2014 UCI Road championship teams (Ponferrada, Spain)

[roundabout]

yeah we saw that in valkenburg

Valkenburg was an "easy" course that in good weather was always going to come down to the dash up the last Cauberg

 

[Shardi]

Australia has some interesting cards with the recent show of form from Gerrans and Matthews.

If there is conservative racing, Matthews might be there to contend the sprint.

If the spaniards step on the pedals to rid the sprinters, Gerrans will possibly still be there and he has beaten Valverde in several head to head sprints. If Matthews drops, then so will Degenkolb, Kristoff et al. and Gerrans might be the best/most clever sprinter remaining in the reduced group.

Hoping Pozzatos recent sprinting in the vuelta will get him on the team. Would be epic seeing him and cancellara attacking from far out.

Belgium.. Doubt boonen will climb well enough to be in contention here.
Gilbert to surge clear on the last 1km climb on the last lap, finishing alone in ponferrada.. (!!!!)

 

[Hugo Koblet]

While the route has resemblances with Varese, I'd say this one is slightly easier.

 

[LaFlorecita]

It will be completely different race then Vuelta stage 17.

Nowhere did I say it can be compared to stage 17.

I showed stage 17 as an example that 4000m of climbing =/= a super hard race

you have to look at the climbs. The climbs are pretty easy. People like Gerrans and Matthews will have no problem getting over them, Degenkolb and Bouhanni might manage to as well. It's up to the climbers to make the race hard and tire these riders out.

 

[greenedge]

So far I think Australia and Netherlands will have very strong teams, and should along with Belgium, Germany (Degenkolb in my mind should be construed as the top favourite but who knows), Spain and Italy be expected to shoulder much of the responsibility.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Saw a number of contenders yesterday.
*Australia will surely be in the mix: Hansen as a domestique, Matthews and Gerrans looking strong;
*Germany has Degenkolb, who impressed as he made it over a quite tough climb with the best, but can Germany have the team to support him?
*The Netherlands has Dumoulin, a man that oozes quality
* Belgian manager will have difficuly selecting a squad as there seem to be so many contenders for a place in the team, not only GVA, Gilbert and likely Boonen, but also Van Marcke, Wellens, Bakelants, Stuyven, Keikeleire.
* France lost an important rider yesterday, but still have Gallopin and Bouhanni
* Poland has Kwiatkowski, who we know can deal with the distance, the parcours and can sprint

I don't think the contenders for the Vuelta will be a factor here. Valverde's season has been so long, I cannot imagine he has the strength to win against all these fresher riders.
It'll be interesting how guys without a team will be doing (like Navardauskas).

I'd say that Germany has a decent team with Martin, Geschke, Nerz, Wegmann, Burghardt, Martens etc. to choose from. Degenkolb should have fine support.

 

[Sasquatch]

I'd say that Germany has a decent team with Martin, Geschke, Nerz, Wegmann, Burghardt, Martens etc. to choose from. Degenkolb should have fine support.

Yep pretty much.

Degenkolb is clearly going to be one of the form riders heading into the worlds and he will have a good team at his disposal.

 

[Afrank]

I am very afraid, that Gerrans will wheelsuck his way into the rainbow jersey.

Don't even think a thought so terrible.

 

[BigMac]

I seriously think that the rainbow jersey would fit well on Simon Gerrans. If Costa and Valverde fail, I will be cheering for him. In fact, I will be happy as long as a commonly disliked rider in this forum wins.

 

[Echoes]

In fact, I will be happy as long as a commonly disliked rider in this forum wins.

Exactly my thought again, lol.

I've never considered Gerrans a wheelsucker, by the way.

 

[SKSemtex]

Nowhere did I say it can be compared to stage 17.

I showed stage 17 as an example that 4000m of climbing =/= a super hard race

you have to look at the climbs. The climbs are pretty easy. People like Gerrans and Matthews will have no problem getting over them, Degenkolb and Bouhanni might manage to as well. It's up to the climbers to make the race hard and tire these riders out.

It is exactly what I wanted to say. The pace will be completly different, attacks will different. Even Florencia did not look that hard on paper but the weather and climbers made it superhard. And here it will be probably the same.
I just don´t see Bouhani making it to the end.

