2021 World Championships in Flanders: Road Races

[glassmoon]

lol... that start

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

What a farce.

 

[sir fly]

Nice traffic jam.

 

[titan31]

Dragging riders like Sagan, Caleb Ewan & Magnus Cort to the finish line doesn't seem like a super idea.

I think the Belgians should want to create a bigger selection than that.

Id favour WVA over Sagan or Cort in a bunch sprint in any race nowadays, and I'd fancy him over Ewan on a course like this. In Denmark's case at least, they should be doing everything to not be in a bunch sprint against WVA as none of their riders will beat him there.

 

[hayneplane]

Ewan is weird in that he seems to vary between the worst climbing sprinter to surprisingly punchy.

If he is in MSR 2021 form then he will be very dangerous for the rest

 

[Mayomaniac]

Id favour WVA over Sagan or Cort in a bunch sprint in any race nowadays, and I'd fancy him over Ewan on a course like this. In Denmark's case at least, they should be doing everything to not be in a bunch sprint against WVA as none of their riders will beat him there.

Pedersen is the one Dane who I could see beating Wout.
Sadly Sam Bennett is not riding, him winning in Belgium and hearing Lefevre's reaction afterwards would be priceless.
Germany is flying under the radar, Politt or Degenkolb could surprise people, even if those 2 and Walscheid should be even better one week later...

 

[glassmoon]

UZB rider wearing UKR bib shorts?

 

[Lui98]

UZB rider wearing UKR bib shorts?

And he also got bike assistance from the Ukrainian mechanics

 

[glassmoon]

Vino Jr. out of the breakaway because of mechanical

 

[glassmoon]

And he also got bike assistance from the Ukrainian mechanics

some smaller teams share cars and mechanics...

 

[Mayomaniac]

Vino Jr. out of the breakaway because of mechanical

The real Nico!

 

[sir fly]

some smaller teams share cars and mechanics...

Unlike the great nation of Kazakhstan!

 

[LosBrolin]

Antonio Morgado is a really interesting first year junior, someone should get him and his fellow first year junior Goncalo Tavares out of Portugal asap!

I think it'll be Auto Eder, just not official yet. Glad to see many linking FC when it comes to the junior races (QS thread), the project I started in two years ago is clearly worth continuing

 

[glassmoon]

what a parody ffs?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Van Aert basically saying the plan is to have Evenepoel attack, and him (Van Aert) staying fresh in the group behind until the final. So there's that.

In the meanwhile, the U23's are taking themselves out it seems.

 

[kingjr]

Any bets on how many favourites will crash out on Sunday?

 

[sir fly]

Is it a Holiday in Estonia?
Prominent on the road today.

 

[postmanhat]

Van Aert basically saying the plan is to have Evenepoel attack, and him (Van Aert) staying fresh in the group behind until the final. So there's that.

In the meanwhile, the U23's are taking themselves out it seems.

Looks like one or two, who aren't used to them, seem to be being caught out by the drainage system at the sides of the road? Riders either trying to use it, or being pushed into it

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So normally about now we talk about the junior race isn't always/ever a good indicator for the Elite races...

But....

This doesn't look like a course you can chase on easily. I think it'll be difficult for anyone to control and I'm leaning towards teams with multiple leaders being better placed now.

Caveat that with a couple of the teams are ridiculously strong and now that I've typed the above, we'll probably see a strangled race with a reduced bunch sprint.

It's not a course that makes it easy to chase, but it doesn't make it easy to get away either. I think if a break wants to go to the finish, that the break needs to be formed on the Flandrien part, before going into the local laps in Leuven.

 

[sir fly]

At what age, on average, riders enter the road cycling/racing?
I guess there are certain limitations in regard to traffic regulations.

 

[glassmoon]

another crash...

 

[tobydawq]

For all the danes: I haven't been able to watch the other days, is this the first day Rolf is back commentating? I've been worried for him, given the circumstances, so happy to hear him seemingly okay.

Yes, it is the first time. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear his voice.

 

[glassmoon]

aaand another one

 

[BlueRoads]

Incredible how many crashes there are. Maybe a good argument to take the U23 seriously.

But I enjoy the African jerseys.

 

[noob]

The U23 should have had radios for security issues.