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Yes, thee italian Track team rides Pinarello bikes, that was one of the main reasons why Ganna went to Ineos (alongside their history of being ok with their riders also riding on the track).They did do the Trek Goldilocks ad with Neff though. They could do one for a track bike with Balsamo, though she doesn't ride Trek bikes on the track.
It's quite the opposite. These short climbs in Leuven can be a problem for Juniors or women (meaning the best can make a difference there compared to lesser punchers), but for men WT pro's they do not pose a problem at all. The biggest problem will be the fight for position, not the actual climbs. Even a guy who is not punchy, will only lose a few seconds to the likes of Alaphilippe, Van der Poel or Van Aert. On a local lap i don't see anybody creating a big enough gap to go solo to the line. At most something like the U23 men, where Baroncini got a 10s gap in the final lap, and won by 2s at the line.Well the Flandrien circuit climbs aren't that hard either and in Vlaanderen they would probably be among the easier climbs in the race + they come before the 200km mark mostly. So it's really hard to get huge seperation.
I do think a late attack might happen but it would be because of the mens elite are just that much more explosive than the U23s and the women. It could be a bit like Richmond or Valkenburg.
I think it is keeping with the plethora of girls born in the 1990s and beyond with hard “c” first names (except here with Mi/Ma/Mc prefix). My daughters high school cohort included the following: Carli, Karli, Kristen, Kirsten, Kenda, Kat, Kyra, Kira, Kylie, Caroline, and several more I don’t remember. Those names accounted for at least a 1/3 of the group she was in!How many different spellings do Americans have for Michaela? We have Mikaela Shiffrin, MiKayla Skinner, McKayla Maroney and now Makayla McPherson?
What's the score coming out of the Dutchies? I mean, I guess Blaaki is retiring too so has little reason to sugarcoat things now, but van der Breggen was pretty laissez-faire about the whole thing, and she was one of those that came out swinging after the Olympic fiasco.Blaak super critical about their own team work.
If a strong group that includes 4 or 5 of the right nations gets away on the Flandrian circuit they could make it. Kinda surprised that the Dutch didn't bring Taco for a long range attack.It's quite the opposite. These short climbs in Leuven can be a problem for Juniors or women (meaning the best can make a difference there compared to lesser punchers), but for men WT pro's they do not pose a problem at all. The biggest problem will be the fight for position, not the actual climbs. Even a guy who is not explosive, will only lose a few seconds to the likes of Alaphilippe, Van der Poel or Van Aert. On a local lap i don't see anybody creating a big enough gap to go solo to the line. At most something like the U23 men, where Baroncini got a 10s gap in the final lap, and won by 2s at the line.
It's a 270km race, if you make the race hard before the last Flandrien+Leuven loops, it's definitely possible to attack on the final Flandrien loop for Mohoric or Evenepoel type attackers.
In the womens and junior races such hills will drop more people out the back, but flying away on the front can sometimes be easier for the best male riders. In 2012 the mens u23 and junior road races had 50+ guys in the same time as the winner 2km after the Cauberg. But for this to happen the final Wijnpers is too far from the finish most likely.It's quite the opposite. These short climbs in Leuven can be a problem for Juniors or women (meaning the best can make a difference there compared to lesser punchers), but for men WT pro's they do not pose a problem at all. The biggest problem will be the fight for position, not the actual climbs. Even a guy who is not explosive, will only lose a few seconds to the likes of Alaphilippe, Van der Poel or Van Aert. On a local lap i don't see anybody creating a big enough gap to go solo to the line. At most something like the U23 men, where Baroncini got a 10s gap in the final lap, and won by 2s at the line.
It's a 270km race, if you make the race hard before the last Flandrien+Leuven loops, it's definitely possible to attack on the final Flandrien loop for Mohoric or Evenepoel type attackers.
Blaak was mainly mad about the lack of coordination and how they should've ridden as one block more and when one attacks the other counters etc. Van Vleuten seemed pretty chill at first then got all defensive after the interviewer mentioned Blaak being critical.What's the score coming out of the Dutchies? I mean, I guess Blaaki is retiring too so has little reason to sugarcoat things now, but van der Breggen was pretty laissez-faire about the whole thing, and she was one of those that came out swinging after the Olympic fiasco.
I'm not. We don't really have a history of selecting rouleurs for speculative roles on rouleur parcourses. We selected Steven Kruijswijk for Copenhagen IIRC. Back in the day Lars Boom would've been leader here, and he would've been a good speculative move, but not a guy of Tacos calibre tbh. We're lucky we have Van der Poel, we're unlucky Dumoulin can't ride, cause I do rate him as a lottery pick, and I do think having a reduced sprinter in decent form as a backup also makes sense.If a strong group that includes 4 or 5 of the right nations gets away on the Flandrian circuit they could make it. Kinda surprised that the Dutch didn't bring Taco for a long range attack.
