2018 Innsbruck World Championship Men's Road Race - 259km

[mariposa]

Re:

Glad Valverde won, well deserved.

Glad Moscon was not on the podium.

I would normally agree but today I can't let any thought of Moscon spoil such a fantastic result :razz:
My best day ever watching a race. Managed to watch 6 times at the top of the circuit and then caught a tram back into Innsbruck to watch the finish on a big screen. Fantastic atmosphere and fantastic fans and organisation.

So happy for Alejandro!

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

[quote="Koronin
Then the question is, what is Valverde?

[/quote]

We'll still be trying to figure that out in 30 years.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

LOL. Once Don crossed the line, I instantly caught myself thinking that El Pistilero is about to come into the thread and start bi***ing about Valverde and how unfair this outcome is.

I'll also laugh at you when criminals hurt you. You must like criminals after all.

Your logic is... not like other people's.

Yup. Never has "butt hurt" been more appripo than in many of these posters comments. It is hilariously sad.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

Peter seems like a total ***, cant stay out of the spotlight

Lol, that's a bit harsh.

More than a bit when he was asked to present the medal. It's not like he just barged his on to the stage and invaded the presentation ceremony.

I think it's a totally fair criticism of Sagan, he's given more than enough ammunition in the past to validate that viewpoint, but on this particular occasion it wasn't him being his usual attention-seeking self but the UCI looking to ride the coattails of his popularity by finding a way to involve him. If this is the start of a style of presentation where the outgoing champion always presents the medal, that's one thing (it would have been an irrelevance the last two seasons anyway of course), but starting such a thing now just suggests to me that they want to milk his popularity for all it's worth, and since he's never going to say no to a bit of publicity, he's always going to be happy to play the game. For me, it kind of took away from the moment, partly due to my antipathy towards Sagan and partly because a lot of comments being about it meant that we were (as we are now) talking about Sagan rather than the man that actually won the race, but at the same time it wasn't toxic or harmful to the winner, it wasn't like Sagan had a Serena Williams moment and threatened to overshadow Valverde.

Just like the return of the TTT and the tame Pyrenees with Lance returning and a season and a half of flaming turd stage race routes with long TTs and tempo grinding mountains built for Wiggins, Sagan is the current cash cow and so they want to keep him involved everywhere they can, and given this route - set before he was the record breaker - meant he would almost certainly not have got involved in the finale on the road, they took the opportunity to find a way to get him into the ceremony.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

The best worlds, I've ever witnessed in my round 40 years watching. That includes the U23 race, the womens race, junior races and the elite mens race, the views, the dramas, all the things.
For the elite race I cannot sum up all my emotions.
Congrats to Austria!

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

Peter seems like a total ***, cant stay out of the spotlight

Lol, that's a bit harsh.

More than a bit when he was asked to present the medal. It's not like he just barged his on to the stage and invaded the presentation ceremony.

I think it's a totally fair criticism of Sagan, he's given more than enough ammunition in the past to validate that viewpoint, but on this particular occasion it wasn't him being his usual attention-seeking self but the UCI looking to ride the coattails of his popularity by finding a way to involve him. If this is the start of a style of presentation where the outgoing champion always presents the medal, that's one thing (it would have been an irrelevance the last two seasons anyway of course), but starting such a thing now just suggests to me that they want to milk his popularity for all it's worth, and since he's never going to say no to a bit of publicity, he's always going to be happy to play the game. For me, it kind of took away from the moment, partly due to my antipathy towards Sagan and partly because a lot of comments being about it meant that we were (as we are now) talking about Sagan rather than the man that actually won the race, but at the same time it wasn't toxic or harmful to the winner, it wasn't like Sagan had a Serena Williams moment and threatened to overshadow Valverde.

Just like the return of the TTT and the tame Pyrenees with Lance returning and a season and a half of flaming turd stage race routes with long TTs and tempo grinding mountains built for Wiggins, Sagan is the current cash cow and so they want to keep him involved everywhere they can, and given this route - set before he was the record breaker - meant he would almost certainly not have got involved in the finale on the road, they took the opportunity to find a way to get him into the ceremony.

One day I'll want to taunt you for some reason.
And when that day comes, however unfair it may be, I'll equate Sagan and Niewiadoma's personalities :lol:

Now get out of here before that "Polen Stronk!" troll does the same

 

[saganftw]

funny thing is if sagan refused to present the medal to valverde people would call him childish,petty etc.

you know you would

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re:

funny thing is if sagan refused to present the medal to valverde people would call him childish,petty etc.

you know you would

If he'd gone on the stage and then done that, then sure, because that would have been exactly the kind of thing I mean when I say a Serena Williams moment, since in the aftermath of that match nobody was talking about Naomi Osaka and her big moment was ruined; had Sagan done something like that, he absolutely would have been making it all about him. But he didn't. However, if he'd declined the UCI's request, then we wouldn't be calling him childish or petty because we'd probably never have heard about it.

