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

[Adam.S]

It looked like Purito got confused to what was the actual finish line.

 

[Eshnar]

You'd think if they were booing Valverde only, they'd have been respectful enough to shut up during the announcement of the others.

You have too much faith in Italians' discipline

 

[kingjr]

If you're not able to win, you don't deserve to win. Rodriguez wasn't able to win today.


@Adam S., maybe but I think he just realised he wasnt making up any ground anymore after coming out of Costa#s slipstream

 

[personal]

I am pretty sure that Valverde knew that following Costa means good chance of him (Valverde) winning.
He probably just couldn't do it.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Can anyone explain to me why Piti didn't follow Rui Costa ^^; ?

Valverde is an expert in not to become world champion.

Guess he was dead meat. If he was strong enough he is a coward.

 

[afpm90]

I wanted the winner of this race to be someone that really earned it, like Purito who was solo most of the way in the final or Nibali doing all the chasing. So do to his wheelsucking in the final, Costa's victory for me isn't as pleasing as a Purito or Nibali win would have been.

It was a very smart and solid ride by Costa, I give him that. He played the race perfectly and did what he needed to do to win. Just would have preferred a little more...panache in the winner.

With the help of his car, don't forget.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

They booed because there was no italian on the podium, no?

Probably, but why is that Purito's fault? Like I said, blame Valverde all you like, but Purito just tried to win that race. Hell, if Nibali hadn't lost Purito's wheel descending Fiesole, they'd probably have gone 1/2 as the two would likely have worked together to the final climb whereas Valverde would have sat on Costa, and Costa would have been forced to do the work to pull them back.

As I said, Purito made that race and would have been the most deserving victor. He's just spent 8 hours in the saddle to miss out on the World Championships by less than a bike length now to likely see the team get eviscerated in the press through no fault of his own but because his teammate, attentive and doing his job perfectly throughout, was asleep at the wheel with 1,5km to go of all the times, he's given everything he had and has lost out in the last 100m, and he's probably feeling pretty terrible. Then the fans start booing him for no discernible reason.

 

[Escarabajo]

Because he wasn't good enough

If it was just an error of judgement he would have closed the gap on Costa but in fact the gap just kept increasing all the way to the line

If you are not good and are tired you must communicate this to his team so they change tactics. Otherwise Purito is going to keep attacking for him and waiting for him for the sprint. You have to tell the coach of the change of tactics otherwise you are going to look like a fool like he did.

 

[Netserk]

Probably, but why is that Purito's fault? Like I said, blame Valverde all you like, but Purito just tried to win that race. Hell, if Nibali hadn't lost Purito's wheel descending Fiesole, they'd probably have gone 1/2 as the two would likely have worked together to the final climb whereas Valverde would have sat on Costa, and Costa would have been forced to do the work to pull them back.

As I said, Purito made that race and would have been the most deserving victor. He's just spent 8 hours in the saddle to miss out on the World Championships by less than a bike length now to likely see the team get eviscerated in the press through no fault of his own but because his teammate, attentive and doing his job perfectly throughout, was asleep at the wheel with 1,5km to go of all the times, he's given everything he had and has lost out in the last 100m, and he's probably feeling pretty terrible. Then the fans start booing him for no discernible reason.

He shouldn't have attacked on Trento IMHO.

 

[will10]

Were the BBC too embarassed to show the podium? It was a great course and a gruelling slog with the weather, but was a borefest until the last time up Fiosole when JRod at last lit the race up. But then to see the two leaders in conversation in the last 100 mteres WTF?
It could be pro racing is getting too cynical for its own good, at least in less 'king robotic times riders would have been strewn all over the hills of Florence not riding tempo in a cosy bunch leaving the hopeless break dangling out there and waiting for the final lap.

They'd already run over the scheduled time. And they continued showing the coverage of the podium online.

 

[the asian]

He shouldn't have attacked on Trento IMHO.

That was the best way he could have won, also as Nibbles would have to chase, Valverde gets a free ride to the finish. Unfortunately though Valverde as usual ****ed up big time, so Rui Costa won instead.

 

[The Hitch]

If Valverde was completely spent then even then he should have put all his last energy (which he used to win the sprint) to get on Costas wheel even for a few seconds in an attempt to get Costa to give up.

