2023 National Championships

[Red Rick]

Nah, i was in Tenerife last summer and have a buddy who has an apartment there, he goes every 2 months and he uses it as his only way to watch TV. So you can 100% definitely still watch VRTnu/VRTmax abroad still.

PS: I think they could make an awesome WCC in Tenerife, even without including Teide. Wide roads, new asfalt, very demanding, never flat, plenty of hotels, good weather conditions...

I just want the Vuelta to go nuts in the Canaries tbh. Tenerife wouldn't even be the most difficult island.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Kamp, not Kron - last year

That was a blew Definitely heat & high humidity taking toll on my memory

 

[Samamba]

McNulty really waited too long.

Simmons probably taking the jersey. Thats over 1000 UCI points for Trek in a weeks time, beating a handful of pros and a bunch of amateurs.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Real bonus weekend of cycling, the 2 weeks before the tour are usually a bit miserable but saw parts of about 7 or 8 races and every one was a banger with a great winner and Superman went nuts in Colombia.

I love cycling being shown a bit later in the day in Europe too like these American championships, it's why the Canadian classics are some of my favourites, just a different vibe.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Though hilly circuit, certainly didn't expect the route to shake things up in this extend

I think it's not only the climbs that make it tough, it's also the fact that the circuit is placed in a city, so there is lots of 90 degrees turns. In addition, the Danish riders are specialists when it comes to this kind of races, they know how to make it tough for their rivals.

And let's not forget that many teams are small - it's a race that's hard to control when you only have a couple of domestiques.

 

[Tonton]

Just reading full results list of Danish Elite Men RR.

77 finishers of the 160 starters spread all over with huge time gaps, coming over finish line either in small groups or as solo rides. Which gives thoughts to a Angliru MT finish rather than a punch of smaller hills race design.

What especially strikes me is the complete mixture all the way down the list of top WT riders and semi-amateurs from small teams, like a thoroughly shaken bag of candies.

During my studies in the 90ies I lived different places in the city and the vicinity, and took quite some hill challenges on my bike, and in fact a loop close to copy of final rounds in this race here.
Though hilly circuit, certainly didn't expect the route to shake things up in this extend, even last year (Andreas Kron's victory) would prove, this looks close to the extreme.
I guess high humidity and hot weather played a role today?

Edit: What extreme bad luck for Casper Pedersen (broken collar bone, result from early crash) I was really rooting for him in the upcoming tour to display his lead-out skills learned from Master Yoda Mørkøv.

I have yet to watch the Danish race, but by your account, it had similarities with what happened in France where we had two hills, 15 laps, and only 23 finished. Only the last two finishers were "same time". GFC exploded the field from the start, attack after attack to shrink everybody else. Pinot and Gaudu paid for their efforts, but set up two teammates and chapeau Valentin. Wow! He was so strong today. Rode Molard off his back wheel, never looked back.

Hot weather, 224 km later, only 23 finished...seven of them from GFC, three riders in the top-10 with Pinot in 7th place for his first race since Il Giro. Madiot has polished the crown that he'll wear on Netflix.

Had Steven Seagal won two PR, he'd be Marc Madiot.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Not a huge fan of Simmons, but his tribute to Gino, and his interview after, gave me some respect I didn't have before. Glad he won, as it was well deserved. I understand he saw Gino's crash, and he indicated in the interview that he has been contemplating whether he wants to continue racing. He seems to have a good heart in there, even if imperfect (as is true for all of us).

 

[awavey]

have we covered Alison Jackson is Canadian road race champion and Chloe Dygert is US road race champion yet ?

 

[awavey]

or that Cofidis have produced Victoire Berteau's new national jersey already

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[Boehmand]

have we covered Alison Jackson is Canadian road race champion ?

Not official until we have seen her dance!

 

[Boehmand]

Another point on the low number of finishers in some championship races:

We have to remember that championships almost always end on a circuit, which means riders are removed by officials when they are in danger of being a circuit behind.

So it's not necessarily riders quitting the race, but often simply because they are too far behind.