I'm not actually criticising Sagan for doing it, after all there's no reason for him not to. I'm saying that I think the UCI is milking him and that was their reason for asking him in the first place.

 

[KyoGrey]

Re: Re:

Sagan with Valverde felt a little bit mixed way.

If it was as to play fiefdom and homage to Valverde, it's OK.

If it is to share spotlight or to give the rainbow jersey in a patronising way, it is NOT OK.

As much as Sagan is all-time great and the star of the moment in cycling, he is not as great as Valverde. And there is a good chance that he will never be as great overall.

It would had made much more sense if it had been the other way in 2015, for an instance.

The not as great as Valverde really depends on the person. Go ask the clinic what they think about that.

Hmm, Valverde has a greater story and palmarés than Sagan as of today when his career is nearing his end.

As for the butthurt Clinic remark you make, I don't really know what to say...I normally find it hard with so many rage and argumentative falacy in that section.

All pro riders have their medical preparation (yes, Sagan also, that doesn't make him less great, I'm a big fan of him also). BTW, as do pro footballers, as do pro tennis players or as do pro basketball players.

In pro cycling there can be a little bit of distortion in preparations or permissiveness between teams at a different points of time, which can make things unfair or raise suspictions from that perspective (USP/Sky most recently, but who can forget Gewiss).

But Valverde? What are we talking about in here? :lol:

He was a superchampion before pro, a superchampion in the early 2000's, in the late 2000s, in the early 2010's and is now in the late 2010's.

Unzué once said: "He is the best with and the best without" ("Es el mejor con y sin").

Relax, and just recognise and enjoy greatness.

 

[Angliru]

Re:

Glorified hill climb championships. Like one of those Vuelta stages, just a bit longer. Disappointed but not surprised

?????????????

 

[Kwibus]

Re: 2018 Innsbruck World Championship Men's Road Race - 259k

Pfff please, this whining about Sagan is such BS. He did it very well. Not drawing the attention toward himself. He just did the job of congratulating the riders and giving the jersey to Valverde. All in a very decent respectful way.

Some people must find negativity in everything.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Glorified hill climb championships. Like one of those Vuelta stages, just a bit longer. Disappointed but not surprised

?????????????

Give me 5 reasons why the inclusion of that climb improved that race?

 

[Angliru]

Re: 2018 Innsbruck World Championship Men's Road Race - 259k

I just got to finish watching the race.....OMG Bala, my Bala!!! 38 years old, simply amazing! Wow Just Wow!!!!

Were you as stressed as I was? I was pacing back and forth the final 3k like a crazy person. My mom's in town visiting and she just couldn't understand why I was so tense. "Do you know him? Is that someone you race against?" :lol:

I was pacing all over the room screaming Go Bala for the final 3km and my winning salute was as big as his. And Yes I Cried...... I just finished watching the post race ceremonies and dreaming of Bala riding in the Rainbow all next season . Wow he finally made it!!!! A true testament to courage and longevity. A Grande Champion!

Also my thoughts went to Purito and wondered how he was handling it... Poor Purito!

I came home from the grocery store, looked at the time, opened my tablet, went to the Cycling News home page to find out the result....and upon seeing it immediately thrust my fists in the air repeatedly, whispering "YES! YES! YES!" Didn't want to startle the household!

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Glorified hill climb championships. Like one of those Vuelta stages, just a bit longer. Disappointed but not surprised

?????????????

genuinely - what was the difference between today and about 4 stages of the Vuelta last year? There was some excitement with 60 to go but there were 70 riders into the final climb to Igls. People were reserving energy and riding conservatively for the final, brutal climb - the position of which hindered the race and was included for little else but some media attention. It was a decent race, and a better WC than past years, but not amazing at all. At the end of the day it was more or less a 3km race with a 250km prelude and 7km epilogue. Some of it was pretty interesting and exciting, and in the end it was a solid race, but nothing spectacular or unexpected at all. Good for an average WC, but disappointing when you consider the potential - even the potential of using those climbs in a slightly different order.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Glorified hill climb championships. Like one of those Vuelta stages, just a bit longer. Disappointed but not surprised

?????????????

genuinely - what was the difference between today and about 4 stages of the Vuelta last year? There was some excitement with 60 to go but there were 70 riders into the final climb to Igls. People were reserving energy and riding conservatively for the final, brutal climb - the position of which hindered the race and was included for little else but some media attention. It was a decent race, and a better WC than past years, but not amazing at all. At the end of the day it was more or less a 3km race with a 250km prelude and 7km epilogue. Some of it was pretty interesting and exciting, and in the end it was a solid race, but nothing spectacular or unexpected at all. Good for an average WC, but disappointing when you consider the potential - even the potential of using those climbs in a slightly different order.

You just have to look at the other road races this championship to see the potential.

 

[RedheadDane]

If this is the start of a style of presentation where the outgoing champion always presents the medal, that's one thing (it would have been an irrelevance the last two seasons anyway of course)

Would have looked rather interesting though. Especially the part where Sagan was both standing on the podium, and appearing onto the podium to give himself the medal.

