2013 World Championships Firenze. Who will win?

[The Hitch]

Yes, Spain.
Valverde, Rodriguez, Sanchez, Freire, Contador and, on the other side, Gilbert out of form entire season.
You don't agree? The course didn't suite them?

That's like saying look at gb team. Wiggins, froome, cav stannard jtl.

spain could have fielded an equally good team in 2011, why didn't they win that? Also why didn't they win the Orr? Seeing as they had such a strong team and that.

I mean come on that course as a gt stage could have been won by cav. For every 1k of climbing there was 10k of flat. Wtf are all those Spanish climbers supposed to do?

And what you say about Gilbert makes no sense. He was off form in April so what.this was september. He had just won 2 stages of the vuelta and was clearly peaking for this race.

Yet you list samu who was coming off a double injury and Contador who showed in the tt he had no chance.

 

[marco.t]

That's like saying look at gb team. Wiggins, froome, cav stannard jtl.

spain could have fielded an equally good team in 2011, why didn't they win that? Also why didn't they win the Orr? Seeing as they had such a strong team and that.

I mean come on that course as a gt stage could have been won by cav. For every 1k of climbing there was 10k of flat. Wtf are all those Spanish climbers supposed to do?

And what you say about Gilbert makes no sense. He was off form in April so what.this was september. He had just won 2 stages of the vuelta and was clearly peaking for this race.

Yet you list samu who was coming off a double injury and Contador who showed in the tt he had no chance.

No, it's not like saying "look at GB team...". All the Spaniards have certain pedigree on that kind of course, while GB... Well, you can choose how you'll grade them.
Samu and Contador were better than good tactical options. Contador fulfilled his role in the break during penultimate lap, and when you put someone like Samu in the break rest of the field won't be relaxed. Add Freire for the sprint, Valverde and Rodriguez, and you have a team with all options covered. They didn't have to take a turn at the front for entire race. Very comfortable position in my book, contrary to the Belgians who had to create a deceptive atmosphere of multiple leadership before the race and bluff with Boonen or Van Avermaet, while everybody knew that Gilbert will attack on last passage over Cauberg.
And that's the reason why I think that they were overwhelming favorites before the race. What has happened during the race is just confirmation that they don't know how to exploit their strengths.

 

[The Hitch]

What did belgium do lol?

Boonen, Wtf, exactly who fell for that?

Gilbert was the overwhelming favourite. Everyone knew it. Saying boonen was potential team leader was about as effective as a tactic as sticking pins into a voodoo doll.

not that pretending to have 3 leaders makes any difference if all those leaders are waiting for the final k anyway.

Aside from these little slightly perplexing mistakes such as the above, or saying Gilbert was off form but Sanchez on it, your posts and analysis contain the reccuring mistake of thinking the course was a lot harder than it was.
There were hills, enough to drop the sprinters as it was a 1 day race but they were hardly muur d huy and they were seperated by lots of flat. Degenkolb narrowly missed the podium ffs. There was never a point from km 0 to km 260 or whatever at which a final climb showdown did not look a dead cert.

On such a course
Samu ( you again neglect to mention he was coming off an injury even though you curiously make a big deal of Gilbert's underpefromance half a year earlier) or Contador were no more a tactical weapon for spain than cunego and scarponi are tactical weapons for pozzatto in Flanders. Let's not forget that when Contador did get into the break it was flecha (as good a flat rider as spain have produced in recent years) I think, who did all the work.

 

[marco.t]

What did belgium do lol?

You want to say that there wasn't talk about Boonen like a leader?
Here you are.
And what do you think the purpose of that talk was?

Boonen, Wtf, exactly who fell for that? The only person who thought boonen had a chance was forum madman el p and he was laughed off the forums.

That's exactly what I'm saying

...while everybody knew that Gilbert will attack on last passage over Cauberg

Gilbert was the overwhelming favourite. Everyone knew it. Saying boonen was potential team leader was about as effective as a tactic as sticking pins into a voodoo doll.

not that pretending to have 3 leaders makes any difference if all those leaders are waiting for the final k anyway.

