2011 Copenhagen World Championships: Elite Men Road Race

[Dr. Maserati]

The World Championship is a classic in everything but name.

Yet you find fault with the winner when he wins this 'Classic'?

Or is it because this wasn't a Classic version of the Classic?
Because, if it was a real Classic it would have had a route like a Classic, or a Classic winner - ok, Cav won MSR, but that isn't really a Classic either because it does not have a Classic route.

 

[Fus087]

And now comes the really big question:

Will Cavendish be cursed?

I think he might be.
Not having Holm and Zabel around could make more of a difference than people think.
Holm even sat in the British car yesterday.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yet you find fault with the winner when he wins this 'Classic'?

Or is it because this wasn't a Classic version of the Classic?
Because, if it was a real Classic it would have had a route like a Classic, or a Classic winner - ok, Cav won MSR, but that isn't really a Classic either because it does not have a Classic route.

Hence this course is not worthy of being a World championship or a classic. At least MSR has some obstacles, this had nothing. I rate Cavendish' San Remo win higher than this piece of crap.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

That's such a blatant misrepresentation of what I said I'm going to question your honesty in this debate. I'm done.

If you were interested in debate then you would easily point out the 'blatant misrepresentation'.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

And now comes the really big question:

Will Cavendish be cursed?

The only way a curse stops him winning is broken bones. I certainly hope not.

If he makes it through with a clean bill of health, I expect his win rate to jump back up to the mid 20s for the season.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

If you were interested in debate then you would easily point out the 'blatant misrepresentation'.

I think making a list of all rounders but insisting they're all very different, means anyone who claims they're similar is guilty of blatent misrepresentation.

 

[El Pistolero]

The only way a curse stops him winning is broken bones. I certainly hope not.

If he makes it through with a clean bill of health, I expect his win rate to jump back up to the mid 20s for the season.

Erm, were were you in 2010?

Ok, his season was good, but he had a very bad first half of the season without breaking anything.

 

[hrotha]

I think making a list of all rounders but insisting they're all very different, means anyone who claims they're similar is guilty of blatent misrepresentation.

Evans and Hushovd are similar? Ballan and Purito?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Erm, were were you in 2010?

Ok, his season was good, but he had a very bad first half of the season after fecking his teeth up.

I could have stopped with the bolding, but the teeth warrants a mention in the injury column. Regardless, I think most riders would take 8 GT stage wins and a jersey.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Evans and Hushovd are similar? Ballan and Purito?

They all have some capability over hills, andsome capability in a finish.

Ultimately you think only that subset of riders should be allowed to have a chance. I think the best sprinter, and the best climber, should also have a shout once every 6 or 7 years. You're entitled to your opinion, but I disagree.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Hence this course is not worthy of being a World championship or a classic. At least MSR has some obstacles, this had nothing. I rate Cavendish' San Remo win higher than this piece of crap.

So "The World Championship is a classic in everything but name".....
and course,
and winner.

Besides that its a classic.

The Worlds are called the UCI Road World Championships - there is nothing to suggest that a winner can only come from a select number of riders.
Its a race, first across the line wins.

 

[El Pistolero]

I could have stopped with the bolding, but the teeth warrants a mention in the injury column. Regardless, I think most riders would take 8 GT stage wins and a jersey.

Yeah, but anything can happen next year that make him stop focusing on winning races. Breaking up with his girlfriend for example. If Cav has the same problem he had in 2010 we'd still all be talking about the rainbow curse until he starts winning again.

Although we'll see how he manages with his new team. It's going to be different at least.

 

[lancaster]

select a starting point put a line at the finish and first over that line is the victor.

yes, that's how a race works. congratulations.

it doesn't mean that we can't try and make the journey in some way interesting.

 

[El Pistolero]

So "The World Championship is a classic in everything but name".....
and course,
and winner.

Besides that its a classic.

The Worlds are called the UCI Road World Championships - there is nothing to suggest that a winner can only come from a select number of riders.
Its a race, first across the line wins.

So why can't I become one then? Let's have a 2km race and I can start with a headstart of a few minutes.

 

[hrotha]

They all have some capability over hills, andsome capability in a finish.

Ultimately you think only that subset of riders should be allowed to have a chance. I think the best sprinter, and the best climber, should also have a shout once every 6 or 7 years. You're entitled to your opinion, but I disagree.

