2019 UCI Road World Championships Men's Road Race : 284.5km

[Tricycle Rider]

Everyone stay to the left if you're having a mechanical, apparently.

 

[Koronin]

I agree this helps Stybar. I actually think this hurts Alaphilippe, but we have no idea what kind of form he has.

 

[Pantani_lives]

It's not even raining. Incredible incompetence of the UCI once again. Cutting the distance and the two hardest climbs is in the advantage of MvdP, Sagan and Matthews. It's a big disadvantage for climbers like Alaphilippe and Fuglsang.

 

[hayneplane]

It's not even raining. Incredible incompetence of the UCI once again. Cutting the distance and the two hardest climbs is in the advantage of MvdP, Sagan and Matthews. It's a big disadvantage for climbers like Alaphilippe and Fuglsang.

I wish they had not altered the course but the evidence of my own eyes looking out of the bedroom window in the centre of Harrogate says that it is currently raining albeit steady rather than torrential is the current state of the rain.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Apparently there is a flood on one of the climbs that got cut and the whole road is under water. If that is true I can understand why they had to act, but the whole thing looks pretty improvised, Vegni would be proud of something like this.
Edit:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1178201590374768640

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/nathanlufclamb/status/1178201590374768640/photo/1

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It's not even raining. Incredible incompetence of the UCI once again. Cutting the distance and the two hardest climbs is in the advantage of MvdP, Sagan and Matthews. It's a big disadvantage for climbers like Alaphilippe and Fuglsang.

Tbh I think it's in the disadvantage of Van der Poel and Sagan. Compared to guys like Bennett and Ackermann

 

[Korki65]

I wish they had not altered the course but the evidence of my own eyes looking out of the bedroom window in the centre of Harrogate says that it is currently raining albeit steady rather than torrential is the current state of the rain.

Photos on Twitter show road completely flooded at base of Buttertubs climb and it is absolutely torrential rain in Ilkley just now

 

[SafeBet]

Cassani to RAI: "luckily I didn't bring any climber, the new route looks better for us. Trentin is the captain, Colbrelli is in great shape."

 

[RedheadDane]

So, given the conditions I'm guessing the "pool boys" will do pretty well.

And, come on! It wasn't last minute. They hadn't started. They weren't even on the startline.

 

[Leinster]

I wish they had not altered the course but the evidence of my own eyes looking out of the bedroom window in the centre of Harrogate says that it is currently raining albeit steady rather than torrential is the current state of the rain.

The forecast posted on the previous page showed the heaviest rain at 10am, so exactly when they’d be going up the first 2 big climbs, and with the runoff accumulating just in time to flood as they go over the 3rd. Better that they be proactive and avoid a repeat of the TdF.

But yeah, shame the big hills are out.

 

[Leinster]

Cassani to RAI: "luckily I didn't bring any climber, the new route looks better for us. Trentin is the captain, Colbrelli is in great shape."

“...but Viviani just texted me, and he’s pissed!”

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Van Avermaet is not happy.

"They know for 2 weeks it's bad weather and this course. And then they decide on the last morning to change the course.."

 

[F_Cance]

Not a fan of the organization or the whole thing. They should have known which streets are always under water following an above average amount of rain. Now they act like this was completely unexpected.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, Rolf Sørensen just made a pretty good point on Danish television:
Why not have 10 or 11 laps? To keep the distance...

 

[Jagartrott]

Let's hope they have enough time to check the sock length. Priorities, you know.

 

[DNP-Old]

Van Avermaet is not happy.

"They know for 2 weeks it's bad weather and this course. And then they decide on the last morning to change the course.."

He is absolutely on the money. If anything, the only thing he is wrong about is 2 weeks. They should have known for years, back when they announced Harrogate to be the host, that this could have happened. It's just like the Eekhoff drama, the decision itself is probably the correct one, but the entire handling of the situation is godawful.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I'm expecting this race to be dominated by crashes and mechanicals. Weather looks really bad - not just very wet again but easily the coldest and maybe the windiest it has been all week. One for the real strong men - I think we see < 40 riders finish

 

[RedheadDane]

So... Portugal is starting with four Rui Costas! Not sure that's allowed…

And, tiny thing, but I'm getting more and more convinced that Valgren forgot/didn't bother to tell UCI that he changed his name last year.

 

[DNP-Old]

Since it'll be raining very heavily I'm predicting one name: Sonny Colbrelli, apart from my Moscon fun bet.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Now live on the red button BBC. 3 mins to kick off.

 

[gerundium]

Ok so without the climbs and a bit to think about it: Kristoff is going to come out of nowhere and will win this thing.

 

[Savant12]

So... Portugal is starting with four Rui Costas! Not sure that's allowed…

And, tiny thing, but I'm getting more and more convinced that Valgren forgot/didn't bother to tell UCI that he changed his name last year.

Each one arguing with the others about taking a turn on the front.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Gonna be no helicopter images due to weather conditions.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

So... Portugal is starting with four Rui Costas! Not sure that's allowed…

Let's hope that Purito Rodriguez doesn't find out about this.

 

[glassmoon]

no helis? wtf?