2015 Richmond WCRR features cobbles!

[MatParker117]

Sagan vs Kwiatkowski ala Strade Bianchi is my wet dream.

More likely that Gerrans, Valverde and Mathews will be there as well though

It'll be a decent sized sprint particularly with GB, Germany, Italy, Slovakia and Australia all having numbers and looking to control things for Cav, Degenkolb, Viviani, Sagan and Matthews expect a group of around 40-60 to hit the base of the final climb.

If Italy ride for Viviani and GB ride for Cavendish then they will both get what they deserve - absolutely nothing. Would be amazed if either of those teams rode for a bunch finish; especially Italy.

It's not selective enough for Nibali or Geraint there's 11km of flat before that final section, it's a technical course and not particularly selective. On top of those nations the French and Norwegians have decent numbers plus Demare and Kristoff. I expect a decent sized group to hit the bottom of the final climb to the finish. With a sprint to follow if a team has a decent number of riders left.

 

[SafeBet]

If Italy ride for Viviani and GB ride for Cavendish then they will both get what they deserve - absolutely nothing. Would be amazed if either of those teams rode for a bunch finish; especially Italy.

Not gonna happen.

 

[BigMac]

That last 'climb' (a combination of two streets) is not easy. It could have a similar ending to Québec (not thinking of last year's), though the Grand Allée is itself uphill and doesn't have such a flat finale.

PS: Team GB will be completely oblivious just like in 2013.

 

[DFA123]

Sagan vs Kwiatkowski ala Strade Bianchi is my wet dream.

More likely that Gerrans, Valverde and Mathews will be there as well though

It'll be a decent sized sprint particularly with GB, Germany, Italy, Slovakia and Australia all having numbers and looking to control things for Cav, Degenkolb, Viviani, Sagan and Matthews expect a group of around 40-60 to hit the base of the final climb.

If Italy ride for Viviani and GB ride for Cavendish then they will both get what they deserve - absolutely nothing. Would be amazed if either of those teams rode for a bunch finish; especially Italy.

It's not selective enough for Nibali or Geraint there's 11km of flat before that final section, it's a technical course and not particularly selective. On top of those nations the French and Norwegians have decent numbers plus Demare and Kristoff. I expect a decent sized group to hit the bottom of the final climb to the finish. With a sprint to follow if a team has a decent number of riders left.

I wouldn't say it's impossible, because you can never rule out the tactics from some teams. But if some DS's think that riders like Cav, Viviani or Demare stand a chance on this course against Sagan, GVA, Matthews, Degenkolb, Kwiat, Stybar etc. they are in dreamland.

I think that there are enough teams who really need to break up the race early, that it could be quite a small group at the end. Spain and Italy especially should try to break it up; they need to turn the race into a series of really hard aerobic efforts; rather than soft pedalling around for 200km and making it all about 10 anaerobic efforts in the last few laps.

 

[42x16ss]

If Italy ride for Viviani and GB ride for Cavendish then they will both get what they deserve - absolutely nothing. Would be amazed if either of those teams rode for a bunch finish; especially Italy.

Not gonna happen.

GB will ride for Cavendish, unless they put a man in the break they don't know any other way race.

 

[Pricey_sky]

If Italy ride for Viviani and GB ride for Cavendish then they will both get what they deserve - absolutely nothing. Would be amazed if either of those teams rode for a bunch finish; especially Italy.

Not gonna happen.

GB will ride for Cavendish, unless they put a man in the break they don't know any other way race.

I think GB will give Thomas and the Yates twins some freedom near the end to go with attacks.

 

[42x16ss]

If Italy ride for Viviani and GB ride for Cavendish then they will both get what they deserve - absolutely nothing. Would be amazed if either of those teams rode for a bunch finish; especially Italy.

Not gonna happen.

GB will ride for Cavendish, unless they put a man in the break they don't know any other way race.

I think GB will give Thomas and the Yates twins some freedom near the end to go with attacks.

Only if Cavendish is dropped. I doubt that the Yates boys will ride anyway, GB will choose guys who can pull for Cav.

I'd like to be wrong though.

 

[matter]

There look to be a lot of breaks and turns in the course. Which would make the riders suffer plenty who are on the back side of the peloton if it's raced hard. Or am I overestimating the sharpness of those corners?

 

[Pricey_sky]

If Italy ride for Viviani and GB ride for Cavendish then they will both get what they deserve - absolutely nothing. Would be amazed if either of those teams rode for a bunch finish; especially Italy.

Not gonna happen.

GB will ride for Cavendish, unless they put a man in the break they don't know any other way race.

I think GB will give Thomas and the Yates twins some freedom near the end to go with attacks.

Only if Cavendish is dropped. I doubt that the Yates boys will ride anyway, GB will choose guys who can pull for Cav.

I'd like to be wrong though.

I'd be very suprised if the Yates' aren't picked. I can't see Cav making it to the final in the lead group anyway.

