2015 National Championships Discussion

[RedheadDane]

I keep thinking the Danish championships is in Rønne, as opposed to Rønde.
And I know Djursland is rather hilly, but it's sure one of those profiles where at first you go "Wow! Then you realise that the highest climb is just 80 metres..."
Personally I'm hoping a non WT-rider guy takes it, nok because I've got anything against the WT-riders but just because I think it's funny when the "underdogs" take it. Besides, except for 2007 (A. Rasmussen) and 2012 (Lander) the elite men's RR champion has been a CSC/Saxo/Tinkoff rider every year since 2005.

To anyone unfamiliar with Danish geography; Rønde is a town on Djursland - the "nose" of Jutland - while Rønne is the main town on Bornholm - the rocky Island underneath Sweden.
One day they should have a Danish nat champ on Bornholm.

 

[robin440]

Spain:

nice little uphill sprint.

Lobato, valverde...

 

[robin440]

Ireland course:

 

[Sasquatch]

Geez Spain's isn't tough. Definitely Lobato. Movistar will work all day for him. If he falters, then Rojas.

Germany's will be too tough for Degenkolb I think.

 

[robin440]

Geez Spain's isn't tough. Definitely Lobato. Movistar will work all day for him. If he falters, then Rojas.

Germany's will be too tough for Degenkolb I think.

yeah, i also thought that the german course could be a bit to tough for degenkolb, but you never know.
Hopefully Tony martin takes it!

 

[aarnold517]

I'm just rooting for as many OPQS/FDJ/Cannondale, etc. wins as possible and as few movistar/astana, etc wins as possible so we can get some good champs jerseys in the peloton instead of some of those abominations

 

[robin440]

BMC!!!!

 

[Catwhoorg]

G pulls out of the UK Nationals.

~ 20 mins ago on his official FB feed. I expect the news organisations will pick it up soon enough.

That throws the field a bit more open, thought he would be the favorite.

 

[Jagartrott]

I like that the Y-axis starts at -300 m.

 

[Velolover2]

We need a list of names confirmed for the Championships. It's kinda hard to find out who will be there.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Here's a video showing the Danish route.

https://youtu.be/8EeciqGZsFc

There is some speculation whether it leaves the sprinters with winning chances or not. After all, there are 12.2 vertical meters per kilometer. That's the same as in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

More Danish climbs here:
http://danskebjerge.dk/article-1-10.htm

 

[postmanhat]

Re:

G pulls out of the UK Nationals.

~ 20 mins ago on his official FB feed. I expect the news organisations will pick it up soon enough.

That throws the field a bit more open, thought he would be the favorite.

Good news in a way, as he probably would have won it fairly easily. Kennaugh won by a distance on this crit course a couple of years ago, though that was only against domestic team riders. Never seen Simon Yates ride on cobbles?

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Danish Championships: 13.9 km per lap, 15 laps. Lap profile:

Elevation gain is 171 m per lap (2565 m in total).

Map and details

A shame the finish line isn't placed on the top of the Rønde main street. The "climb" is much steeper in the last part.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

Which names are up for racing the NC?

Valverde for Spain?
Nibali for Italy?
Pinot for France?

I hope the big nations have hilly courses.

Pinot said he wouldn't do the NC, which would be a 3-day trip interfering with his TdF prep. IMO, he saw the course and knew it would be a waste of time. Too flat. Bouhani/Demare big favorites...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

That "uphill sprint" in Cáceres isn't really much of one, not much more than false flat. Movistar's strength in numbers means they either win this by late solo or duo escape or, if that's chased down, Lobato. No way he gets dropped on this unless he's on abysmal form.

The Polish one is also a not-much-of-an-uphill sprint, more a drag. But it does mean it's not a sprint course, though will be interested to see what kind of interest Kwiatkowski races this with.

Diego Ulissi will be Italian champion, though part of me is hoping for Cunego because it would be so out of left field.

 

[togo95]

The czech and slovak champs will consist of 10 laps of this. Should be fairly easy to organise chase even though in NC it's not always that easy. The hills on the course are: 0.5 km at 7%, 1 km at 5% and 1 km at 4% to the line. Notable starters include Sagan, Štybar (he might not start in the end though), Kreuziger, Vakoč, König and Bárta.

 

[BigMac]

Karel Hnik 4 laps away.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Stybar not starting? Why?

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

That "uphill sprint" in Cáceres isn't really much of one, not much more than false flat. Movistar's strength in numbers means they either win this by late solo or duo escape or, if that's chased down, Lobato. No way he gets dropped on this unless he's on abysmal form.

The Polish one is also a not-much-of-an-uphill sprint, more a drag. But it does mean it's not a sprint course, though will be interested to see what kind of interest Kwiatkowski races this with.

Diego Ulissi will be Italian champion, though part of me is hoping for Cunego because it would be so out of left field.

I'm pretty sure Nibali will be motivated to win it. Does Ulissi have the climbing form to win it? He didn't look that good in the Tour of Slovenia, but this climb suits him more. It would be nice to see an Italian WT team with the jersey, maybe they will make it nice like the Oliviera one.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

The czech and slovak champs will consist of 10 laps of this. Should be fairly easy to organise chase even though in NC it's not always that easy. The hills on the course are: 0.5 km at 7%, 1 km at 5% and 1 km at 4% to the line. Notable starters include Sagan, Štybar (he might not start in the end though), Kreuziger, Vakoč, König and Bárta.

(Picture removed)

I just love the fact that the Czech and Slovaks champs is the same race.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

The czech and slovak champs will consist of 10 laps of this. Should be fairly easy to organise chase even though in NC it's not always that easy. The hills on the course are: 0.5 km at 7%, 1 km at 5% and 1 km at 4% to the line. Notable starters include Sagan, Štybar (he might not start in the end though), Kreuziger, Vakoč, König and Bárta.

(Picture removed)

I just love the fact that the Czech and Slovaks champs is the same race.

Its really nice and entertaining, last year I was present and it was fun with all those big names in one race.Thi year its great esp for Saxo guys

If Stybie is not riding then Vakoc FTW

btw great organised thread!

 

[Taxus4a]

Spain:

nice little uphill sprint.

Lobato, valverde...

That is the ITT, the route is:

http://zonarfec.com/documentos/carreras/3039/doc_556d9f6fb036e3.49598606_track.pdf

It is not a hard circuit, I talked with a man that is going to ride the elite and he told me is always with the big chainwheel. ayway is not so flat and the finish is in maybe the hardest climb.

Good for Valverde, but as well for others riders as Lobato, Barbero,.. it will be a fight betwen Movistar and Caja Rural. Wind could be a factor, and of course hot.

 

[robin440]

VALVERDE!!!!!!

 

[King Boonen]

Stannard for the UK title I think.

 

[Velolover2]

Are the Katusha boys still not participating in the Spanish Championships? I'd love to see Dani race it.

I could imagine that he has some anger inside him that needs to get out (kicked out of the Tour team)..