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

[jsem94]

Hope Rodrigues wins a GT or something soon. :/

He did EVERYTHING for Valverde, and Valverde failed epically.

 

[Shardi]

I really don't understand why Purito attacked on Trento.

It'd be far better for Spain if it had ended in a four man sprint.

Noone wants to cater to Valverde

 

[Netserk]

Wheelsucking can lead to winning, if you play it smart. Of course Costa was gonna attack in the final k's, what was Valverde thinking?

I'm not a Costa fan at all, but I gotta say, the guy is damn smart.

This.

You really can't blame the winner for wheelsucking.

After all it's all about winning.

 

[TANK91]

So much hate, the "shark" got eaten this time, he can scream whatever he wants, but this one comes to Portugal.

Smart riding, Costa won this alone with almost 0 team support, he's not a prima donna like Nibali or Valverde.

Edit - Purito trying to trashtalk Costa was priceless.

Your guuy is a wheelsucker. Purito is double the rider costa is all his work and still nearly won, Valverde cost Spain not Purito.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Why? He won't win anything next year

Let's hope so

 

[rhubroma]

Poor Purito. The stars never seem to align for him, except when he won Lombardia,

If I were him I'd be ****ed as hell at Valverde. When Rui Costa went ahead, Valverde should have been right on his wheel, instead of racing to make Nibali lose and, as it turns out, Rodriquez. Because with Valverde right on Rui Costa's wheel, Purito pobably solos for the win and, if not, then Valverde takes the sprint.

In any case the Spaniards raced to make the Italian lose and thus poorly, as they should be eating their hearts out now.

 

[Afrank]

I'm not a big Rui Costa fan but I can't see how he can be faulted for that win, he did what he had to do and played his cards well. He benefited from :
1. Nibali lost the wheel of Jrod, why ?!
2. Nibali on home soil was going to bury himself
3. Purito attacked one time too many, should have let VV go
4. VV didn't cover his attack

Either of these doens't happen, he doesn't win!

True, tactically he raced a perfect race. But he also wheelsucked for much of the final. And can be faulted for that. Not as much as faulted as Valverde of course.

 

[gthx_gthx_]

Wheelsucking can lead to winning, if you play it smart. Of course Costa was gonna attack in the final k's, what was Valverde thinking?

I'm not a Costa fan at all, but I gotta say, the guy is damn smart.

Costa is especially lucky that Nibali did almost all the work for Purito, had Nibali given up earlier , Purito would'va won.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I really don't understand why Purito attacked on Trento.

It'd be far better for Spain if it had ended in a four man sprint.

4 man sprint: Rodríguez loses to Valverde
Spain have 2 out of 4, if he attacks then teammate has free ride so it's tactically sound, plus improves his chance of victory. If it doesn't work, good chance if group comes back together Valverde wins anyway.

I just think when he looked over his shoulder he expected the group to have come together, not to see Rui on his own, and that immediately screwed things up for him. He clearly expended a lot of energy once he thought he could stay away but was fading as he lost several seconds to the group on the final climb, even though it ought to have suited him.

 

[Netserk]

True, tactically he raced a perfect race. But he also wheelsucked for much of the final. And can be faulted for that. Not as much as faulted as Valverde of course.

You can only fault him for that if he'd lost. Not when he won.

 

[Fergoose]

Glad my coverage cut out before the podium. Booing and crying ain't very sporting.

Had shivers down my spine after J-Rod spoke to Rui Costa that Costa would mysteriously look over his shoulder and let J-Rod speed off to victory - I think my commentator was thinking something similar as there was despair in his voice as Rodriguez chatted to him. Glad we stopped short of that level of farce and instead got to marvel at Spain losing despite having two riders in the final selection of four (with Costa being the weakest and Nibali being utterly spent/crashing).

 

[Eshnar]

Purito:"I told Valverde to stay with whoever chased him and when I saw Rui Costa approaching alone I couldn't understand..."
I hope he punches him tonight.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

How is Costa a real winner, but Valverde a sob? Costa wheelsucked as well, so imo they are both sob's.

A wheel sucker who wins played it smart. A wheel sucker who loses is a coward and a fool.

 

[jaylew]

Did you guys catch the Purito interview I just saw? Can a Spanish speaker summarize?

 

[happytramp]

Your guuy is a wheelsucker. Purito is double the rider costa is all his work and still nearly won, Valverde cost Spain not Purito.

I'm sick of this nonsense. Tactical intelligence is important, it's actually the thing that makes racing great. If you find yourself in a position that you know you can win by doing something you have to do it otherwise you are a literally a loser

 

[Rollthedice]

Although I wanted Nibs to win I'm heartbroken because Purito lost. I don't have any feelings for Costa.

 

[Netserk]

A wheel sucker who wins played it smart. A wheel sucker who loses is a coward and a fool.

I agree with this.

 

[burning]

Purito:"I told Valverde to stay with whoever chased him and when I saw Rui Costa approaching alone I couldn't understand..."
I hope he punches him tonight.

I simply dont understand that why on earth Valverde kept on staying Nibali's wheel, he could easily beat him with his one leg, Costa was obviously the danger for him and he just did nothing at all

 

[the asian]

Purito:"I told Valverde to stay with whoever chased him and when I saw Rui Costa approaching alone I couldn't understand..."
I hope he punches him tonight.

Definitely. My hate for Valverde increased two fold. Real Gutless Buffoon.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=66216

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Let's not beat around the bush: Valverde is the dumbest rider ever. Spain had it in the bad if it wasn't for his stupidity. If I was Purito I'd have slapped him right there and then on the podium. He could have asked Costa for help, the man has experience.

There are already rumours of arguments on the Spanish team bus. Óscar Freire stepping in to cool heads.

But seriously, f**k the fans booing Purito. Boo Valverde, ok, I get that. But Purito made that race and would have been the most fitting winner.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Too bad the best man did not win today. Joquin, really, suck wheels like Costa and you would have won. You have done this for years an yet this year not? Giving away the worlds and LBL?

 

[jaylew]

Purito:"I told Valverde to stay with whoever chased him and when I saw Rui Costa approaching alone I couldn't understand..."
I hope he punches him tonight.

One step ahead of me, thanks. I'm a Valverde fan and have to agree - he royally screwed up and deserves a punch to the face.

 

[rhubroma]

Purito:"I told Valverde to stay with whoever chased him and when I saw Rui Costa approaching alone I couldn't understand..."
I hope he punches him tonight.

Don't like quoting mysel,but just sayin...

If I were him I'd be ****ed as hell at Valverde. When Rui Costa went ahead, Valverde should have been right on his wheel, instead of racing to make Nibali lose and, as it turns out, Rodriquez. Because with Valverde right on Rui Costa's wheel, Purito pobably solos for the win and, if not, then Valverde takes the sprint.

In any case the Spaniards raced to make the Italian lose and thus poorly, as they should be eating their hearts out now.

 

[Netserk]

Of the front four I'd preferred if Nibali had won, with Costa a distant second, Valverde a close third and Purito as a very distant fourth.