 

[will10]

If you are not good and are tired you must communicate this to his team so they change tactics. Otherwise Purito is going to keep attacking for him and waiting for him for the sprint. You have to tell the coach of the change of tactics otherwise you are going to look like a fool like he did.

No radios.

 

[jaylew]

I'm left wondering how it would have played out if Uran had stayed upright.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Is Nibali disqualified by now or what?

 

[the asian]

I'm left wondering how it would have played out if Uran had stayed upright.

Would have tried to attack. would have finished 2nd, 4th or 5th.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

If you are not good and are tired you must communicate this to his team so they change tactics. Otherwise Purito is going to keep attacking for him and waiting for him for the sprint. You have to tell the coach of the change of tactics otherwise you are going to look like a fool like he did.

Couldn't really disagree with that although I'm not sure what Rodriguez could have done differently had he known Valverde was spent. Costa would likely beat him in a sprint

 

[53x11 in DC]

I wanted the winner of this race to be someone that really earned it, like Purito who was solo most of the way in the final or Nibali doing all the chasing. So do to his wheelsucking in the final, Costa's victory for me isn't as pleasing as a Purito or Nibali win would have been.

It was a very smart and solid ride by Costa, I give him that. He played the race perfectly and did what he needed to do to win. Just would have preferred a little more...panache in the winner.

Smart wins rainbow jerseys. Panache wins nothing but the adulation of Forum dwellers. Costa did EXACTLY what he should have done with the hand dealt. Stay in contact on the climb (he wasn't going to win by launching his own attack there), leave the aggression to the team with numbers (Spain), and let Nibali blow himself up via his own aggressive defensive measures.

Had Costa started working with 6k to go, he ends up 4th, MAYBE 3rd if they catch Purito late and tired.

Nibali was desperate in front of the tifosi (understandably so), and Costa took advantage. So, in effect, his panache was using his head.

The real surprise here was valverde's lack of response. If I were Purito, I'd be LIVID.

 

[Eshnar]

Is Nibali disqualified by now or what?

that'd be the most useless DSQ ever.

 

[GreasyMonkey]

Maybe the length of the race and the lack of any local interest whatsoever with the entire British squad registering a DNF meant they were happy to jump to something else they were covering?

When did Wiggo & Vroom-vroom step off their bikes - when it started to rain, or before going down the first descent?

TDP in Spain did not start broadcasting that early.....

 

[HL2037]

Probably, but why is that Purito's fault? Like I said, blame Valverde all you like, but Purito just tried to win that race. Hell, if Nibali hadn't lost Purito's wheel descending Fiesole, they'd probably have gone 1/2 as the two would likely have worked together to the final climb whereas Valverde would have sat on Costa, and Costa would have been forced to do the work to pull them back.

As I said, Purito made that race and would have been the most deserving victor. He's just spent 8 hours in the saddle to miss out on the World Championships by less than a bike length now to likely see the team get eviscerated in the press through no fault of his own but because his teammate, attentive and doing his job perfectly throughout, was asleep at the wheel with 1,5km to go of all the times, he's given everything he had and has lost out in the last 100m, and he's probably feeling pretty terrible. Then the fans start booing him for no discernible reason.

I fully agree. My heart bleeds for Purito right now. Costa did what he had to do, and very cleverly. Valverde - maybe he just didn't have any more in him.

I think that anyone who finished todays race deserves a medal, and booing is bad manners. But they would have probably booed any podium with no italian.

 

[will10]

Valverde: "I should have followed Rui Costa but I simply couldn't."

 

[hrotha]

Gah, anyone but Rui ****ing Costa.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

No radios.

Two Purito moves had already been caught by then, they could have communicated while the group was back together.

Maybe they did, and Purito didn't fancy the sprint against Costa and that's why he went again. Or maybe they didn't, and Valverde's got egg on his face and has badly let down his friend and teammate.

Valverde's quote now is that he thought Purito did everything perfectly and he honestly thought he would win.

Which doesn't explain why he wasn't there to cover in case he didn't (after all, silver's better than bronze anyway), of course.

 

[theyoungest]

that'd be the most useless DSQ ever.

He got towed into the final... you could at least say that it wasn't completely fair.

Other riders who had to return were less fortunate.