Some capability, in wildly varying degrees. In such wildly varying degrees, actually, that in my opinion it's only natural to expect a WC contender to have such capabilities. The thing they have in common is that they're... wait for it... versatile.

No, seriously, there's not much more to say about it. I don't think one-trick ponies should get courses tailor-made for them, you think it's only fair they do. To each their own.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

So why can't I become one then? Let's have a 2km race and I can start with a headstart of a few minutes.

What an exact parallel.

Sigh.

 

[BroDeal]

Hence this course is not worthy of being a World championship or a classic. At least MSR has some obstacles, this had nothing. I rate Cavendish' San Remo win higher than this piece of crap.

Exactly. The WC course should be selective. It does not matter whether selections from from long climbs, short and steep climbs, cobblestones, dirt, wind, or whatever. It should have a way to separate the worthy from the unworthy. This course was absolute garbage. Cav should feel embarrassed every time he pulls on the jersey.

And what is with this crap about everyone should have a chance to be world champion? Where is Contador's chance? Maybe every few years the course should look like the queen stage of a Giro. Maybe every few years there should be twenty sectors of cobbles to give the cobble specialists their chance. Maybe every few years the course should be shortened to below two hundred K so that those who cannot handle long distances get their chance. If we are going to design courses for specific types of riders then maybe the WC should race down Alpe d'Huez to give Nibali his chance.

 

[El Pistolero]

What an exact parallel.

Sigh.

there is nothing to suggest that a winner can only come from a select number of riders.
Its a race, first across the line wins.

 

[lancaster]

to put out my opinion clearly.

Cav deserved his win.
the GB team were super strong.
the course was fine if a bit dull.
fans were great.

if this sort of course was a regular occurrence it would be hugely disrespectful to the history of the race and it's past winners.

for every very unselective course there should be a course that has the possibility of being super selective (HC climb 50km out).

almost all WC should have courses selective enough that guys with great legs think they can get away and stay away but subtle enough that sprinters feel that if it all goes ok and they have really good legs they can make the final selection and win from a bunch. (see WC RR '03-'10)

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Just for anyone seeking to improve their idomatic english...

Someone has multiple skills and you like them = versatile.

Someone has multiple skills and you don't = jack of all trades, master of none.

Someone has a single skill and you like them = Master craftsman

Someone has a single skill and you don't = one trick pony



I don't see the moral supremacy of being quite good at a few things over being the absolute best at 1. I don't think the less of Usain Bolt for being a 2nd rate shotputter. Equally, I don't claim any moral supremacy in the other direction.

 

[RedheadDane]

I think he might be.
Not having Holm and Zabel around could make more of a difference than people think.
Holm even sat in the British car yesterday.

Of course the problem is how do we even know if he's cursed? Only gets four wins in the Tour?

And, yes! I heard that. TRAITOOOOR!

 

[El Pistolero]

Just for anyone seeking to improve their idomatic english...

Someone has multiple skills and you like them = versatile.

Someone has multiple skills and you don't = jack of all trades, master of none.

Someone has a single skill and you like them = Master craftsman

Someone has a single skill and you don't = one trick pony



I don't see the moral supremacy of being quite good at a few things over being the absolute best at 1. I don't think the less of Usain Bolt for being a 2nd rate shotputter. Equally, I don't claim any moral supremacy in the other direction.

Usain Bolt doesn't compete against long distance runners though. Cavendish does compete against all kinds of cyclists in a single event.

Besides, I think Usain Bolt can break the world record long jump if he trained for it.

 

[El Pistolero]

They all have some capability over hills, andsome capability in a finish.

Ultimately you think only that subset of riders should be allowed to have a chance. I think the best sprinter, and the best climber, should also have a shout once every 6 or 7 years. You're entitled to your opinion, but I disagree.

But the best climber never does and never will get a chance. Neither does a cobbled specialist.

 

[L'arriviste]

But the best climber never does and never will get a chance. Neither does a cobbled specialist.

By that measurement, the time-trial specialists are the greediest. They get a shot every year! Give me a flat road race over a time-trial any day.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

yes, that's how a race works. congratulations.

it doesn't mean that we can't try and make the journey in some way interesting.

If yesterdays type course was the norm then I would agree, but it isn't.

There is no magical route that exists to select a World Champion.
Some years are more selective than others and it is up to the riders (&teams) to make the most of it.

So why can't I become one then? Let's have a 2km race and I can start with a headstart of a few minutes.

No one is stopping you entering the current World Races.