2013 WC in Firenze - Who will win?

[Bakhjulet]

Valverde ftw. The spaniards will exhaust Sagan.

Safe bet: EBH to crack after 240-250k.

 

[Gloin22]

Valverde ftw. The spaniards will exhaust Sagan.

Safe bet: EBH to crack after 240-250k.

If raced very hard from start, yes.

If raced timidly, look last year Worlds to see outcome.

 

[Afrank]

i dont get the love for cance from posters and bookies, his ability to climb 11 laps on this course with the best is questionable and even among the better climbers are better sprinters. monster late attack is possible but a more unlikely scenario, if the peloton is reduced to such a small size that other favs have no proper domestiques to bring a serious attacker back, then cance is most likely not part of the main group anymore.

At the moment he's coming into the race in great form and with a strong level of climbing. The more I look at it, the more this course appears to lend itself more to the the classic type riders that can handle long and hard races more so then it does the pure climbers. And Cancellara is one of those riders that can thrive in really difficult and long races. With the level of climbing that he showed at the Vuelta I think it will be much harder to drop him then it would normally be.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I saw Dan Martin today, and now I have all the faith that Robert Gesink will end up higher for my avatar bet

 

[Bakhjulet]

If raced very hard from start, yes.

If raced timidly, look last year Worlds to see outcome.

Tougher WC course this year. Over 3000m climbing. EBH will have a hard time on the fiesole climb after 230-240k. A bit too long for him.

 

[Afrank]

From the CN article, gotta admit, this would be pretty cool to see.

The Swiss rider is also targeting a world championships treble: the team time trial title with RadioShack-Leopard on Sunday, the individual time trial on Wednesday and then the Elite men's road race on Sunday.

I'm curious, has anyone ever won both the time trial and road race before?

I like this from him as well. I think I'll probably end up cheering for Cance this race.

"I've learnt you've got to take advantage and enjoy of every moment in life because there's no tomorrow," he said, reflecting on the highs and lows of his career.

"Life's too short to think negatively. You've got to be happy for where you live and what have in life. I'm a campione, I'm charismatic and some people indicate me as an example but I try to think like I work in a factory. I can buy almost anything I want but money can't buy the really important things in life: health, happiness… I'm able to be happy with very little."

 

[Netserk]

I'm curious, has anyone ever won both the time trial and road race before?

The ITT is relatively new. In the same year, no. However Olano has won both, though in different years.

 

[shalgo]

The ITT is relatively new. In the same year, no. However Olano has won both, though in different years.

Probably the closest anyone has come in a single year was Cancellara himself in Mendrisio--1st in the TT and 5th in the road race. He was also 3rd in the TT and 4th in the RR in 2011.

 

[Netserk]

Probably the closest anyone has come in a single year was Cancellara himself in Mendrisio--1st in the TT and 5th in the road race. He was also 3rd in the TT and 4th in the RR in 2011.

The closest was Indurain in '95. (and Olano same year)

 

[shalgo]

The closest was Indurain in '95. (and Olano same year)

Thank you, yes, I had forgotten about that one.

 

[Panda Claws]

I would not count out Mark Cavendish just yet. Surely an ex-champion like him will not be content by merely being a domestique for Froome.

Expect him to be there if it is a bunch sprint at the end.

 

[gooner]

I saw Dan Martin today, and now I have all the faith that Robert Gesink will end up higher for my avatar bet

His form today is admittedly a bit of a worry and then Deignan's injury will only weaken the team even further around him. In the Vuelta for the time he was there, he seemed to be in decent form staying up the front. I hope that injury hasn't hindered his chances too much.

I think I may have cursed them with this bet.

 

[greenedge]

"Definitely [a dream come true]," said Ballan after his victory. "I did not expect this; I knew I was going strong, but to win the worlds is always difficult. We all started the race for Paolo [Bettini], we ended up three in that move."

With defending champion Bettini going for an unprecedented third victory in succession – and having announced his intention to retire after the race – the Italian plan was to work for him. "Last night we did not have a second strategy," Ballan explained, "the plan was for Paolo and it was never to be like this. He was going very well, but he had all of Spain and the other nations [marking him]."

"I have to say thanks to Paolo," he added.

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/worlds08/?id=results/worlds086

Uh, ok.....

 

[The Hitch]

Uh, ok.....

No, you are right as well. Bettini went in as defending champion but in the final selection it was Cunego and Rebellin everyone was looking at that allowed Ballan to go.

 

[bridgeman]

This course lends itself to none of the above.

 

[movingtarget]

I would not count out Mark Cavendish just yet. Surely an ex-champion like him will not be content by merely being a domestique for Froome.

Expect him to be there if it is a bunch sprint at the end.

On this course it won't be a big bunch finish and I can't see Cavendish surviving anyway. Even the better sprinters who can climb like Hushovd won't make it to the front I don't think.

 

[Kwibus]

On this course it won't be a big bunch finish and I can't see Cavendish surviving anyway. Even the better sprinters who can climb like Hushovd won't make it to the front I don't think.

I don't think Panda was serious

 

[Bakhjulet]

I really doubt Cancellara will survive on this course. Spain and/or italy will probably put the hammer down on the 4k fiesole climb the last couple of laps to try to exahust or drop guys like Sagan and Gilbert. Can't see Canc surviving this.

With guys like Valverde, Purito, Moreno, LLS, Contador and Samu, Spain will surely use their good climbers on fiesole climb to break the heavier guys.

I can only see a real good climber winning this. My bet is on Valverde with Nibali as the main challenger.

 

[Zardioni]

Christopher Froome.

 

[Bakhjulet]

Christopher Froome.

I think 272k is too long for the dawg.

 

[jonas3344]

Cancellara was the best climber 2009, I cannot see why he shouldn't be able to follow the best ones this year, especially after what he showed at the Vuelta. It's not enough steep to get rid of him (nor Sagan).

 

[Zardioni]

I think 272k is too long for the dawg.

Perhaps. By the way what does dawg mean in reference to Chris Froome.

 

[Marco Pantani]

I really doubt Cancellara will survive on this course. Spain and/or italy will probably put the hammer down on the 4k fiesole climb the last couple of laps to try to exahust or drop guys like Sagan and Gilbert. Can't see Canc surviving this.

And I can't see anyone riding up that climb faster than Cancellara.
The harder the big nations ride, the better it's for him. 272 kms. He loves it.
In fact, I can't see anyone to survive Canc.

 

[Bakhjulet]

I think the climb is just too long for some of the heavier guys. They will be on the climb for 8-10 minutes. 10 times. Here is a good video of the climb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDg4QDrfUcw

With first 2-2.5k at around 4%, the last 2k, with steeper gradient, will surely feel.

 

[The Hitch]

I think 272k is too long for the dawg.

What makes you think that?