And I think whoever becomes World Champion next year would be pretty happy to have Valverde give him his medal.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

Glad Valverde won, well deserved.

Glad Moscon was not on the podium.

I would normally agree but today I can't let any thought of Moscon spoil such a fantastic result :razz:
My best day ever watching a race. Managed to watch 6 times at the top of the circuit and then caught a tram back into Innsbruck to watch the finish on a big screen. Fantastic atmosphere and fantastic fans and organisation.

So happy for Alejandro!

Hope you have photos to share.

 

[RedheadDane]

Another thing;
Says something about the route when the new World Champion is so light the soigneur can literally lift him onto his shoulder and walk off with him.
Didn't see anyone carry around with Sagan like that!

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

What I took out of the race is Dumoulin is an under-rated climber by the general cycling community, the cycling media and possibly by TD himself.

He has showed again and again that he can climb. His last three grand tours have proved that. Why would he be underrated ? He just doesn't have the uphill kick that someone like Valverde has or Yates.

How many times do you hear or read that TD has to make big gains in the ITT because he will lose time in the mountains - The fact is TD loses little time in the mountains and on a variety of gradients.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: 2018 Innsbruck World Championship Men's Road Race - 259k

Pfff please, this whining about Sagan is such BS. He did it very well. Not drawing the attention toward himself. He just did the job of congratulating the riders and giving the jersey to Valverde. All in a very decent respectful way.

Some people must find negativity in everything.

If it's got to the point where I can't even say what I was saying up there without it being "whining" and "BS", you may as well ban me now. Talk about whitewashing - I don't think I was even critical of him.

 

[Cookster15]

Re: Re:

Sagan with Valverde felt a little bit mixed way.

If it was as to play fiefdom and homage to Valverde, it's OK.

If it is to share spotlight or to give the rainbow jersey in a patronising way, it is NOT OK.

As much as Sagan is all-time great and the star of the moment in cycling, he is not as great as Valverde. And there is a good chance that he will never be as great overall.

It would had made much more sense if it had been the other way in 2015, for an instance.

The not as great as Valverde really depends on the person. Go ask the clinic what they think about that.

Hmm, Valverde has a greater story and palmarés than Sagan as of today when his career is nearing his end.

As for the butthurt Clinic remark you make, I don't really know what to say...I normally find it hard with so many rage and argumentative falacy in that section.

All pro riders have their medical preparation (yes, Sagan also, that doesn't make him less great, I'm a big fan of him also). BTW, as do pro footballers, as do pro tennis players or as do pro basketball players.

In pro cycling there can be a little bit of distortion in preparations or permissiveness between teams at a different points of time, which can make things unfair or raise suspictions from that perspective (USP/Sky most recently, but who can forget Gewiss).

But Valverde? What are we talking about in here? :lol:

He was a superchampion before pro, a superchampion in the early 2000's, in the late 2000s, in the early 2010's and is now in the late 2010's.

Unzué once said: "He is the best with and the best without" ("Es el mejor con y sin").

Relax, and just recognise and enjoy greatness.

Thanks for your post, hindsight, for me, this is spot on. It took me years to warm to Valverde. In fact I probably only began to recognise and accept his talent in the last 12 months! But good for him, he fully deserves today and I am happy for him to finally get that rainbow jersey after so many near misses. Chapeau!

 

[Amazinmets87]

Don't fans realize that the distance of the race effects the result? Take Alaphilippe for example. If today's race is 165km with an identical final 40kms I fully expect him to be in the lead group.

I understand that long, mainly uneventful races don't make for riveting viewing, but lest we forget this is an endurance sport.

 

[delgado]

Re:

Uff, finally made it up the hill. **** me, i couldn't push a bike up there. Also had to hike through the woods because police closed the road.

I'm not really following the race, but fantastic experience. I'm so jealous of innsbruck. Vienna could host an amazing (hilly cobbled!) WC too.

and we need to hurry, too, because the cobbles are being eaten up, on both sides of the Kahlenberg!

 

[SKSemtex]

Re: 2018 Innsbruck World Championship Men's Road Race - 259k

It the end of the race I was cheering for Bardet as the guy showed so many time the attacking spirit and with his sprint, he will not have too man opportunities to win.
But now I am very happy. I was almost crying with him during that interview.

It was in the middle of Vuelta when I wrote on this forum that he is the best rider of this generation. This title will give him the status he deserved.

I like and respect Froome and Contador, Boonen, Cancellara but hey, this guy is always with the best in GTs and with the best in one-day races. If Froome wins at least 2-3 hard one-day races I might reconsider it. But I do not like this trend that TDF winners do not ride classics. Real cycling fans want them to compete with others in spring.

Bala will be great in the rainbow.

 

[Flamin]

I just read the post-race comments from the Belgians. They had the plan to anticipate but when the finale started, the tempo never dropped for a moment and was generally too high to make something happen. A tough race of attrition, which was obvious from the images. And of course guys like Wellens and Benoot just didn't have the legs.