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

[Parrulo]

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

sometimes i wonder if you have ever ridden a bike in your life. . . .

 

[Falken]

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

But please, those 3k aren't insignificant on a 10 lap circuit in a 280k race. Quite the contrary.

Quite funny. You don't seem to realize that Contador won't get a much better course than this in a WC RR. Really, you should be ecstatic.

 

[LaFlorecita]

But please, those 3k aren't insignificant on a 10 lap circuit in a 280k race. Quite the contrary.

Quite funny. You don't seem to realize that Contador won't get a much better course than this in a WC RR. Really, you should be ecstatic.

Look there are two things I want, either a perfect course for Alberto or a super hard, super exciting course. Not something in between. Maybe this is the best chance he gets but that's not a reason for me to be ecstatic.

 

[Netserk]

Look there are two things I want, either a perfect course for Alberto or a super hard, super exciting course. Not something in between. Maybe this is the best chance he gets but that's not a reason for me to be ecstatic.

well, this is 'a super hard, super exciting course'

 

[the asian]

well, this is 'a super hard, super exciting course'

Fully agree.

 

[Falken]

Look there are two things I want, either a perfect course for Alberto or a super hard, super exciting course. Not something in between. Maybe this is the best chance he gets but that's not a reason for me to be ecstatic.

It is a super hard course imo (280k, 10 laps on that circuit, I mean WTF! That's bloody hard.). If it will show itself to be an exciting course remains to be seen.

 

[LaFlorecita]

well, this is 'a super hard, super exciting course'

For you maybe, not for me. But like I said maybe my expectations are too high. And hey the riders might make it exciting.

 

[the asian]

For you maybe, not for me. But like I said maybe my expectations are too high. And hey the riders might make it exciting.

Be patient until September 2013.

You'll be in for a big surprise

 

[zapata]

Look there are two things I want, either a perfect course for Alberto or a super hard, super exciting course. Not something in between. Maybe this is the best chance he gets but that's not a reason for me to be ecstatic.

I don't want to sound condescending, and forgive me if you know this already, but you do realize that that one, easy climb will be done ten times? In a race almost as long as milano-sanremo. It's a very hard race. I agree that it doesn't really suit contador, though. Not for climbers, more for the strongest of the one day racers.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I don't want to sound condescending, and forgive me if you know this already, but you do realize that that one, easy climb will be done ten times? In a race almost as long as milano-sanremo. It's a very hard race. I agree that it doesn't really suit contador, though. Not for climbers, more for the strongest of the one day racers.

Yeah I know.

 

[zapata]

Yeah I know.

Good to know. I hope for your sake there will be a WC with something like five dolomite climbs in it!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Good to know. I hope for your sake there will be a WC with something like five dolomite climbs in it!

That would be awesome!

 

[mb2612]

That would be awesome!

The Zonlocan Crostis loop, done 4 times?

That would be a hard worlds course.

This, however, looks like the perfect course. Hard so only a select few can win, but with the final climb far enough out that there will be plenty of attacking.

 

[Progsprach]

Or a Zoncolan loop

EDIT:
Argh: What a coincidence to post that at the same time
Well, then I'll beat you: Scanuppia loop

 

[zapata]

The Zonlocan Crostis loop, done 4 times?

That would be a hard worlds course.

This, however, looks like the perfect course. Hard so only a select few can win, but with the final climb far enough out that there will be plenty of attacking.

Yeah, the perfect course for a fan of contador would be something where only contador can win, whereas this actual course is one where a wider range of riders may be victorious. I dare say I'm already hoping for Nibali..

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yeah, the perfect course for a fan of contador would be something where only contador can win, whereas this actual course is one where a wider range of riders may be victorious. I dare say I'm already hoping for Nibali..

I thought I made it clear that that is NOT the only thing I want.

 

[zapata]

I thought I made it clear that that is NOT the only thing I want.

Probably, I must admit i haven't really read much of the thread. My point is only, that if the WC was a series of HC climbs, it would limit the range of potential winners to contador, and maybe a couple of others. The best parcours, for a spectator, is one where a lot of riders MIGHT have a chance.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Probably, I must admit i haven't really read much of the thread. My point is only, that if the WC was a series of HC climbs, it would limit the range of potential winners to contador, and maybe a couple of others. The best parcours, for a spectator, is one where a lot of riders MIGHT have a chance.

I'd say there's something in between a series of HC climbs and this.

 

[Netserk]

I'd say there's something in between a series of HC climbs and this.

like this?: http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1019463&postcount=1725

 

[LaFlorecita]

like this?: http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1019463&postcount=1725

No, the climbs are too short.

 

[The Hitch]

Good to know. I hope for your sake there will be a WC with something like five dolomite climbs in it!

Contador probably wouldn't bother with it anyway.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador probably wouldn't bother with it anyway.

No he never does This year is an exception. He probably won't bother next year either.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Now call that a coincidence.

2010 during a summer vacation in Italy, I drove more or less exactly that route, including a short picnic in the olive groves above Fiesole, just before entering Firenze for the first time in my life. Had I just known by that time, I would've rented a bike immediately ....

Maybe I should plan summer holidays a bit later for next year

 

[Progsprach]

The hardest circuit i can come up with that has a somewhat believable lenght would be on the south slope of the Etna. There are two mountain roads right next to each other: so go up one; down the other rinse and repeat: That's a 30km circuit with 13km@7% (from 1060m up to 1930m of altitude). Would that be hard enough for the "true climbers"?

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Btw the 'bump' after the steep descent from Fiesole...I'm just thinking...is this the extremely beautiful small cedar tree avenue of which I drove in my large rented Fiat Chroma?

This road I'm talking about is on a byway just halfway on the main street descent from Fiesole to downtown Firenze. It starts straight-ahead steep downhill and still straight-ahead uphill on perfect asphalt, but uphill it becomes rapidly steeper and ends in a narrow, hard cobbled zigzag 90-degress left-right S-road of, well 25% ascent and high old walls on both sides before a left corner, just beneath a castle-like building. That uphill ramp is short, just 100-200m, but extremely challenging. I really was challenged on gas/clutch pedals in my big wagon on the left corner, there was really no place for a large car like mine. So that would mean no following cars, just motorbikes for the closing circuit. I don't know if thats unrealistic.

I might be wrong about this, but such a 'loop in the loop' would not only be spicy, it would be pure magic.

...and yes, with or without this 'bump' it's the hardest WC-route of which I can imagine, including Duitama '95 (began watching road WC's in '84 when Criquielion won in Barcelona).