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

[Descender]

For those of you who speak Spanish, here's the Spanish NT going bonkers at Valverde. Bonkers.

http://podcast.ondacero.es/mp_series3/audios/ondacero.es/2013/09/29/00033.mp3

 

[Winterfold]

That being said, I've always been a fan of Rui Costa and seeing him win today has made me extremely happy.

Quoted for truth, a beautiful example of how to make sure you're there at the end and take the chance when it is presented to you

Valverde = moron, or completely cooked

 

[barmaher]

Sorry if Costa had it in him, so did Valverde.

This makes no sense. Why should Valverde's energy levels have anything to do with Rui's?

 

[Rollthedice]

"I knew Valverde wouldn't help out but Costa only came past me briefly to do a bit and then to attack," Nibali lamented.

"I thought Valverde would go after him but he didn’t. I tried to do a good sprint but Valverde even changed direction and pushed me way over to the right."

So he was more of a moron than cooked.

 

[rhubroma]

Let's not get carried away here. Costa in his career so far has displayed a grasp of one tactic: refusing to do any work, no matter how tempting it is and no matter who shouts at him. That's a pretty effective tactic, but it doesn't take a cycling genius to figure it out. As shown by the ability of even a certifiable dunce like Valverde to base an entire career on it.

Costa played his cards well. He was up against three stronger climbers, a much faster sprinter and he was outnumbered. But at the same time, there was only one moment when the call was less than obvious. He had to decide whether or not to help Nibali. Deciding to leech on Nibali and contribute nothing was a gamble. He guessed that Nibali's desire to win in front of his own fans would overcome his good sense, and he guessed that Nibali would be strong enough to keep Purito under control. That could easily have gone wrong for him but it didn't and people think he's fiendishly clever. If Purito had stayed away or Valverde had held his wheel, he'd be called a coward and a fool instead.

Yes and put all those variables together and you have one briliant result, however lacking in panache. Costa also would have realized that the others thought less of him than he did of them (given the calibre of his rivals), thus his refusing to do any work, to not take matters into his own hands as it were, had a certain alibi, was "to be expected." Nibali, on the other hand, had none and, under the circumstances, was therefore for all intents and purposes a condemned man.

Everything the others did played into Costa's favor, indeed gave him the only opportunity of victory. Still he responded to perfection, although he could not have imagined the Spanish debacle coming from Valverde no less. Of course, having won the Worlds now, that will be Costa's last chance to get away with murder. He will not be permitted to win like that ever again. By now his rivals will be on to his game.

 

[rhubroma]

This makes no sense. Why should Valverde's energy levels have anything to do with Rui's?

Come one Valverde was the most "rested." He didn't take one pull. How can you say that makes no sense. That makes no sense.

 

[TheEnoculator]

I had to watch the race without any audio, and when Purito attacked, Valverde stayed behind Nibali, and I thought that was Spain's tactic. And it made sense because Valverde was protecting Purito so he could solo to victory. I really thought Purito was going to make it. Then when Costa attacked, and Valverde did nothing, that was THE most confusing moment I have ever had watching a bike race. Then when Purito saw Costa alone, his "WTF" facial expression was exactly how I felt. Boy, this was a bizarre race.

 

[DHammer]

I like Purito as well. He did everything he could, but the Spanish team was a failure. They had everything in their hands.

People, explain to me how to be on the bike for ~7.5 hours without a good team and win. Do fans expect him to put the nose to the wind during the race and then be at the front for the sprint after all that climbing? That is complete silliness. He did ride smart and won. I am sure he would have ridden different if he had a team like Spain.

This ^^

As portuguese I'm very happy.
I understand the people who call him wheelsucker but thats the way he normally rides and the other three knew it. So he was the smartest.
Purito took his chance and failed. Chapeau to him.

Maybe in the future Costa will have to change his way of racing because of this. Lets see what he do next year.

Theres a lot of "loved" wheelsuckers on cycling world but if they are from Belgium, France, Netherlands, etc its ok...

Theres two kind of wheelsucking riders:

The winners and the loosers. Pick your choice!

 

[hrotha]

Theres a lot of "loved" wheelsuckers on cycling world but if they are from Belgium, France, Netherlands, etc its ok...

Such as?

Don't use the nationality card so lightly.

 

[Pentacycle]

Maybe in the future Costa will have to change his way of racing because of this. Lets see what he do next year.

Of course being the WC he is expected to do more in finals, but I think he can handle it easily. Mentally he's always been one of the best, just look at the way he fought back from his ban, taking a TdF stage win.

 

[The Hitch]

For those of you who speak Spanish, here's the Spanish NT going bonkers at Valverde. Bonkers.

http://podcast.ondacero.es/mp_series3/audios/ondacero.es/2013/09/29/00033.mp3

What is NT?

 

[kingjr]

What is NT?

National Television I believe.

Edit: which makes no sense if that's a radio clip

 

[Hakkapelit]

National Television I believe.

Edit: which makes no sense if that's a radio clip

National transmitting (company)?


Mayby someone could provide a abstract transcription if it's indeed interesting.

 

[hrotha]

It's Spain's national coach speaking and putting the blame 100% on Valverde.

 

[Escarabajo]

I wasn't questioning the spelling, but the use of it.

Alright, "always" is a hyperbole. "Rui Costa tends to ride like this very often, and I personally dislike him immensely for it and have trouble understanding why anyone would like him". Better?

Your dislike for Kosta is blinding you hothra. Kosta is a good rider. Really. He played his best chances and probably his only chances and won. I cannot blame him for that.