Obviously, Belgians thought they could benefit from talking about multiple leadership.

Aside from these little slightly perplexing mistakes such as the above, or saying Gilbert was off form but Sanchez on it, your posts and analysis contain the reccuring mistake of thinking the course was a lot harder than it was.

There are no mistakes. It's just you who's interpreting my words falsely, and I've pointed it out.
The course was suitable to Spaniards. Their results in AGR confirm that.

There were hills, enough to drop the sprinters as it was a 1 day race but they were hardly muur d huy and they were seperated by lots of flat. Degenkolb narrowly missed the podium ffs. There was never a point from km 0 to km 260 or whatever at which a final climb showdown did not look a dead cert.

On such a course
Samu ( you again neglect to mention he was coming off an injury even though you curiously make a big deal of Gilbert's underpefromance half a year earlier) or Contador were no more a tactical weapon for spain than cunego and scarponi are tactical weapons for pozzatto in Flanders. Let's not forget that when Contador did get into the break it was flecha (as good a flat rider as spain have produced in recent years) I think, who did all the work.

Although you're saying Samu was coming from injury, you're forgetting that he still was selected for the Worlds, so he wasn't in such a bad shape after all. It was estimated that he can do what the team needs.

If you want to discuss, read carefully and don't falsify my words. It's stupid.

 

[RiccoDinko]

Andy Schleck, LMAO!

 

[Izzy eviel]

Nibali, he's due a bad season.

 

[Koba80]

While he's not my choice, how have we gone this far without a single mention (poll aside) of Froome?

 

[42x16ss]

Because it's a one day race and it has descents.

 

[42x16ss]

This race looks very open indeed, if Cance gets his 08-09 climbing legs back it could be all over but there are a few wild cards IMO.

Visconti could troll this one if picked, his Giro form suggests he could be capable. Then there's the Aus contingent - Evans (if picked),Porte (if picked), Gerrans or Clarke can put in a strong showing. Luca Paolini, Ryder Hesjedal, Lars Petter Nordhaug, Pierre Rolland or Roman Kreuziger could do something too.

 

[Red Rick]

The way things are going, Jrod will finish exactly one spot behind Valverde

 

[SafeBet]

I had Moreno down as a domestique but looks like hell be as deadly as anyone.

He can't hold this form for forever.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Because it's a one day race and it has descents.

When has Froome shown that he can't handle descents?

 

[42x16ss]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I remember someone carrying on during the TdF "Waahh! Why was Contador attacking on the descents? It's dangerous! Waahh! Contador and Kreuziger should know better, Waah waah waah."

And it wasnt a Spanish speaker.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I remember someone carrying on during the TdF "Waahh! Why was Contador attacking on the descents? It's dangerous! Waahh! Contador and Kreuziger should know better, Waah waah waah."

And it wasnt a Spanish speaker.

Well, that was because Contador almost took down Froome on the descent. If anything, Froome showed better descending skills than Contador in this year's Tour.

 

[murali]

Cancellara is climbing very well in this vuelta.

There is no sign of intend in vuelta by the colombians so far.

Jrod and valverde are fighting too hard in vuelta.

Winner is going to be someone who peaks in the 3rd week of vuelta.

i voted for the colombians, btw.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Well, that was because Contador almost took down Froome on the descent. If anything, Froome showed better descending skills than Contador in this year's Tour.

He also showed that he's insecure and scared.

 

[The Hitch]

You want to say that there wasn't talk about Boonen like a leader?
Here you are.
And what do you think the purpose of that talk was?


That's exactly what I'm saying



Obviously, Belgians thought they could benefit from talking about multiple leadership.

Lol this is some seriously Hillarious logic.

Someone said boonen could win ergo Belgium didn't think Gilbert could win ergo Gilbert was not a favourite.