 

[MartinGT]

I don't think Thomas will be competitive. He cant be after the season he has had, he must need a break. Mind you he is riding for Sky....sorry I mean GB, or is it Sky/GB?

Cav, I cant see being up there either, he just doesnt have it anymore IMO.

I would love to see Gerro win it after what has been an awful season in terms of luck / injuries.

 

[observer]

Re:

I don't think Thomas will be competitive. He cant be after the season he has had, he must need a break. Mind you he is riding for Sky....sorry I mean GB, or is it Sky/GB?

Cav, I cant see being up there either, he just doesnt have it anymore IMO.

I would love to see Gerro win it after what has been an awful season in terms of luck / injuries.

I agree with Gerro, deserves some luck, but I think it might be Phinney winning solo.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

I don't think Thomas will be competitive. He cant be after the season he has had, he must need a break. Mind you he is riding for Sky....sorry I mean GB, or is it Sky/GB?

Cav, I cant see being up there either, he just doesnt have it anymore IMO.

I would love to see Gerro win it after what has been an awful season in terms of luck / injuries.

I believe Ellingworth said somewhere that Kennaugh would be GB's best pick for this course. Admittedly the field wasn't exactly full of GVAs and Stybars, but he put in some ride at the national road race.

 

[Vroome.exe]

Re: Re:

I don't think Thomas will be competitive. He cant be after the season he has had, he must need a break. Mind you he is riding for Sky....sorry I mean GB, or is it Sky/GB?

Cav, I cant see being up there either, he just doesnt have it anymore IMO.

I would love to see Gerro win it after what has been an awful season in terms of luck / injuries.

I believe Ellingworth said somewhere that Kennaugh would be GB's best pick for this course. Admittedly the field wasn't exactly full of GVAs and Stybars, but he put in some ride at the national road race.

By almost being beated by Cav on a climb? Kennaugh is just not good enough.

 

[MartinGT]

Re: Re:

I don't think Thomas will be competitive. He cant be after the season he has had, he must need a break. Mind you he is riding for Sky....sorry I mean GB, or is it Sky/GB?

Cav, I cant see being up there either, he just doesnt have it anymore IMO.

I would love to see Gerro win it after what has been an awful season in terms of luck / injuries.

I believe Ellingworth said somewhere that Kennaugh would be GB's best pick for this course. Admittedly the field wasn't exactly full of GVAs and Stybars, but he put in some ride at the national road race.

He's eating too many bacon sandwiches, the fat is going to his brain if he thinks little Pete is good enough.

 

[del1962]

GB will be riding for G and Cav

I expect G will finish ahead of Cav, he wont win though

 

[BigMac]

I expect Team GB to be a full DNF with three laps to go. Glad to be proven wrong.

 

[classicomano]

It will end up with a boring as *** sprint between Degenkolb, Matthews and Kristoff. I cant get hyped for this WC.

 

[BigMac]

I can live with Degenkolb as WC, but not with Matthews and certainly not Kristoff.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

I can live with Degenkolb as WC, but not with Matthews and certainly not Kristoff.

Really? Why not? I'd be happy with any of those three, they would all be worthy IMO. There are many more riders with a chance that wouldn't show the jersey as well as Matthews and Kristoff.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

I can live with Degenkolb as WC, but not with Matthews and certainly not Kristoff.

Really? Why not? I'd be happy with any of those three, they would all be worthy IMO. There are many more riders with a chance that wouldn't show the jersey as well as Matthews and Kristoff.

Probably because of their strong teams that control many race, I wouldn't have a problem with them winning, but for me the perfect storm would be Tommeke, that would be perfect.
Degenkolb winning would make him the rider of the year, 2 monuments and WC, that would be incredible.

 

[TommyPlus]

No Yates boys or Thomas in the GB squad.
Ian Stannard
Mark Cavendish
Ben Swift
Stephen Cummings
Andy Fenn
Luke Rowe
Scott Thwaites
Alex Dowsett
With one more to be added. Where is Kennaugh?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

No Yates boys or Thomas in the GB squad.
Ian Stannard
Mark Cavendish
Ben Swift
Stephen Cummings
Andy Fenn
Luke Rowe
Scott Thwaites
Alex Dowsett
With one more to be added. Where is Kennaugh?

Hilariously bad team from GB. Swifty is the best option here

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

No Yates boys or Thomas in the GB squad.
Ian Stannard
Mark Cavendish
Ben Swift
Stephen Cummings
Andy Fenn
Luke Rowe
Scott Thwaites
Alex Dowsett
With one more to be added. Where is Kennaugh?

Kennaugh's partner is due to give birth that week so he made himself not available.

 

[Poursuivant]

Does Nibali have a chance? He will be motivated

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

Does Nibali have a chance? He will be motivated

He needs to be at his absolute best and some bad weather conditions. And even in that case there are several riders with a much better chance.
I don't think Italy will ride for him anyway.