2020 World Championships - now confirmed for Imola, Italy.

[Broccolidwarf]

I read Barguil said he was to tired after the Tour.

Seems odd when he got 15th yesterday.

 

[Koronin]

Wonder why Castro will not be participating in the ITT

It sounded like (from a comment I read) that any rider who left the Tour early would be pulled off the Spanish list for inclusion in the Worlds due to likely injury or illness.

 

[tomorrow]

With this not quite the strongest field, I wonder, if there actually is a high probability of a top favouite to win. To me it looks like a long range attack of underdogs could actually have a pretty decent chance a the race could very well forego as the last olympic games road race did.

 

[Asero831]

With this not quite the strongest field, I wonder, if there actually is a high probability of a top favouite to win. To me it looks like a long range attack of underdogs could actually have a pretty decent chance a the race could very well forego as the last olympic games road race did.

We can see a repeat of 2013 here. Definitely, three groups will be separated under a minute going into the last 10 kilometers.

 

[Jagartrott]

It may have been posted elsewhere, but the route for the Worlds 2021 was unveiled, and it's pretty good. Not in Ronde territory, but plenty of little hills and roads with a lot of twists and turns, making it easier to attack and harder to organize a chase.

Men Elite Road Race | Flanders 2021

After the start on the Grote Markt in Antwerp, the peloton leaves for Leuven, with a passage in Official Village Keerbergen. Arriving in Leuven, the final unfolds on the local circuit (4 hills) and the Flandrien circuit (6 hills): 1.5 x local circuit Leuv...

www.flanders2021.com

 

[SafeBet]

It may have been posted elsewhere, but the route for the Worlds 2021 was unveiled, and it's pretty good. Not in Ronde territory, but plenty of little hills and roads with a lot of twists and turns, making it easier to attack and harder to organize a chase.

Men Elite Road Race | Flanders 2021

After the start on the Grote Markt in Antwerp, the peloton leaves for Leuven, with a passage in Official Village Keerbergen. Arriving in Leuven, the final unfolds on the local circuit (4 hills) and the Flandrien circuit (6 hills): 1.5 x local circuit Leuv...

www.flanders2021.com

There's a dedicated thread:

2021 UCI World Championships Flanders - The Big Reveal

We are hours away from the Big Reveal? WvA vs MvDP vs Sagan vs Alaphilippe vs Matthews vs Pedersen vs Remco View: https://twitter.com/flanders2021/status/1306623956078735362

forum.cyclingnews.com

 

[tomorrow]

We can see a repeat of 2013 here. Definitely, three groups will be separated under a minute going into the last 10 kilometers.

Not exactly sure, maybe only with the number of groups. But the time difference and the key members could be different. In Florence, it was good Il Lombardia/Ardeness riders, best/extraordinary Flemish Classics riders and then the not so top riders from both categories. The weather was terrible, so that influenced the race too, and to marginally.

On the other hand, here, if the top guys were all present then it might have been that case. But here, if GvA or Gilbert(or even both) goes to long range attack with some other guys, leaving WVA in the peloton, It may very well end up in climbers catching the underdogs, not vice versa like in Florence.

 

[yaco]

Have no idea who will win the race - It's so difficult to rate riders with the complete shifting of the season - It could be won by an under the radar rider.

 

[The Barb]

It is indeed very hard to predict. Apart from its placement in the calendar, it strikes a fine balance between climbers and puncheurs.

Obviously Wout Van Aert is the one to beat but weird things could happen. If they arrive at the climb the final time in one group then it's unlikely anyone will drop him enough that he wouldn't get back on on the descent and if that happens then he's highly likely to win the sprint.

I've had a few dollars on Porte (375-1) and De La Cruz (500-1) both of whom have come out of the Tour in good form.

 

[bajbar]

Slovenian team for Imola confirmed:

ITT: Tratnik
Road race: Roglič, Pogačar, Brajkovič, Tratnik, Novak, Polanc, Mezgec, Pibernik (Mohorič as reserve - he said he didn't recover yet from the crashes in the Tour and is tired)

 

[DenisMenchov]

Slovenian team for Imola confirmed:

ITT: Tratnik
Road race: Roglič, Pogačar, Brajkovič, Tratnik, Novak, Polanc, Mezgec, Pibernik (Mohorič as reserve - he said he didn't recover yet from the crashes in the Tour and is tired)

Jani Brajkovič? Wow, I thought he retired like 5 years ago. I think him and Valjavec are the pioneers of slovenian cycling and have a massive impact on this new incredible generation. It's amazing that he can now ride with them, and a medal for Slovenia with him in the team would be an icing on the cake.

