2020 World Championships - now confirmed for Imola, Italy.

[Rollthedice]

Congratulations. Best thing for Alapoggio was that he kept his cool. The race was designed for him with help from Cassani, the Italian coach who had no rider in his squad for this kind of route.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Hirschi is U23 WC again, but this time with no medal or jersey.

 

[Brullnux]

You say that but both WVA and MVP have missed great opportunities to win.

Dominating the Worlds is much easier said than done.

Agree, though MVP was just not good enough last year.

 

[Eclipse]

Pogacar made the race on the penultimate lap, but given how little Roglic featured it's a shame he wasn't in a position to attack at the bottom of the final climb.

Probably got him a lot of love in Slovenia though to be seen so actively sacrificing himself for Rogla's ambitions here after usurping him at the tour.

 

[fuiers]

That stripes kit on Ala

 

[Brullnux]

Congratulations. Best thing for Alapoggio was that he kept his cool. The race was designed for him with help from Cassani, the Italian coach who had no rider in his squad for this kind of route.

It was a good route for Formolo, and his hands were tied a bit by the location and the desire to finish in a circuit for social distancing reasons. Though, slightly easier and Trentin etc have a chance

 

[Mayomaniac]

The next time Cassani brings freaking Ulissi to a WC I'm gonna start shitposting on his social media.
You can't count on him after a hard, +250km one day race.
Caruso, Nibali and Masnada raced a really good race and Bettiol did what he could on such a hard route. Not having Formolino was the big problem...

 

[Big Doopie]

Nibali beginning to show his age this season, me thinks.

 

[Red Rick]

Congratulations. Best thing for Alapoggio was that he kept his cool. The race was designed for him with help from Cassani, the Italian coach who had no rider in his squad for this kind of route.

Cassani is only finding 29 missed emails re: Civiglio this evening in his spam folder.

 

[RedheadDane]

So... the two Road Race World Champions are Van Der Breggen and Alaphilippe...

I suspect we're gonna have a two rainbow jerseys on the podium photo opp Wednesday.

 

[Keram]

Great win for Ala. He did his trademark move. Satisfing winner. WVA experienced what is to be Sagan.

 

[Koronin]

UGH!!!!! I am not looking forward to seeing him in that jersey at all. Sorry, not a fan of his. I tried to be, but I just do not like him. So not happy about him winning. Would have been happier with anyone in that second group winning it.

Valverde's form is still way off. I can't see him going to the Ardennes this year.

 

[Jagartrott]

WVA is the new Sagan: no one wants to drag him to the line. Great race, riders falling from the back early on, Pog's attack, Nibali tried but didn't have the means...Valverde top-10. And the perfect attack by Alaf'. So happy for him and for France.

Yes, you could see that they were chasing, but not at 100%. Van Aert made it they didn't burry themselves in the chase. I'm happy Alaphilippe won, he deserves it. I think Roglic could've done a bit more. He pulled least of the chasing group, skipping some turns when it really mattered. That must be disappointing to Van Aert. Not that Roglic should be his domestique there, but at least put in as much effort as Fuglsang and the others - which he didn't do.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Man, grandpa Valverde 8th!!! He really doesn't want to retire... Mad props!!!

Course was ideal for him and he could only muster an 8th after getting dropped on final climb. Unimpressive.

 

[Volderke]

UGH!!!!! I am not looking forward to seeing him in that jersey at all. Sorry, not a fan of his. I tried to be, but I just do not like him. So not happy about him winning. Would have been happier with anyone in that second group winning it.

Valverde's form is still way off. I can't see him going to the Ardennes this year.

You don't like attacking riders? All hail for guys like Alaphilippe. Without them, races like today would be an absolute snoozefest!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Might be biased here as a Belgian. But shouldn't Roglic have pulled for WVA after everything WVA has done for him during the tour? WVA could have won 1 or 2 more stages if he wasn't super domestique and Roglic had nothing left to win.

Agree, that didnt look good. On the other hand, Roglic technically dont have any obligations at all to him and he was pretty gassed, but I would have liked to see him try harder than that.

 

[BlueRoads]

So... the two Road Race World Champions are Ven Der Breggen and Alaphilippe...

I suspect we're gonna have a two rainbow jerseys on the podium photo opp Wednesday.

That would be cool.

 

[fuiers]

UGH!!!!! I am not looking forward to seeing him in that jersey at all. Sorry, not a fan of his. I tried to be, but I just do not like him. So not happy about him winning. Would have been happier with anyone in that second group winning it.

Valverde's form is still way off. I can't see him going to the Ardennes this year.

When you come to work on a Monday, has anyone ever told you, "Looks like someone's got the case of the Mondays."?

 

[Climbing]

Nibali beginning to show his age this season, me thinks.

Compared to to 2013? Otherwise looks pretty good to me.
Will race longer that Valverde me thinks

 

[BlueRoads]

UGH!!!!! I am not looking forward to seeing him in that jersey at all. Sorry, not a fan of his. I tried to be, but I just do not like him. So not happy about him winning. Would have been happier with anyone in that second group winning it.

Valverde's form is still way off. I can't see him going to the Ardennes this year.

I did not like him either. I remember thinking "oh no, not him again", when he took the yellow jersey from Ciccone last year. He can really appear quite "showy" and a bit annoying. Since then I have never been entirely sure about him, but I think it's easy to underestimate him, because there's obviously more to him. I think he worked quite hard for this.

 

[Amazinmets87]

UGH!!!!! I am not looking forward to seeing him in that jersey at all. Sorry, not a fan of his. I tried to be, but I just do not like him. So not happy about him winning. Would have been happier with anyone in that second group winning it.

Valverde's form is still way off. I can't see him going to the Ardennes this year.

At 40 years and 5 months his form is unlikely to ever return. That said, he absolutely should go to the Ardennes. They suit his diminished skillset better than any other race.

 

[Leinster]

When you come to work on a Monday, has anyone ever told you, "Looks like someone's got the case of the Mondays."?

I believe somebody'd get their ass kicked for sayin somethin like that.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

What surprised me was van Aert not going for it on the descent. If you know the others won't work with you... well, anyway I liked the overall outcome. Some of my favourite riders in the top10. Race not tooo exciting.

What surprised me was that Hirschi didn't lead the chase in the descent.

Van Aert sprint at the end proving why the chase group not working with him to catch Alaphillipe was 100% the right call.

So, best not to ride and fight for bronze, than to ride and fight for silver (assuming van Aert wins easily).

 

[bob.a.feet]

Hirschi is definitely the real deal. Amid the Pogacar, Remco, Bernal craze, a TDF stage and WC medal is mighty impressive at 22.

 

[SKSemtex]

Great win for Ala. He did his trademark move. Satisfing winner. WVA experienced what is to be Sagan.

It is hard for me to say it but he is a level above him. His climbing, his itt, his sprint after hard race. I would quit racing beeing a pro-rider these days.