 

[hrotha]

Your dislike for Kosta is blinding you hothra. Kosta is a good rider. Really. He played his best chances and probably his only chances and won. I cannot blame him for that.

Of course he's a great rider. One of the best in the peloton.

I don't think cooperating with Nibali to catch Purito would have been too much to ask, I don't believe sitting up was his only chance (because, see, I believe he's no worse than his rivals) and in retrospect I wish Nibali had sat up. I'm also looking forward to next year, when he shouldn't be able to pull this crap again.

 

[alspacka]

Can't believe what I'm reading here. People seriously think Valverde chose to ignore Costa's attack? It was a couple of km away from the end of the WCRR! And that if he'd wanted he could've just followed him and sauntered to victory fresh as a daisy?
Yes, he hadn't done any pulling in the break, but that ignores the previous 260 odd km of a race in which many quality riders barely made it to half way.
What about Cancellara, Gilbert, Sagan et al? Why didn't they go with Purito and Nibali when the time came? They're probably just all idiots who have no idea about bike racing.

 

[DHammer]

Such as?

Don't use the nationality card so lightly.

Maybe i exceeded myself in that sentence, but you understand what i was talking about.

If it was Sagan wheelsucking and winning while making a wheelie everyone was admiring him and telling how great cyclist he is (and he is).

EDIT: For those asking if Rui Costa's victory would have coverage in Portugal, the answear is, YES. Regardless of the elections today, even the Portuguese President have appeared in TV congrating him.

And the home page of one of the biggest sport journal in Portugal: http://www.record.xl.pt/

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Such as?

Actually that's a good question. Are there any much loved riders of the sort who never put their nose in the wind until the very end? Valverde certainly isn't a popular man.

I suppose Purito might almost qualify. Voeckler is infamous for shirking his turns, but he's very attacking. Are we counting sprinters?

 

[trevim]

Maybe i exceeded myself in that sentence, but you understand what i was talking about.

If it was Sagan wheelsucking and winning while making a wheelie everyone was admiring him and telling how great cyclist he is (and he is).

EDIT: For those asking if Rui Costa's victory would have coverage in Portugal, the answear is, YES. Regardless of the elections today, even the Portuguese President have appeared in TV congrating him.

And the home page of one of the biggest sport journal in Portugal: http://www.record.xl.pt/

I hope he gets a cover tomorrow in all the sports newspapers. Obviously João Sousa was the first portuguese to win an ATP event but it was just a 250 tournament, not really a WC.

 

[Panda Claws]

Can't believe what I'm reading here. People seriously think Valverde chose to ignore Costa's attack? It was a couple of km away from the end of the WCRR! And that if he'd wanted he could've just followed him and sauntered to victory fresh as a daisy?
Yes, he hadn't done any pulling in the break, but that ignores the previous 260 odd km of a race in which many quality riders barely made it to half way.
What about Cancellara, Gilbert, Sagan et al? Why didn't they go with Purito and Nibali when the time came? They're probably just all idiots who have no idea about bike racing.

Valverde did not even attempt to follow. What was he afraid of? That deader-than-dead "I did all the work" Nibali was going to beat him in a sprint ?

 

[Eshnar]

Can't believe what I'm reading here. People seriously think Valverde chose to ignore Costa's attack? It was a couple of km away from the end of the WCRR! And that if he'd wanted he could've just followed him and sauntered to victory fresh as a daisy?
Yes, he hadn't done any pulling in the break, but that ignores the previous 260 odd km of a race in which many quality riders barely made it to half way.
What about Cancellara, Gilbert, Sagan et al? Why didn't they go with Purito and Nibali when the time came? They're probably just all idiots who have no idea about bike racing.

this again?
Valverde didn't even try to chase him. When he had to sprint for third he did it, so I really don't get how anyone would think he was completely blown. Had he just done that sprint two kms earlier, to chase Rui Costa even for only 200m, Rui would have stopped and it was a mission accomplished. He didn't do that and it's entirely his fault, whatever his reasons are (I was watching Nibbles, I was surprised by Rui, I was thinking Purito had already it in the bag, I was looking at the stars, etc)

Again, that was no climb, no cobbles, no descent, no sterrato... it was a flat road. And Rui Costa is a climber just as him.

 

[hrotha]

Maybe i exceeded myself in that sentence, but you understand what i was talking about.

If it was Sagan wheelsucking and winning while making a wheelie everyone was admiring him and telling how great cyclist he is (and he is).

The thing is, Sagan doesn't wheelsuck. Sagan does things like what he did in Montreal. He would have to wheelsuck on many occasions for the perception to change. On the other hand, this isn't the first time Rui Costa does this.

Other people who have got flak for "being smart"/wheelsucking are Gerrans, Pozzato or Hushovd. Gerrans and Hushovd have their fans but I'm not sure how many of them are not motivated by nationalism.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I am glad that Nibali didn't win, it would have been embarrassing.

 

[BigMac]

The thing is, Sagan doesn't wheelsuck. Sagan does things like what he did in Montreal. He would have to wheelsuck on many occasions for the perception to change. On the other hand, this isn't the first time Rui Costa does this.

Other people who have got flak for "being smart"/wheelsucking are Gerrans, Pozzato or Hushovd. Gerrans and Hushovd have their fans but I'm not sure how many of them are not motivated by nationalism.

Costa does this since ever, his opponents know, yet he keeps winning. The entire peloton proves to be a complete bunch of fools

Anyway, La Punt stage this year.