 

[sultanofhyd]

I must be blind but I don't even see 4 metres of vertical ascent in that stage 17 profile.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Does anyone have any information on TV coverage of the World Championships in the UK?

Think it was on the BBC red button service last year.

 

[Flamin]

9-men roster from mighty Belgium, easily one of the best squads:

Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Philippe Gilbert (BMC)
Johan Vansummeren (Garmin Sharp)
Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin)
Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol)
Greg Van Avermaet (BMC)
Tim Wellens (Lotto-Belisol)
Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Ben Hermans (BMC)

So no Stuyven and Leukemans (for the first time missing since 2009). Should have won the Druivenkoers to make it

Edit:
ITT:
Pieter Serry (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Kristof Vandewalle (Trek)

 

[Dazed and Confused]

snipped...

I don't think the contenders for the Vuelta will be a factor here. Valverde's season has been so long, I cannot imagine he has the strength to win against all these fresher riders.
It'll be interesting how guys without a team will be doing (like Navardauskas).

I have no doubt Valverde will be in the mix again. His season hasn't been any different from the times where he was in play at the worlds.

I also think J-Rod will step up (finally this season).

 

[Flamin]

La squadra azzurra:

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Giovanni Visconti (Movistar)
Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale)
Damiano Caruso (Cannondale)
Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha)
Manuel Quinziato (BMC Racing)

No surprises there I think? One helluva team to make the race hard.

 

[VanBsr]

9-men roster from mighty Belgium, easily one of the best squads:

Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Philippe Gilbert (BMC)
Johan Vansummeren (Garmin Sharp)
Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin)
Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol)
Greg Van Avermaet (BMC)
Tim Wellens (Lotto-Belisol)
Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Ben Hermans (BMC)

So no Stuyven and Leukemans (for the first time missing since 2009). Should have won the Druivenkoers to make it

Edit:
ITT:
Pieter Serry (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Kristof Vandewalle (Trek)

He is only 22.He should ride U23 race.

 

[Flamin]

He is only 22.He should ride U23 race.

He's not allowed to, because he rides for a WT-team.

 

[Jagartrott]

La squadra azzurra:

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Giovanni Visconti (Movistar)
Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale)
Damiano Caruso (Cannondale)
Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha)
Manuel Quinziato (BMC Racing)

No surprises there I think? One helluva team to make the race hard.

They have to if they want to win it.

 

[cineteq]

La squadra azzurra:

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Giovanni Visconti (Movistar)
Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale)
Damiano Caruso (Cannondale)
Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha)
Manuel Quinziato (BMC Racing)

No surprises there I think? One helluva team to make the race hard.

Spectacular team!

 

[trevim]

La squadra azzurra:

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Giovanni Visconti (Movistar)
Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale)
Damiano Caruso (Cannondale)
Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha)
Manuel Quinziato (BMC Racing)

No surprises there I think? One helluva team to make the race hard.

I wonder how Trentin shape is right now... He would be my bet on that team with Nibali free to go on kamikaze attacks.

 

[VanBsr]

Serghei Tvetcov,Oleg Berdos (both moldavians) and Andrei Nechita will represent Romania in the road race.

 

[murali]

Czech Republic Elite

Stybar, Vakoc , Barta ( no Kreuziger, no Konig)

Kreu, i can understand. but why no Konig?


I think trentin is doing well. Though i dont know whether he will be that useful in this profile.

 

[PirazziAttacksVino]

Serghei Tvetcov,Oleg Berdos (both moldavians) and Andrei Nechita will represent Romania in the road race.

Plus Edy Grosu is expected to race in U23

 

[Netserk]

9-men roster from mighty Belgium, easily one of the best squads:

Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Philippe Gilbert (BMC)
Johan Vansummeren (Garmin Sharp)
Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin)
Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol)
Greg Van Avermaet (BMC)
Tim Wellens (Lotto-Belisol)
Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Ben Hermans (BMC)

So no Stuyven and Leukemans (for the first time missing since 2009). Should have won the Druivenkoers to make it

Edit:
ITT:
Pieter Serry (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Kristof Vandewalle (Trek)

Too many egos I fear. I doubt they will work as a unit. Part of the charm with the Worlds I know.