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

[Red Rick]

It's time for the main event bois and girls

Startlist

Start time: 8:40 AM

Estimated finish time: 15:30 - 15:50 PM

I'm assuming this is GMT

 

[tobydawq]

Four years in a row one of my two favourite riders has won this. I really hope Sagan can somehow extend that streak.

 

[Rollthedice]

It's time for the main event bois and girls

Startlist

Start time: 8:40 AM

Estimated finish time: 15:30 - 15:50 PM

I'm assuming this is GMT

Finally I understand why Nibali is not riding this. It starts way to early in the morning.

 

[Mayomaniac]

The weather should be pretty bad, so Belgium is probably willing to make this one really hard.
A Wellens solo would be nice, the guy's a gremlin, when he gets wet he turns into a monster.
I wouldn't underestimate the old fox Gilbert, he was in great shape at the Vuelta and hasn't talked that much about this race, I'd watch out for him. Overall I expect this one to be like an Amstel with bad weather, really nervous and you really have to be near the front to save energy.
Politt and Valgren could be the dark horses and you can never underestimate someone like Mohoric.

 

[glowder]

Does anyone know if the Harrogate fan zones are covered from the rain? And if the big screens will be working even if the rain is heavy? Came over from NYC today and not sure what to expect tomorrow.

 

[Singularitarian]

So what should we expect?

There is the " usual game" scenario - big teams with good sprinters who can survive some climbing trying to keep it together while those without making the race as hard as possible.

Then we can have a total classics style carnage, brutally hard race of attrition and constant attacks with only the few select fittest surviving.

And let's not forget an early escape option, there might be some chance if allowed a decent gap (if not considered dangerous)... it may even serve as a launchpad for a long range move of excellent time trialist (capitalizing on a situation behind him - peloton shattered, small groups, not enough domestiques to sustain a proper chase).

Will some teams try to send a TT guy upfront (e.g. Belgians with Remco) relatively early and then just follow attacks and get a free ride?

 

[Koronin]

Due to the weather, unfortunately that makes Valverde's hope of winning or getting another podium less likely. I hoping that Gilbert can win tomorrow. The route should be good for him and the weather shouldn't bother him.

 

[Brullnux]

Does anyone know if the Harrogate fan zones are covered from the rain? And if the big screens will be working even if the rain is heavy? Came over from NYC today and not sure what to expect tomorrow.

I suggest a poncho or six

 

[rick james]

Due to the weather, unfortunately that makes Valverde's hope of winning or getting another podium less likely. I hoping that Gilbert can win tomorrow. The route should be good for him and the weather shouldn't bother him.

aye like he had a chance before the rain came

 

[Koronin]

aye like he had a chance before the rain came

Without rain and cold Valverde had a better chance IF he had a perfect race to at least get (yet another) podium.

 

[The Hegelian]

I like Gilbert for this. It's going to be a hard man's race - parcours + form + weather = second rainbow jersey for Gilbert.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Potential for the wind to pick up as the day goes on, between 15mph-30mph, coming from the NE. So a cross-tail from the top of the exposed Grinton Moor climb back to Harrogate.

 

[Red Rick]

Finally I understand why Nibali is not riding this. It starts way to early in the morning.

Heard Cassani had a loooot of missed phone calls after somebody saw the weather forecast

 

[Rollthedice]

Heard Cassani had a loooot of missed phone calls after somebody saw the weather forecast

All because of the damn Tour. If Nibs doesn't ride it, he's doing the Vuelta, renews his friendship with Roglic then in Harrogate he can attack in the rain some 3 laps before the finish. God knows what might happen.

 

[Red Rick]

All because of the damn Tour. If Nibs doesn't ride it, he's doing the Vuelta, renews his friendship with Roglic then in Harrogate he can attack in the rain some 3 laps before the finish. God knows what might happen.

Absolutely.

More I think about it more I think Val Thorens is his best performance since Sanremo 2018 tho

 

[SafeBet]

Most important info missing from the OP: Gigs whereabouts for tomorrow.

 

[Koronin]

All because of the damn Tour. If Nibs doesn't ride it, he's doing the Vuelta, renews his friendship with Roglic then in Harrogate he can attack in the rain some 3 laps before the finish. God knows what might happen.

LOL, and then Valverde wins his 2nd overall Vuelta title while Roglic and Nibali again play games with each other.

 

[Rollthedice]

Absolutely.

More I think about it more I think Val Thorens is his best performance since Sanremo 2018 tho

Wiggo agrees. Brad's hall of fame for 2019 are Gilbert's Roubaix, Van der Poel's Amstel and Nibali at Val Thorens.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

There are a lot of teams with viable contenders on that route.

I believe Belgium, Spain, France, Slovenia, Denmark & GB will all want to make the race hard tomorrow, early, because they don't want to ferry people like Sagan, Trentin, MvdP, Bennett, Kristoff, Matthews, Ackermann, etc. to the circuit with their teams largely intact.

I do not expect a large peloton to hit the circuit in Harrogate, but rather a group of 15-25, with a couple of groups chasing, for the captains who missed out.

It will be a very interesting game of national chicken however, to see who are the first to drop the hammer. Everyone will be expecting the belgians to make the first move, but someone else may beat them to it

The heavy rain conditions however, will make the race a crap shoot, because we will see a lot of crashes on small windy roads, and a lot of punctures, which will completely ruin the best laid plans.

Interesting hours ahead

 

[Koronin]

There are a lot of teams with viable contenders on that route.

I believe Belgium, Spain, France, Slovenia, Denmark & GB will all want to make the race hard tomorrow, early, because they don't want to ferry people like Sagan, Trentin, MvdP, Bennett, Kristoff, Matthews, Ackermann, etc. to the circuit with their teams largely intact.

I do not expect a large peloton to hit the circuit in Harrogate, but rather a group of 15-25, with a couple of groups chasing, for the captains who missed out.

It will be a very interesting game of national chicken however, to see who are the first to drop the hammer. Everyone will be expecting the belgians to make the first move, but someone else may beat them to it

The heavy rain conditions however, will make the race a crap shoot, because we will see a lot of crashes on small windy roads, and a lot of punctures, which will completely ruin the best laid plans.

Interesting hours ahead

Funny enough in an interview today, Valverde actually said he expects a group of around 20 riders to hit the circuit (for the first of 7) and for the winner and podium to be decided among that group of riders. Of course even funnier is they asked him what the team strategy is, and he said we don't have one. Even if we did I'm certainly not telling anyone what it is, but we really haven't even talked about a strategy.

 

[Leinster]

I’d be

Funny enough in an interview today, Valverde actually said he expects a group of around 20 riders to hit the circuit (for the first of 7) and for the winner and podium to be decided among that group of riders. Of course even funnier is they asked him what the team strategy is, and he said we don't have one. Even if we did I'm certainly not telling anyone what it is, but we really haven't even talked about a strategy.

surprised if a group of 20 formed with 100 to go, and were coordinated enough to stay clear and keep the pace up enough to not allow anyone behind to get back into the race.

 

[Koronin]

It likely will depend on the make up of the group.

 

[Asero831]

I’d be

surprised if a group of 20 formed with 100 to go, and were coordinated enough to stay clear and keep the pace up enough to not allow anyone behind to get back into the race.

Who will chase for Sagan if that happens. Perhaps Italy but the Belgians, Dutch, Spain and French will not allow that to happen.

 

[Escarabajo]

I'll be surprised as well if a group of 20 formed with 100 to go only.
Might happened initially but more riders might come back from behind.

 

[JosephK]

I've been looking at the course profile. I'll go out on a limb and say it's unlikely that a wimp will win this one.