 

[bajbar]

Jani Brajkovič? Wow, I thought he retired like 5 years ago. I think him and Valjavec are the pioneers of slovenian cycling and have a massive impact on this new incredible generation. It's amazing that he can now ride with them, and a medal for Slovenia with him in the team would be an icing on the cake.

He was fourth in both the national road race and ITT this year. So he is still alive and kicking

 

[topcat]

Slovenian team for Imola confirmed:

ITT: Tratnik
Road race: Roglič, Pogačar, Brajkovič, Tratnik, Novak, Polanc, Mezgec, Pibernik (Mohorič as reserve - he said he didn't recover yet from the crashes in the Tour and is tired)

Brajkovic, is he the guy who suffers from anorexia?

 

[Blanco]

I have a feeling Roglic will fly on this course...

 

[roundabout]

Jani Brajkovič? Wow, I thought he retired like 5 years ago. I think him and Valjavec are the pioneers of slovenian cycling and have a massive impact on this new incredible generation. It's amazing that he can now ride with them, and a medal for Slovenia with him in the team would be an icing on the cake.

Brajkovic was a junior when Hauptman won a Worlds medal.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

OK now have three different weather forecasts all stating temps are gonna fall from 21-25°C and light clouds on saturday, dropping to 11-13°C and heavy rain all sunday, race day.
Seems like another Harrogate with no hords of fans, but this time due to Covid-19.
Should be another exciting race

 

[OlavEH]

OK now have three different weather forecasts all stating temps are gonna fall from 21-25°C and light clouds on saturday, dropping to 11-13°C and heavy rain all sunday, race day.
Seems like another Harrogate with no hords of fans, but this time due to Covid-19.
Should be another exciting race

Tim Wellens for the win!

 

[OlavEH]

Favorites: Fuglsang and the Belgian team.
Top outsiders: Alaphillipe, Nibali, Schachmann, Roglic and Pogacar. Perhaps Hirschi if he is up for the distance.

 

[pink_jersey]

OK now have three different weather forecasts all stating temps are gonne fall from 21-25°C and light clouds on saturday, dropping to 11-13°C and heavy rain all sunday, race day.
Seems like another Harrogate with no hords of fans, but this time due to Covid-19.
Should be another exciting race

Isn't Pogacar pretty good in this conditions?
Maybe he does it again.

 

[yaco]

Haig and Hamilton out of the Aussie team replaced by Schultz - Read this space for further information.

 

[broppo]

what about dani martinez? this course should suit him. Kuss is also an outsider in my opinion.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I have a feeling Roglic will fly on this course...

I'd never bet on him in a 258km race to be honest. He never performed at his best in a one day long race.

 

[bajbar]

I'd never bet on him in a 258km race to be honest. He never performed at his best in a one day long race.

Roglič would be the favourite if the weather was better that it is going to be and if the first part of the race was slow-pedaled. Put a fresh Roglič on those steep muritos with a downhill afterwards and he wins more times than not. But with the lenght, the bad weather and the sheer unpredictability it becomes a race of attrition . something Roglič isn't best in (plus we have seen last year that he was really out of sorts after the Vuelta and needed three weeks before hittinf top form in Italian classics again). Pogačar is more suited to that (the weather and the race) in the Slovenian team. But two cards to play is always better than one!

 

[Broccolidwarf]

OK now have three different weather forecasts all stating temps are gonne fall from 21-25°C and light clouds on saturday, dropping to 11-13°C and heavy rain all sunday, race day.
Seems like another Harrogate with no hords of fans, but this time due to Covid-19.
Should be another exciting race

So..... "Dane weather"!

If that is indeed the weather Sunday, Valgren will win - he has the same affinity for rough weather as Mads Pedersen, but he can climb

 

[tobydawq]

I think Pedersen is climbing better than Valgren at the moment.

Usually, I love when the weather is bad but it also makes me a little sad that that will probably mean game over for Valverde on a route where he could have gotten another medal.