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

[Red Rick]

Shame on the adience for booing Purito, (i'd have booed Idiot too, honoustly)

 

[Lanark]

Poor Purito.

Yeah, what a shame that Costa didn't take him up on his offer.

 

[the asian]

I agree he won't win a Worlds, but why was it disgraceful by Valverde not to work when Rodríguez was off the front almost all the time on the final lap? In that case he has every right not to work. He'd probably have won if he'd have reacted quicker to Costa's move in the final corners. And yes, it would have been annoying had he won like that, but his teammate was attacking, so he is under no obligation to contribute to the chase.

Now, should he and Rodríguez have been taking it in turns to attack, rather than Purito doing all of the attacking? Certainly. But as soon as Rodríguez made a move, all responsibility to do work is lifted from Valverde.

This.
Disgraceful in the sense, he didn't cover Costa's move.

 

[Afrank]

That my friend is proper racing. Everything else is just sprinting for the line and grinding up mountains

Wheelsucking is boring and cowardly racing though.

 

[Aristarchus]

Purito in tears on the podium.

 

[HL2037]

I wish I could give Rodrigues a hug

 

[hfer07]

breaks my heart to see Purito in tears.... faraway so close...

 

[Escarabajo]

They booooed Valverde at the podium. Well deserved.

Purito is devastated. I feel bad for him.

 

[theyoungest]

Costa, a real winner. Valverde, a real stupid sumofab.tch.

 

[webvan]

I agree he won't win a Worlds, but why was it disgraceful by Valverde not to work when Rodríguez was off the front almost all the time on the final lap? In that case he has every right not to work. He'd probably have won if he'd have reacted quicker to Costa's move in the final corners. And yes, it would have been annoying had he won like that, but his teammate was attacking, so he is under no obligation to contribute to the chase.

Now, should he and Rodríguez have been taking it in turns to attack, rather than Purito doing all of the attacking? Certainly. But as soon as Rodríguez made a move, all responsibility to do work is lifted from Valverde.

Obviously, but no one understands why he didn't COVER that attack by Rui Costa.

Terrible to see Purito in tears...

 

[Roderick]

I hope Valv Piti takes another three bronze medals in the next years. What an absolute pathetic clown

 

[Red Rick]

Not often you see two men crying on the podium

 

[kingjr]

Obviously, but no one understands why he didn't COVER that attack by Rui Costa.

Yeah I would like to hear an interview about that.

He didn't even attempt to get to his wheel he just cared about Nibali.

 

[icefire]

Unzue must be regretting Costa's departure...

Why? He won't win anything next year

 

[the asian]

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

 

[Lanark]

Obviously, but no one understands why he didn't COVER that attack by Rui Costa.

Terrible to see Purito in tears...

Maybe he just isn't really (race) smart.

 

[The Blues]

Costa, a real winner. Valverde, a real stupid sumofab.tch.

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

 

[wirral]

Someone provide a link to the Rui Costa fight video. I think now is an appropriate time.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Obviously, but no one understands why he didn't COVER that attack by Rui Costa.

Terrible to see Purito in tears...

They showed the replay. In the final 3 corners, Costa was in 1st, Nibali 2nd, Valverde 3rd. Costa attacked into the second corner, Valverde started to try to go round the outside of Nibali then thought better of it before the right hander. Maybe it was a bit too circumspect with what was on the line, but it was only really after the corner where he should have moved. Costa placed the move well to enable him to create a small gap, Valverde was slightly hampered by the corner.

Feel terrible for Purito since he would have been an absolutely deserving victor in the race, and quite possibly won't have another chance as he's advancing in age, and to have been so close again must hurt (for all the talk of Valverde's multiple podiums, Purito's now been 2nd twice).

 

[OlavEH]

Huh he was stupid yes, but the winner was the wheelsucker. Purito is Spanish, you know the same nation asValverde.

I know, but seen in a historical context Valverde is by far the worst of the top riders when it comes to wheelsucking. I was also hoping for Nibali, but Costa is far better than Valverde.

Btw, Nibali lost this in the descent from Fiesole. Usually, he would have expanded the 5 sec gap he had on the top, but he was to careful and afraid in the descent. A real shame, Nibali deserved to win this.

 

[Netserk]

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.

 

[burning]

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.

Because he wanted to win

 

[theyoungest]

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

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.

 

[webvan]

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 or NOT attack, VV was going to win a 4 man sprint
4. VV didn't cover his attack

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

 

[Descender]

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.