling/article1626966.ece

 

[spanky wanderlust]

yes. i read it. so what? others posted about how much fun they had.

i'm sure if freire was not so old and weak, or if spain had ANYONE that could challenge the interloping brits and aussies on a course like this, your tone would be entirely different.

we are all very sorry that there was not a cat 1 mtf in this race for your precious fingerbanger to stretch his legs on. get over it.

 

[El Pistolero]

yes. i read it. so what? others posted about how much fun they had.

i'm sure if freire was not so old and weak, or if spain had ANYONE that could challenge the interloping brits and aussies on a course like this, your tone would be entirely different.

we are all very sorry that there was not a cat 1 mtf in this race for your precious fingerbanger to stretch his legs on. get over it.

I'm not Spanish.

Het is wel grappig dat je denkt van wel natuurlijk, want het bewijst het tegendeel van wat je juist zei

Ik baseer me spijtig genoeg niet op nationaliteit om fan van iemand te zijn.