A break is usually not formed because the guys in the break "dropped" the best riders in the world. It is usually formed because there is either a lack of domestiques to control the race and/or the leaders don't want to burn their matches too soon and rather wait. I'm not saying Mohoric is going to drop Van der Poel on a climb in Overijse, but maybe Mathieu would think attacking or countering an attack with 70k to go is a bit too risky, and he will not try to follow Mohoric or Evenepoel or other long rangers and keep his powder dry. Same goes for Alaphilippe, Van Aert, Colbrelli...In the womens and junior races such hills will drop more people out the back, but flying away on the front can sometimes be easier for the best male riders. In 2012 the mens u23 and junior road races had 50+ guys in the same time as the winner 2km after the Cauberg. But for this to happen the final Wijnpers is too far from the finish most likely.
The other problem with the route is that even the Flandrien hills are too short for the long range attackers. Mohoric isn't gonna get a gap on Van der Poel or something there.
I don't think Dutch tactics were that bad until the final 5 km. But at that point, when it was very clear Vos was the strongest of the team, they had to take control of the race, form a train and try to deliver Vos in the best possible position to win the sprint. To me it looked like they didn't quite do enough to help her in the final.
Well you do have the problem of entering the race as red hot favourites every time, such that victory is not just hoped for but expected to the point where an inquest is required every time they don't come away with gold. Plus there is always the team dynamics to think about, how many leaders and how many support riders, and which support riders to bring. I mean, with Balsamo winning, Lorena Wiebes might feel she deserved a selection, and there's Floortje Mackaij, Riejanne Markus, Lonneke Uneken, Anouska Koster, Karlijn Swinkels, Charlotte Kool, Janneke Ensing plus others less suited to the parcours like Sabrina Stultiens and Pauliena Rooijakkers, who could make a pretty solid squad just of Dutch offcuts.Blaak was mainly mad about the lack of coordination and how they should've ridden as one block more and when one attacks the other counters etc. Van Vleuten seemed pretty chill at first then got all defensive after the interviewer mentioned Blaak being critical.
Neither of them were critical on Vos, and Van Vleuten argued her and Van Dijk did a lot of work/attacking in the final 2 laps so the poor leadout for Vos shouldn't fall on them.
Tbh I don't think it's that much about ego and not wanting to work together and trying to win themselves but more poor communication and now being salty about not winning as a team. I think a large part of it is also down to the journalist poking and prodding a bit.
I think Van Vleuten felt accused of not being a team player and that's why she got defensive, and she was mainly mad about the poor leadout, which is true. They burnt up everyone so despite people being there they were all done and Vos was left to close a gap herself in the final few hundred meters.
And tbh the ridiculous dominance of Dutch women in cycling was bound to end sooner or later, and this route wasn't all that great for our team. And having Anna van der Breggen in retirement form certainly doesn't help either.
Yeah, but teams like Italy and France also have other cards to play, Moscon or Trentin and Turgis or Cosnefroy.A break is usually not formed because the guys in the break "dropped" the best riders in the world. It is usually formed because there is either a lack of domestiques to control the race and/or the leaders don't want to burn their matches too soon and rather wait. I'm not saying Mohoric is going to drop Van der Poel on a climb in Overijse, but maybe Mathieu would think attacking or countering an attack with 70k to go is a bit too risky, and he will not try to follow Mohoric or Evenepoel or other long rangers and keep his powder dry. Same goes for Alaphilippe, Van Aert, Colbrelli...
Would be Mad if that happenedWould be funny if Mads Pedersen wins again. He has a good sprint tbf. Especially from a reduced group.
A break is usually not formed because the guys in the break "dropped" the best riders in the world. It is usually formed because there is either a lack of domestiques to control the race and/or the leaders don't want to burn their matches too soon and rather wait. I'm not saying Mohoric is going to drop Van der Poel on a climb in Overijse, but maybe Mathieu would think attacking or countering an attack with 70k to go is a bit too risky, and he will not try to follow Mohoric or Evenepoel or other long rangers and keep his powder dry. Same goes for Alaphilippe, Van Aert, Colbrelli...
On a more serious note, obviously the main skill you need in this race is positioning. Sprint+positioning and you'll win this race.
Also the men's race is a lot longer and that alone will hopefully lead to a bit more of a selection.
I don't remember who but one of the Dutch riders today said it was surprisingly easy in the middle of the peloton today.Due to positioning in the city parcours, I don't see more than 30 riders at the finish. The parcours just doesn't allow more than that before the elastic starts to snap.