2013 Road World Championships: Men's Road Race, Lucca-Firenze 272.2 km

[Shardi]

with the slope of that 4.5km hill, low grade (3-5%) in the start to go 7.5% or thereabout in the last 1.5-2km ,, and 2nd top less than 1km peaking up to 12%,,,
as well as the 280km length...

I can see gilbert winning his 2nd consecutive WC RR here.

 

[LaFlorecita]

This is perfect for climbers. They can't and won't put the finish on top of an 15km climb, because that's just silly. It's a one day race and looking at the course this race will be won by a rider that's usually good at L-B-L. Contador rode L-B-L once very well, but in service of Vino. Vino won that day as well.

Yes this course could be won by Alberto. If there is a course he could win on this would be it.

edit: I see I'm a bit slow

No because he can't sprint.

 

[cineteq]

I can see gilbert winning his 2nd consecutive WC RR here.

Sagan to repeat as WC

Copycat? + 10chars

 

[The Hitch]

Maybe my expectations are too high but I heard everyone talking about the 2013 WC that would be perfect for climbers and this isn't what I'd expected when I heard "perfect for climbers".

You do know they are doing it 10 times? The main hill alone that makes about 3000m vertical ascent.

So im guessing there is altogether more.climbing here than in the etna stage contador won. If contador.makes this a major.goal of his, and unfortunately usually he doesn't give a toss about worlds, but.if he.does, he will go in as the bookies favorite probably.

Look at the Colombia worlds people say was the previous hardest. Frickin pantani was fighting for the win.

 

[LaFlorecita]

You do know they are doing it 10 times? The main hill alone that makes about 3000m vertical ascent.

So im guessing there is altogether more.climbing here than in the etna stage contador won. If contador.makes this a major.goal of his, and unfortunately usually he doesn't give a toss about worlds, but.if he.does, he will go in as the bookies favorite probably.

Look at the Colombia worlds people say was the previous hardest. Frickin pantani was fighting for the win.

Okay that's how you see it.

 

[The Hitch]

Well most ITTs are flat.

And isn't the one in Spain 2014 quite hilly?

For the moment talking about a 2014 world's in Spain is like talking about nibali already having won next years giro. Its possible, but might not happen.

 

[Peccio89]

The first hill of the line part goes to Montecarlo di Lucca, Bartoli town, and it should be a cobble hill, the one on which Bartoli used to train for the Ronde .

Hope the Uci won't force the organizers to do one lap less( but i fear they will).

 

[cineteq]

For the moment talking about a 2014 world's in Spain is like talking about nibali already having won next years giro. Its possible, but might not happen.

It will NOT happen. He'll be at the Tour where he belongs.

 

[Bushman]

Is the downhill technical? If so, this is built for the likes of nibali and moser.

 

[Kwibus]

No because he can't sprint.

He can't indeed, but he can still win it. Not going to explain it since you will say no he can't or no he won't etc etc.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Yeah, I don't know why jens thinks it's good.

because the itt course is long, flat and untechnical. as it should be. this will be won by a real itt beast

 

[Netserk]

because the itt course is long, flat and untechnical. as it should be. this will be won by a real itt beast

+1
I don't get why it usually is only ~45 km.

 

[rhubroma]

I've already invited my old man over to go and watch.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

You do know they are doing it 10 times? The main hill alone that makes about 3000m vertical ascent.

So im guessing there is altogether more.climbing here than in the etna stage contador won. If contador.makes this a major.goal of his, and unfortunately usually he doesn't give a toss about worlds, but.if he.does, he will go in as the bookies favorite probably.

Look at the Colombia worlds people say was the previous hardest. Frickin pantani was fighting for the win.

and only 17 riders finished the race. insanity!

 

[LaFlorecita]

because the itt course is long, flat and untechnical. as it should be. this will be won by a real itt beast

Watching a long flat tt is like watching a sprint stage. Boring because you already know who's going to win.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He can't indeed, but he can still win it. Not going to explain it since you will say no he can't or no he won't etc etc.

I know how he can win, get a 1 minute gap on everyone on the climb but in 1.5 km of real climbing that's never going to happen.

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

Promising course, hopefully it is not too hard and it won't deter attacks before the last two laps as so many other WCs in the past. If the Italians on home soil shred the peloton to pieces then Nibali and Moser take turns attacking on front to try and drop Sagan it could be one of the best WCs in recent history.

 

[The Hitch]

I know how he can win, get a 1 minute gap on everyone on the climb but in 1.5 km of real climbing that's never going to happen.

A minute? If the group is small enough after 270k ts possible to stay away with 15 seconds.

 

[theyoungest]

I know how he can win, get a 1 minute gap on everyone on the climb but in 1.5 km of real climbing that's never going to happen.

On a course like this he can attack from three laps out, and it could pay off. An organized chase will be impossible, they're going either up or downhill.

 

[Kwibus]

I know how he can win, get a 1 minute gap on everyone on the climb but in 1.5 km of real climbing that's never going to happen.

Why do you keep on talking about an 1.5km climb, while there clearly is an 5km climb.

 

[Falken]

Damn, that's a hard circuit. And 280k? Did the italians think of Nibali when they thought out the course. As I see it, Nibali will probably never get a better opportunity than this to acutally win a WC RR. Sure, it would be better if the descent was a bit closer to the finish, but if Nibali gets a gap he could hold all the way because it will only be a smal group getting over the climb the last time and it will probably be in atoms. But it is likely that Spain will spoil the party considering how many strong climbers they have.

 

[Afrank]

Damn, that's a hard circuit. And 280k? Did the italians think of Nibali when they thought out the course. As I see it, Nibali will probably never get a better opportunity than this to acutally win a WC RR. Sure, it would be better if the descent was a bit closer to the finish, but if Nibali gets a gap he could hold all the way because it will only be a smal group getting over the climb the last time and it will probably be in atoms. But it is likely that Spain will spoil the party considering how many strong climbers they have.

Probably, Nibali is Italy's best hope to win grand tours, plus numerous classics. And when you take out all the Italians that have had a past experience with doping than Nibali is even more there best chance of winning.

 

[the asian]

Probably, Nibali is Italy's best hope to win grand tours, plus numerous classics. And when you take out all the Italians that have had a past experience with doping than Nibali is even more there best chance of winning.

Definitely. Course is well suited to Nibali.

I know how he can win, get a 1 minute gap on everyone on the climb but in 1.5 km of real climbing that's never going to happen.

There are 10 laps of the finishing circuit and there is a 4.6 Km climb also in the finishing circuit.

This is a very hard course ideally suited to climbers and if Alberto want's to win the Worlds' this is the course.

 

[LaFlorecita]

A minute? If the group is small enough after 270k ts possible to stay away with 15 seconds.

10 km with a 15 second gap?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Why do you keep on talking about an 1.5km climb, while there clearly is an 5km climb.

1.5 km of real climbing, the climb is obviously 4.5 km long but the first 3 km are not that hard.