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

[rhubroma]

Yes. It was after seveh hours of hard racing in bad condtions.

It is really easy to say that rider had to do this or that sitting in the front of TV.
For riders it is very different.

No it's not.

 

[Hugo87]

I saw your post as a slur on Purito because his results have come later in his career. I'm not devaluing Costa's palmarès. He has a stronger palmarès than Purito had at his age, but then Purito didn't get as much protection by that age as Costa did (and he then spent three years at Caisse d'Epargne where he was all too often treated as a second to Valverde), and also Costa is generally better suited to a wider range of events than Purito is. Purito would never win the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque. And Purito has more than made up for that time when he was top 10ing GTs when domestiquing since he got his freedom in 2010.

Now, where is Costa going to peak? We don't know. Purito's peaked early 30s. Yaroslav Popovych peaked at about 23 and it's been downhill ever since. Costa's got years at the top left in him, but we'll see what happens at Lampre once he settles in at his new home.

But was not my intention to be a slur to Purito, sorry if it seems likely, because I respect him and he's one of my favorite riders.

The problem is when i'm talking to an ***** ,I lose my temper and tend to write/say things in a aggressive way, yes it's my fault that's why i muted that ******.

Yes I know that Purito couldn't won Quatre Jours de Dunkerque in 2009, because there was a TT and no montains..

 

[jaylew]

On another note, Nibali now just a hair from the 2013 CQ title.

Top 5:

Froome 2766
Nibali 2759
Sagan 2673
Valverde 2184
Purito 2047

 

[The Cobra]

We're talking about a flat road. Rui Costa isn't even a rouleur. Valverde was the most comfortable during the last wall, he sticked to Nibali while Rui Costa was losing a couple of meters.

Exactly. Valverde played that horribly. At the end he only had one job, follow Costa no matter what. Nibali was obviously knackered after all that chasing and woudlnt be a factor. If I was Purito I would be seriously ****ed at Valverde.

 

[Galic Ho]

They haven't sussed out one-day racing yet. The British successes thus far have been predicated mostly on a simple bludgeoning tactic. That works when you have a garbage course and the fastest sprinter in the race (like København), but elsewhere not so much. The stage race successes they've had have been through having the strongest rider in the race and strangling the life out of everything, which is harder in a one-day race because fewer riders are willing to be cowed when there's no 'next chance' to save yourself for.

Don't really see where a British win could have come from there. Froome isn't a one-day racer, and isn't on form; JTL is looking more and more like a British Pecharromán, will need to step up strongly next season to avoid that fate. Don't really see any other Britons who could have competed on this course I'm afraid. Not at this point in time anyway. Maybe in the future Edmondson or Yates will be good in the hills, but they're not ready for an event like this yet.

When the viewing started in Australia on SBS, there was a little over 100km left in the race. Evans had just fallen, or so the coverage told viewers and it became apparent that a lot of riders had fallen. I didn't expect between the Australians and British to have 1 rider remaining from 18. The Americans were obliterated as well.

When I found out Froome wasn't there, I simply assumed he got off and either jumped in the car or stopped. I never thought he'd make it to the end. Then again I didn't expect Costa to make the final four. Nor Uran to make the final bridge on the Fiesole. I did expect Nibali to attack however.

I certainly enjoyed this weeks racing. Bettini's tactics were very, very good. One Nibali with Scarponi versus Moreno, Contador, Rodriguez and Valverde is just not right. I know Contador isn't on form, but Spain need to really work out their grievances. This is the second year in a row people are whining, and low and behold Valverde is at the centre again. Last year it was for not waiting and this year for waiting.

I wonder what it will be next year? Probably for winning. I can't but help think Valverde had a reason to try and deny Nibali, not because of Nibali, but because if were not for Italy, he'd have not spent 18 months out of racing. Just something to ponder for those into conspiracies.

 

[Descender]

I am not sure if you are serious.

I do believe him.

If he managed to follow Costa (even with Nibali following), we would have group of four at the end witn Valverde having best chance in the sprint. And he probably knew it.

You need to come back to the real world. It's very nice around here sometimes.

 

[personal]

You need to come back to the real world. It's very nice around here sometimes.

In a real world racers sometimes simply can not do what someone watching race on TV think he should.

 

[Eshnar]

In a real world racers sometimes simply can not do what someone watching race on TV think he should.

In a real world they also say a lot of BS only as an excuse.

 

[kingjr]

Valverde didn't try.
He still had the energy to sprint for bronze, but he didn't try to catch Costa.
This is a fact.

Between that there was at least a km of riding slowly in the slipstream of Nibali.
That's a fact too.

 

[jaylew]

Come on, man, are you serious? A mistaken trajectory is not stupid, just an unfortunate error - however costly to Nibali.

