2020 World Championships - now confirmed for Imola, Italy.

[ThePirate81]

Alaphilippe vs MVDP vs WVA vs Fuglsang.
Nibali has no chance on this route.

 

[Gigs_98]

Holy sh*t that's actually amazing. I think I like this one more than the original one. It's not really a pure climbers WC but I don't really like those anyway

 

[Gigs_98]

Alaphilippe vs MVDP vs WVA vs Fuglsang.
Nibali has no chance on this route.

I'd argue nobody you mentioned other than Fuglsang has a chance on that route

 

[Red Rick]

I think it's going to be too tough for Van Aert and Van der Poel, maybe even for Alaphilippe. For Fuglsang it's a tailor made, but also for Roglic for example...

Seeing the contrast between Emilia and Il Lombardia last year, I think it's much harder for Roglic than ideal.

I actually quite fancy Dumoulin here. If the Dutch team goes all in on Van der Poel I'm gonna be so mad.

 

[tobydawq]

The underestimation of Alaphilippe on this board continues to astonish me. Yes, he cracked in LBL last year and in Innsbruck. No, that doesn't mean he has no chance here...

 

[Mayomaniac]

I think it's going to be too tough for Van Aert and Van der Poel, maybe even for Alaphilippe. For Fuglsang it's a tailor made, but also for Roglic for example...

I don't think Roglic has the endurance for such a race, it's not his biggest strength. Last year he was flying in Emilia, but couldn't gap the other on the climbs in the Giro di Lombardia.
Pinot and Nibali are among the favourites and I wouldn't dismiss a few other guys either.

 

[Gigs_98]

The underestimation of Alaphilippe on this board continues to astonish me. Yes, he cracked in LBL last year and in Innsbruck. No, that doesn't mean he has no chance here...

Well, yeah, that's exactly the point...

 

[BlueRoads]

Van der Poel really was way better than I thought in Lombardia. Would not put it past him. Van Aert, if he has not given it all during the Tour, can do everything. Alaphilippe will see the route this evening and just walk over to Roglic to hand him his maillot jaune. But Fuglsang must be among the big, big favourites.

 

[Red Rick]

Well, yeah, that's exactly the point...

I think we're missing a few Civiglios here.

 

[tobydawq]

Well, yeah, that's exactly the point...

Well, if those races are not the reason, then it just makes even less sense.

 

[Climbing]

Ok, Cassani talking about the climbs being longer than reported, probably because he's considering the false flats etc.
He's from there and it's obvious he had Nibali in mind when thinking the route, so we'll see how hard it actually is.
Harder than it looks I guess.

 

[Red Rick]

Van der Poel really was way better than I thought in Lombardia. Would not put it past him. Van Aert, if he has not given it all during the Tour, can do everything. Alaphilippe will see the route this evening and just walk over to Roglic to hand him his maillot jaune. But Fuglsang must be among the big, big favourites.

He was better than expected and also nowhere near winning.

 

[Gigs_98]

Btw, does anyone have an exact profile of the lap. I'd really like to see how hard that first unmarked climb is. That looks to have well over 100 m of altitude gain itself

 

[Broccolidwarf]

I can easily find 40 riders in the UCI top 100, that has a shot on that route

 

[Red Rick]

Fuglsang
Nibali
Pinot
Bernal
Mollema
Dumoulin
Roglic
Pogacar
Bardet
Woods
Uran
Chaves
Valverde

And maybe a few other climbers that come out of the Tour good.

 

[Gigs_98]

Well, if those races are not the reason, then it just makes even less sense.

Wait what? No they are the exact reason. The new LBL finale is very similar and the route all around way easier than this. So If that was too much for him why should this one not be?

Anyway I'll admit Alaphilippe does have a chance here I just don't think it's as big as it will be hyped up to be.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

He was better than expected and also nowhere near winning.

The difference between Il Lombardia and Worlds is, that MvdP will have a MUCH better team supporting him (if indeed they ride for him).

At worlds, the Dutch team will be one of the strongest, and one of only 10 teams with a full squad.

On the flip side of that, Roglic and Pogacar will be in trouble, because even with a full squad, the Slovenian team can probably only count on Mohoric to have any longevity in the race.

 

[Red Rick]

The difference between Il Lombardia and Worlds is, that MvdP will have a MUCH better team supporting him (if indeed they ride for him).

At worlds, the Dutch team will be one of the strongest, and one of only 10 teams with a full squad.

Support isn't a cure for not being one of the best 20 climbers in the race on a climbing course.

 

[Red Rick]

Btw, does anyone have an exact profile of the lap. I'd really like to see how hard that first unmarked climb is. That looks to have well over 100 m of altitude gain itself

Only part of the route that suits Alaphilippe

 

[BlueRoads]

Wait what? No they are the exact reason. The new LBL finale is very similar and the route all around way easier than this. So If that was too much for him why should this one not be?

Anyway I'll admit Alaphilippe does have a chance here I just don't think it's as big as it will be hyped up to be.

The French will say Alaphilippe, the Dutch will say van der Poel, the Italians and Red Rick will say Nibali and I say it's Kämna vs. Schachmann.

 

[tobydawq]

Wait what? No they are the exact reason. The new LBL finale is very similar and the route all around way easier than this. So If that was too much for him why should this one not be?

Anyway I'll admit Alaphilippe does have a chance here I just don't think it's as big as it will be hyped up to be.

In 2019, he peaked for Strade and MSR in March, he had a bad crash in País Vasco, and then he was just too good to not lose FW but he was on the downhill there, and then it became too much in Liege.

And in Innsbruck, I don't think he had the level of last year. Him being too tired to ride Lombardia also indicates that.

If he tries for GC in the Tour, he will not have many chances in Imola but if not he is one of the biggest favourites.

 

[Red Rick]

The French will say Alaphilippe, the Dutch will say van der Poel, the Italians and Red Rick will say Nibali and I say it's Kämna vs. Schachmann.

Io sono Italiano?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Support isn't a cure for not being one of the best 20 climbers in the race on a climbing course.

It's not long climbs, it's puncheur climbs, so it is more about having the strength to endure the many repetitions, than about being a good "proper" climber.

 

[Gigs_98]

The French will say Alaphilippe, the Dutch will say van der Poel, the Italians and Red Rick will say Nibali and I say it's Kämna vs. Schachmann.

Yet they will all ignore that in fact this has Zoidl vs. Konrad written all over it.

 

[Brumdog66]

Alaphillipe has a small chance if they soft pedal no way does anyone below his climbing have a shot on that route. Reeks of Nibali