It dpesnt matter 1 bit whether people said boonen could win or not. That's not how cycling works.

Gilbert was the favourite. he had won 2 of the last 3 amstel golds. He had the 2 fastest ever recorded times up the cauberg. He was the on form rider going into the race.

by your logic Contador must have been a massive underdog going into the 2009 tour right? Because people were talking up Armstrong. That can only mean there were serious doubts about his ability to win, right. Because what people say in the press about other riders is at the end of the day infinately more important than nonesence like palmares and form.

 

[Pulpstar]

What would be really funny is a Chris Horner win !

 

[greenedge]

This race looks very open indeed, if Cance gets his 08-09 climbing legs back it could be all over but there are a few wild cards IMO.

Visconti could troll this one if picked, his Giro form suggests he could be capable. Then there's the Aus contingent - Evans (if picked),Porte (if picked), Gerrans or Clarke can put in a strong showing. Luca Paolini, Ryder Hesjedal, Lars Petter Nordhaug, Pierre Rolland or Roman Kreuziger could do something too.

Aussie Jingoism/ fighting spirit
Him and Stybar

 

[Gugashwill]

Lol this is some seriously Hillarious logic.

Someone said boonen could win ergo Belgium didn't think Gilbert could win ergo Gilbert was not a favourite.

It dpesnt matter 1 bit whether people said boonen could win or not. That's not how cycling works.

Gilbert was the favourite. he had won 2 of the last 3 amstel golds. He had the 2 fastest ever recorded times up the cauberg. He was the on form rider going into the race.

by your logic Contador must have been a massive underdog going into the 2009 tour right? Because people were talking up Armstrong. That can only mean there were serious doubts about his ability to win, right. Because what people say in the press about other riders is at the end of the day infinately more important than nonesence like palmares and form.

That's the way, hitsh!
Don't let the newbie make you look ignorant and win the discussion despite your colossal post count and forum reputation.
Do everything you can. Twist his words, try to ridicule him, belittle his knowledge and logic... A newbie can't and mustn't argue with the doyen of the board.

 

[spalco]

I'm hoping for Spartacus, but no idea who'll win this, looks like a very open race to me. I picked Froome just because.

 

[movingtarget]

Moreno, Cancellara or Gerrans ? No overwhelming favourite like last year. It's such a hard race to win. I don't think Froome can win and I have my doubts about Nibali and Gilbert. Should be a great race.

 

[The Hitch]

That's the way, hitsh!
Don't let the newbie make you look ignorant and win the discussion despite your colossal post count and forum reputation.
Do everything you can. Twist his words, try to ridicule him, belittle his knowledge and logic... A newbie can't and mustn't argue with the doyen of the board.

Oh look, the forum Taliban have decided to show themselves again. Hi guys.

Ill confess, that post didn't annoy me quite as much as seems to have been intended. But since I'm feeling nice today, I'll give you a chance. If you can convincingly explain to me what the importance of post count is in the discussion between myself and our friend Marco.t i promise to go an hour without any impure thoughts.

Deal?

 

[Gugashwill]

Oh look, the forum Taliban have decided to show themselves again. Hi guys.

Ill confess, that post didn't annoy me quite as much as seems to have been intended. But since I'm feeling nice today, I'll give you a chance. If you can convincingly explain to me what the importance of post count is in the discussion between myself and our friend Marco.t i promise to go an hour without any impure thoughts.

Deal?

Oh, you're so generous and graceful, hitsh.
Do I have to address you and ask for your permission every time from now on if I want to write something here?

 

[Panda Claws]

That's the way, hitsh!
Don't let the newbie make you look ignorant and win the discussion despite your colossal post count and forum reputation.
Do everything you can. Twist his words, try to ridicule him, belittle his knowledge and logic... A newbie can't and mustn't argue with the doyen of the board.

Are you really going to play the Newbie card and expect anyone here to take your seriously?