A tactical mistake within the tream, on the other hand, at the decisive point in the race and therefore not doing one's job among professionals, is an error in judgment that is stupid.

I'll reserve judgement until I watch the replay as I didn't catch exactly how he lost Jrod's wheel.

 

[Netserk]

I'll reserve judgement until I watch the replay as I didn't catch exactly how he lost Jrod's wheel.

It was the same place where Uran crashed.

 

[EnacheV]

On another note, Nibali now just a hair from the 2013 CQ title.

Top 5:

Froome 2766
Nibali 2759
Sagan 2673
Valverde 2184
Purito 2047

Nibali the carhanger ?

i still expect to be DSQ, wtf rules don't apply for home country riders?!

 

[Volderke]

This is the second year in a row people are whining, and low and behold Valverde is at the centre again. Last year it was for not waiting and this year for waiting.
I wonder what it will be next year? Probably for winning.

People are whining since 2003 about Valverde, and with good reason!

 

[Eshnar]

Nibali the carhanger ?

i still expect to be DSQ, wtf rules don't apply for home country riders?!

Sadly not. In fact Valverde could do half the Vuelta ITT motorpaced by the TV motorbike.

 

[hrotha]

Between that there was at least a km of riding slowly in the slipstream of Nibali.
That's a fact too.

He never left Nibali's slipstream. Another fact for you.

 

[rhubroma]

Exactly. Valverde played that horribly. At the end he only had one job, follow Costa no matter what. Nibali was obviously knackered after all that chasing and woudlnt be a factor. If I was Purito I would be seriously ****ed at Valverde.

E-x-a-c-t-l-y.

The Spaniards had the Worlds in their grip, unfortunately Valverde blew it. It was a textbook four man up break, with two riders on the same friggin team. Hell one learns how to play that finish out among the juniors rank.

I can't believe this is even being discussed.

 

[personal]

In a real world they also say a lot of BS only as an excuse.

A I said already, why would Valverde let the race go away from him in situation when simply following Costa means good chance of win for himself?

 

[kingjr]

He never left Nibali's slipstream. Another fact for you.

Cause he knew he couldnt catch Costa.

 

[Arnout]

In a real world they also say a lot of BS only as an excuse.

Exactly. Valverde was in a wheel. He is explosive. Costa was spent. Valverde would always have been able to follow for a few meters at the very least. Being unable is the only explanation that can make sense at first sight (but is as we know not the truth). Anything else and he admits to have ****ed over Purito, which he did, probably due to Movistar connection.

Anyway, I read a lot of Don Quichote sour comments about Costa winning. He was clearly the weakest of the four uphill, and in a group with two Spaniards. Even in hindsight, his chances were slim but he took his only real opportunity. Blaming him for wheelsucking is showing an ignorance of the sport.

Wheelsucking is doing nothing and forgoing an opportunity because you don't dare to make a move. It's what Valverde did. Winning by profiting from work of others and choosing the best moment to spend your last and only bit of reserve energy is brilliance

 

[Descender]

A I said already, why would Valverde let the race go away from him in situation when simply following Costa means good chance of win for himself?

Because he is stupid.

Though in fairness, it's too early to tell. Let's wait until his career develops, and see if he acts like today in similar situations.

 

[Eshnar]

A I said already, why would Valverde let the race go away from him in situation when simply following Costa means good chance of win for himself?

Because he's (tactically) an idiot.
He sticked to Nibali's wheel like the Italian was the main threat and he initially thought Nibs was gonna chase Rui, and when he realized that Nibali was done for (which was evident to anyone but him) he was way too late. And in that moment he couldn't catch Rui Costa. Because he was already long gone.

 

[kingjr]

Because he is stupid.

Though in fairness, it's too early to tell. Let's wait until his career develops, and see if he acts like today in similar situations.

Tbh, that's something even Ullrich could have figured out.

 

[Eshnar]

Because he is stupid.

Though in fairness, it's too early to tell. Let's wait until his career develops, and see if he acts like today in similar situations.

post of the day.

 

[hrotha]

Cause he knew he couldnt catch Costa.

I meant before Costa went, but your point stands: Valverde didn't even try.

Seriously, how can you excuse a rider who doesn't even try to do what he OBVIOUSLY needs to do?

 

[hrotha]

Anyway, I read a lot of Don Quichote sour comments about Costa winning. He was clearly the weakest of the four uphill, and in a group with two Spaniards. Even in hindsight, his chances were slim but he took his only real opportunity. Blaming him for wheelsucking is showing an ignorance of the sport.

First of all, "Don Quichote"?

Secondly, Rui Costa always rides like this. Always.