2012 Road World Championships, Mens Road Race Maastricht - Valkenburg 267 km 23/09/12

[Falken]

Pretty fast pace so far.

 

[Shardi]

Valverde looking sharp.. Signs of the low blood pressure or lack of blood he experienced in the elevator the other day, seems far far away...

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Looks like Kozubek has been brought back though.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Still 154 riders left with a lap and a half to go in the juniors race, although I'm pretty sure the run-in to the circuit is more difficult on this course than the juniors race.

Edit to add: Actually, there was no run-in in the juniors race...it started on the circuit.

 

[barn yard]

That's a mistaken assumption. Timing information from both races can be found at http://static.sportresult.com/federations/uci/CR-node/?.

thankyou sir

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Vitaliy Buts (Ukraine) and Gatis Smukulis (Latvia) are off the front. No time gaps yet though.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

A secondary break with riders from the same two countries (Ukraine and Latvia) has been brought back...Buts and Smukulis are still away, however.

 

[Pulpstar]

Its the ex-soviet states alliance !

 

[Pulpstar]

Wiggo back at the back. It's going to be an uncomfortable 5-6 hours

Also nice that we can see a start from pretty much the start for once ! Makes a refreshing change

 

[SetonHallPirate]

112 riders are still in the peloton with the junior road race with a half-lap to go. If the senior road race follows, modified bunch sprint...favors Sagan, or, if he can get over the Cauberg, perhaps even a pure sprinter like Cav?

 

[Falken]

Almost an hour racing, and the pace is still really high. Seems like it could be a tough race.

 

[manafana]

yeah this is quick when they hit the circuit people will start dropping with each climb of cauberg.

some crazy road furniture too, going be a crash at some stage.

 

[Pulpstar]

112 riders are still in the peloton with the junior road race with a half-lap to go. If the senior road race follows, modified bunch sprint...favors Sagan, or, if he can get over the Cauberg, perhaps even a pure sprinter like Cav?

Much better odds for Sagan than Cav if this pace keeps up.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Much better odds for Sagan than Cav if this pace keeps up.

Cavendish will struggle to get over the Cauberg once, never mind ten times.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Much better odds for Sagan than Cav if this pace keeps up.

Good point, but I'm just trying to watch for trends in the junior race, and not seeing very much separation...

 

[Andy99]

**** stop...

 

[Richeypen]

Cavendish will struggle to get over the Cauberg once, never mind ten times.

Cav agrees: "I can't win," he said. "I haven't got a chance"

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Riders ****ing against houses and cars people will not be happy here

 

[SetonHallPirate]

55 seconds the gap from the break to the peloton...should stretch as the peloton goes for a mass N.B., however.

 

[Pulpstar]

Mass 'pit' stop xD

 

[the asian]

112 riders are still in the peloton with the junior road race with a half-lap to go. If the senior road race follows, modified bunch sprint...favors Sagan, or, if he can get over the Cauberg, perhaps even a pure sprinter like Cav?

Don't make assumptions regarding the Pro race by looking at the Junior and U 23 races.

Increased length and riders are much more specialized in the Pro ranks.
Pure sprinters will not be at the finish.

A small group sprint contested by puncheurs is the most likely scenario.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Riders ****ing against houses and cars people will not be happy here

It was a korean car. It's all ok.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Riders ****ing against houses and cars people will not be happy here

Good point...the owners probably would have preferred they went IN the houses, but they don't have time to knock on the doors...

 

[Falken]

Break established. Almost 3 minutes now.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I'd be the first to **** against a house or a car.