2021 World Championships in Flanders: Road Races

[memyselfandI]

More than a "several cards" approach it looks political as hell, to me at least.

There are names on that list (like Démare) who're only there because of who they ride for. Of that I am certain.

3 DQS, 2 FDJ, 1 Cofidis, 1 AG2R, 1 Arkéa-Samsic & 1 TotalEnergies.

Le compte est bon! as the French say.

Alaphilippe + Senechal or Demare.. Senechal prolly atm.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Italy is really good setup this time if they sort team dynamics out nicely. Sonny C spearhead I guess, but Moscon is very good typically in Worlds so is he or Trentin road captain?

Trentin is the road captain, Cassani has already suggested that he should become the coach of the national team once he stops riding.

 

[Boes]

Jasper Stuyven, home rider from Leuven, thinks it'll be a bunch sprint with 30-ish riders. However, the last K is a rising line (besides the last 250 meters) hence he figures the pure sprinters will have lost their punch making it a perfect parcour for strong classic riders with a sprint like WVA, MVP and Cort Nielsen.

He didn't name Mats Pedersen but that might be because he doesn't want to put his team mate in the spot lights. On a personal note I put Pedersen right up there if it's a reduced bunch sprint.

I hope he's wrong though, and it woun't be a bunch sprint.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Trentin is the road captain, Cassani has already suggested that he should become the coach of the national team once he stops riding.

Trentin it tactically clueless so that makes no sense

 

[Mayomaniac]

Trentin it tactically clueless so that makes no sense

Yeah, I prefer the idea of Bennati becoming the next coach once Cassani leaves after the WC. He has been a road captain for pretty much all of the 2nd half of his career, I think he'd be a good fit.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Trentin it tactically clueless so that makes no sense

Why do you say that? Just curious.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Why do you say that? Just curious.

Too many times he makes wrong decisions in finale that cost him Victory. Some good examples:
-2017 Kuurne Brussels Kuurne
-2021 Gp marseille (sprinting from 400m)
-2019 Sanremo
-2018 Sanremo (if he pulls for Ewan instead of attacking they win)
-2021 Brabanste Pijl he crush any small chance of victory by pulling Wout and Piddcok

He's not the worst, but seems like reasonably intelligent person off the bike and yet often makes blunders in races.

 

[Mick Dundee]

Too many times he makes wrong decisions in finale that cost him Victory. Some good examples:
-2017 Kuurne Brussels Kuurne
-2021 Gp marseille (sprinting from 400m)
-2019 Sanremo
-2018 Sanremo (if he pulls for Ewan instead of attacking they win)
-2021 Brabanste Pijl he crush any small chance of victory by pulling Wout and Piddcok

He's not the worst, but seems like reasonably intelligent person off the bike and yet often makes blunders in races.

I remember him for being clued up enough to beat an emerging VdP and WvA at the Europeans 2018.
Like the guy, also very gracious in defeat.

 

[Didinho]

But... you aren't showing anything! There's no picture...

I can see a picture on the laptop, but not on the phone..
Have seen a lot of teams the last couple days, but I won't try to post them again

I've seen the Austria junior girl after her crash with the public bus and stayed with the others to check if I could do something but the medics arrived fast. Luckely the helmet wasn't broken. The bike broke in half. I send a message to Stuyven and he also said that he was very carefull there this week.

 

[Rackham]

Jasper Stuyven, home rider from Leuven, thinks it'll be a bunch sprint with 30-ish riders.

That sounds depressing.

I don't mind a "group sprint", but a whole bunch arriving like that devalues the world title in my opinion.

In any case there are still plenty of riders & teams there (like the French, Slovenians etc.) who have a vested interest in making sure that doesn't happen. So there's hope yet.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

That sounds depressing.

I don't mind a "group sprint", but a whole bunch arriving like that devalues the world title in my opinion.

In any case there are still plenty of riders & teams there (like the French, Slovenians etc.) who have a vested interest in making sure that doesn't happen. So there's hope yet.

