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

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Jul 16, 2010
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LaFlorecita said:
Bit disappointed Bardet and Woods were happy to ride to the finish with Valverde

They always ride for second or third place, so why are you surprised? 99% of cyclists are afraid to ride for victory.
 
Sep 6, 2016
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Was anyone else listening to the uci commentary? I found it somewhat annoying that they kept talking about Dumoulin. Why would Valverde have been afraid of letting Tom, who was riding full gas and doesn’t have a great sprint, into the finale?
 
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Escarabajo said:
I am happy for Valverde. Finally.

This is not the time to start discussing clinic stuff. Everyone knew the players and the favorites.

Valverde played it very well. So tactics was very good. Spanish team played as a team very well.

This was too much for Ala as expected TBH. Same for Kwiat.

Maybe Roglic had some bad luck but most of the others had their chances. Sagan lived up to his Vuelta form. Nibali tried hard. Yates brothers never had the legs. It was obvious from a long way out that Spain was only riding for one person.
 
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movingtarget said:
Red Rick said:
franic said:
DFA123 said:
Red Rick said:
stunning

'do nothing till sprint'

Obviously
Absolute bs. He was part of the most dangerous move on the climb. Worked hard on the descent and the flat to make sure Alaphilippe had no chance of getting back on. Allowing him to lead the final 2km, confident that he could lead the sprint out and still win.

It was tactically perfect.
99.9% agree. Maybe Bardet could have gone harder if he knew Alaphilippe wasn’t in shape
So heroic to do 2 half arsed pulls to keep back a rider you recked so badly he wouldn't win a sprint in a million years.

Woods and Bardet didn't ride to win. They rode to medal.

The were never going to win a sprint against Valverde or drop him after the climb so what more could they do ?
Attack over the top of him and force a response, even if you don't get away, you take something out of your opponent for a sprint, or reduce the number of riders in the sprint.

See the Roubaix 2016 finale - that was a masterclass from Hayman and Boonen.

As for Valverde, he only did what his opponents let him, and the minimum he needed to. Not his fault.
 
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Durden93 said:
Was anyone else listening to the uci commentary? I found it somewhat annoying that they kept talking about Dumoulin. Why would Valverde have been afraid of letting Tom, who was riding full gas and doesn’t have a great sprint, into the finale?

They meant that if Dumoulin could catch them, he could do it at speed, going right by when they weren't looking and steal a lead. Think Lombardia 2014.
 
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Durden93 said:
Was anyone else listening to the uci commentary? I found it somewhat annoying that they kept talking about Dumoulin. Why would Valverde have been afraid of letting Tom, who was riding full gas and doesn’t have a great sprint, into the finale?
He just added another variable. If he'd come back sooner, more tactics could have come into play.
 
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Velolover2 said:
It's odd how it's always the same riders who get the hate in here: Froome, Valverde, Matthews, Gerrans, Porte..

While Nibali, Sagan, GVA, Yates bros, Gilbert, Contador are praised as saints.

It's getting tiresome, guys

Is Porte hated?

Froome is understandable as the "head" of the Sky train. Rest of those guys are some of the most legendary wheelsuckers in cycling and some of us just don't like that kind of riders.