2020 National Championships

[ice&fire]

Yes. I so badly wanted someone anyone from a team that will do a nice kit to win it. But no, we get stuck with the horrible Astana NT kits.

The Spanish flag colours stand out very clearly over the Astana light blue. Comparing Valverde's kit this year with Gorka Izagirre's kit last year, the only difference is the white vs light blue background. I can't see why Valverde's kit was OK but Gorka's was horrible.

 

[Breezy1985]

The Spanish flag colours stand out very clearly over the Astana light blue. Comparing Valverde's kit this year with Gorka Izagirre's kit last year, the only difference is the white vs light blue background. I can't see why Valverde's kit was OK but Gorka's was horrible.

Valverdes was great because it improved on the usual Movi crap but below is what is wanted

 

[Koronin]

The Spanish flag colours stand out very clearly over the Astana light blue. Comparing Valverde's kit this year with Gorka Izagirre's kit last year, the only difference is the white vs light blue background. I can't see why Valverde's kit was OK but Gorka's was horrible.

Because like what Movistar typically does is just throw bands of the colors on the already done kit. No, they won't look any better on an Astana kit than they look on the Movistar kit, which is what they did last season.

I'd actually like to see what a team that actually does good National Championship kits could do with it. I'd love to see DQS do a real National Champions kit for Spain. Unfortunately that's highly unlikely to ever happen.

 

[ice&fire]

Because like what Movistar typically does is just throw bands of the colors on the already done kit. No, they won't look any better on an Astana kit than they look on the Movistar kit, which is what they did last season.

I'd actually like to see what a team that actually does good National Championship kits could do with it. I'd love to see DQS do a real National Champions kit for Spain. Unfortunately that's highly unlikely to ever happen.

 

[tobydawq]

It was a very CLOSE win though, 1/1000 of a second. UNO-X even put in a protest.

A person from NCF (the norwegian cycling assosication) said this:
"We are not going to say that it is clear, but it is so clear it can be with the pictures we have. Then Bystrøm is ahead."

Rune Thorkildsen, the person who made the decision that Bystrøm was the Champion, said this in an interview with TV2 who broadcasted the race:
"I understand Hvideberg is disappointed, but I have to judge from what I see, says the judge.

- What do you see?
In the photo from the finish line, I judge Bystrøm first. That is just how it is. It is my experience that says.

- Is it possible to separate them?
It is very close, so there it just has to go on my feeling about it.

- What assessment do you make then?
You see it on the move and how the arc is in relation to the line, simply.

He says that it is not allowed to judge (a shared victory) in Norwegian championships.

-We very rarely (decide it to be a shared victory). You should always have a winner in a bike race he explains."

The paranthesis are my own translation because google translate didn't have any good suggestions.

The video of the finish can be found here: https://www.tv2.no/sport/11601253/

The funny thing is that in the women's elite road race it was just as close, and they even gave the victory to the wrong person first. 9/1000 of a second was the difference between the winner and the runner-up (who was given the victory first). The runner-up is 45 years old btw. You can see the last KMs here: https://www.tv2.no/sport/11600797/

I am absolutely convinced that they gave the victory to the wrong guy.

 

[RedheadDane]

What Astana does to nat champ jerseys - well, except the Kazakh one - just proves that standing out isn't always a good thing. Sometimes standing out is an eyesore.
Sure, the colours of the Spanish flag does stand out pretty clearly against the Kazakh colours of the Astana kit, because it's a terrible colour combination, and it kind of hurts my eyes...

 

[Breezy1985]

Great kit but he only just about gets away with the blue gloves cause its the colour of the shorts on the Spanish soccer kit

 

[RedheadDane]

Better than expected. At least it's on white background.

 

[ice&fire]

Oh, the horror! We can see non-white suspenders through the white jersey!

 

[RedheadDane]

But still better than having the jersey be in the regular Astana kit colour.

 

[Breezy1985]

That's not bad definitely better than blue. I wonder have Spain put a mandatory kit design on their Nat champions kits in the last few years.

He's looking pretty ripped too

 

[ice&fire]

But still better than having the jersey be in the regular Astana kit colour.

He looks like the double champion of Spain and Argentina

 

[Koronin]

Definitely better than expected.

 

[RedheadDane]

So... Latvian Road Race Championship is tomorrow, which means that - rather confusingly - Skujins will be back in ordinary Trek kit.
Must kinda suck for the national federation that the only time they could hold the National Championship was during the TdF.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Assuming he is going to have a fairly quiet day among the slower climbers after today's efforts, and given that at the start of the race he will still be champion, could he not start in one kit, and pull over to change into a regular team jersey when news of the result comes through?

 

[tobydawq]

Silly it isn't on Monday so he could go back to Latvia and defend the title on the rest day.

 

[RedheadDane]

And it probably says something about the line-up that the race was won by... * drumroll * Viesturs Luksevics!

 

[Finn84]

So... Latvian Road Race Championship is tomorrow, which means that - rather confusingly - Skujins will be back in ordinary Trek kit.
Must kinda suck for the national federation that the only time they could hold the National Championship was during the TdF.

Kjell Carlström became national champion during 2009 Vuelta. He had finished 2nd but the original winner was busted for doping and the verdict was confirmed during the Vuelta.

 

[F_Cance]

And it probably says something about the line-up that the race was won by... * drumroll * Viesturs Luksevics!

Actually the race was won by an Estonian (the race was open for estonians), so the 2nd placed rider got the jersey.

 

[RedheadDane]

Actually the race was won by an Estonian (the race was open for estonians), so the 2nd placed rider got the jersey.

In this case I consider the winner to be the guy who won the jersey. Juraj Sagan might not have won the race in the combined Czech/Slovak national championships-race, but he still won the Slovakian national championship.

 

[F_Cance]

I agree. Just thought it would be an interesting thing to add.

 

[Wvv]

Belgium today.

 

[Breezy1985]

Belgium today.

Whats the field like ?

 

[Red Rick]

Whats the field like ?

Wout van Aert and some other dudes fighting for 2nd place

 

[Blanco]

Wout van Aert and some other dudes fighting for 2nd place

Yep, I can't imagine one-day race these days in which Van Aert wouldn't be an outstanding favorite.
But, wouldn't it be better for him not to ride this race just couple of days before WC, he's going full gas from the start of the season...