You must have hated Oscar Freire

 

[Rackham]

You must have hated Oscar Freire

There are many others.

I generally don't think sprinters make the best world champions.

 

[BlueRoads]

Don't worry, if it's 30 guys it still won't be a pure sprinter who wins it.


Hi, says Wout.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Don't worry, if it's 30 guys it still won't be a pure sprinter who wins it.


Hi, says Wout.

I'm looking forward to Wout leading out Giacamo Nizzolo to the world championship

 

[Boes]

I'm looking forward to Wout leading out Giacamo Nizzolo to the world championship

Wouldn't be the first time Italians wheelsuck their way to a win.

 

[yaco]

The most important question is which Colombian will be their nation's leading rider. Possibly a rider could sneak into the top 20 but it's more likely to be the top 30.

 

[Boes]

The most important question is which Colombian will be their nation's leading rider. Possibly a rider could sneak into the top 20 but it's more likely to be the top 30.

It's a pitty the Gaviria is nowhere near his good form.

 

[Bushman]

So, ec + wc double for Nys tomorrow? Belgium are extremely strong and he must be one of the fastest finishers in the peloton. Who could possibly beat him on the line? Of course they also have De Lie who might be their go-to guy, idk. Kooij perhaps, but I dont think he will make it.
Ghirmay will be very interesting to see as well but will likely suffer from lack of support. The Norwegians, Italians, Dutch and to some extend Denmark are strong in numbers but will all, except for Holland perhaps, have to ride offensively.
In conclusion, Belgium seem like the team to beat with to of the top contenders and s very strong team.

 

[Mayomaniac]

So, ec + wc double for Nys tomorrow? Belgium are extremely strong and he must be one of the fastest finishers in the peloton. Who could possibly beat him on the line? Of course they also have De Lie who might be their go-to guy, idk. Kooij perhaps, but I dont think he will make it.
Ghirmay will be very interesting to see as well but will likely suffer from lack of support. The Norwegians, Italians, Dutch and to some extend Denmark are strong in numbers but will all, except for Holland perhaps, have to ride offensively.
In conclusion, Belgium seem like the team to beat with to of the top contenders and s very strong team.

Yeah, not many riders could beat Nys or Kooij. Italy has Baroncini and Colnaghi, who could both get a medal, but both of them would probably prefer a harder route.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I think it will be harder for Nys to beat the Dutch team here than in Trento. Van den Berg, Kooij and M. Van Dijke are a strong trio.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Meh, Urugay is not bringing Mauri Moreira for the RR...

 

[Red Rick]

Jasper Stuyven, home rider from Leuven, thinks it'll be a bunch sprint with 30-ish riders. However, the last K is a rising line (besides the last 250 meters) hence he figures the pure sprinters will have lost their punch making it a perfect parcour for strong classic riders with a sprint like WVA, MVP and Cort Nielsen.

He didn't name Mats Pedersen but that might be because he doesn't want to put his team mate in the spot lights. On a personal note I put Pedersen right up there if it's a reduced bunch sprint.

I hope he's wrong though, and it woun't be a bunch sprint.

It could be like 2016 where all the action is early on then you just bore yourself watching 2 groups chase each other until the first one sprints for the win.

The Leuven hills just don't cut it

 

[Bonimenier]

It could be like 2016 where all the action is early on then you just bore yourself watching 2 groups chase each other until the first one sprints for the win.

The Leuven hills just don't cut it

It's not a real bike race until Red Rick complains about the route!

 

[Red Rick]

It's not a real bike race until Red Rick complains about the route!

This time the main difficulties are hills I could feasibly do so come on.

And it wouldn't be a problem if you had 30 of these hills, but there's 6 climbs in total that are somewhat selective, and I would not at all be surprised to see a reduced bunch sprint.

 

[sir fly]

Altimetry shouldn't bother the riders, I'd agree.
Making it hard by tempo won't be easy either. The field's fairly even.
Positioning and tactics on the other hand... a tax on vigilance and decision-making.