 

[jono]

Nickolas Zukowsky (Q36.5) wins is Canadian RR national champ.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Another point on the low number of finishers in some championship races:

We have to remember that championships almost always end on a circuit, which means riders are removed by officials when they are in danger of being a circuit behind.

So it's not necessarily riders quitting the race, but often simply because they are too far behind.

That's really not the thing. When riders in a championship fall that far behind that they could get lapped, then that will likely mean they have already let go mentally and made their piece with not finishing the race after their job is done.

Some countries like Belgium make it mandatory to participate for all pro riders. That means even when the race doesn't suit your calendar (not in top shape) or your preparation (endangering other goals), that it makes no sense to go all out especially after the race has unfolded in a way where there are no more chances for you.

The latter goes for all riders who have nothing left to fight for as well. There are different team dynamics at play. Some riders only have a few teammates in the peloton, some will even have none. While others will have 15 teammates or more (Lotto in BE, FDJ/AG2R in FR,...). When you are a climber in a sprinter's race and have no teammate to work for or help out, what are your goals? Not every climber is a Pogacar or Evenepoel. If you are sprinter in a hilly classic style 240k race, what are you going to do? You can help out teammates early on, if you even have teammates in the peloton. After that it makes little sense to keep going. Not every sprinter is a Van Aert. When you are a domestique and you have done your work, chasing a break down for 100k with 100k to go, your job is done and there is no point in continuing.

I think if more 1 day races would end on a closed circuit, there would be more DNF's as well. This year there were considerably more finishers in Roubaix and Liège than in Vlaanderen. While those two races are arguably harder, and the weather in Liège was worse. But RVV is the only of the three that has a loop in the circuit. I'm sure that's not just down to crashes.

 

[DNP-Old]

Simmons already has a US Nationals jersey, and I'd advise Trek to just straight up copy it. This is from Gent Wevelgem 2019, a beauty.

 

[SHAD0W93]

McNulty really waited too long.

Simmons probably taking the jersey. Thats over 1000 UCI points for Trek in a weeks time, beating a handful of pros and a bunch of amateurs.

Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

 

[theyoungest]

Either VdP isn't the best, or Kooij is just insane.

Kooij is really good. He literally didn't break a sweat yesterday. The contrast with Van Baarle and Van der Poel was striking, both carrying a salt mine on their backs. I think Van Baarle should be happy with the national jersey, so he doesn't have to wear Jumbo's almost completely black Tour attire.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

This Belgian rule that all pro's must take part in the national championships:

It seems a serious enough deal that the vast majority of riders turned up (even if it would be an exaggeration to say they all raced), but what of those who didn't show? De Plus, Wellens and others weren't there: do they have to show a medical reason? And what sanction is there if they don't?

Would a rider actually be stripped of their pro licence (restraint of trade issues?)? Disqualified from selection for Euro's/World's? Or just a harshly worded letter saying that they are disappointed in them?

Do other countries have such a requirement?

 

[SafeBet]

This Belgian rule that all pro's must take part in the national championships:

It seems a serious enough deal that the vast majority of riders turned up (even if it would be an exaggeration to say they all raced), but what of those who didn't show? De Plus, Wellens and others weren't there: do they have to show a medical reason? And what sanction is there if they don't?

Would a rider actually be stripped of their pro licence (restraint of trade issues?)? Disqualified from selection for Euro's/World's? Or just a harshly worded letter saying that they are disappointed in them?

Do other countries have such a requirement?

I remember such a rule for the Italian NC (athletes wouldn't be eligible for Euros / Worlds selection otherwise).
I'm not sure it's still in place though.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I remember such a rule for the Italian NC (athletes wouldn't be eligible for Euros / Worlds selection otherwise).
I'm not sure it's still in place though.

My impression was always that you just needed to be a big enough name and have a somewhat plausible excuse and they'd let it slide...

 

[SafeBet]

My impression was always that you just needed to be a big enough name and have a somewhat plausible excuse and they'd let it slide...

That's always the Italian way of doing things isn't it?
Although I'm pretty sure they are not particularly strict in Belgium either.

 

[Mayomaniac]

That's always the Italian way of doing things isn't it?
Although I'm pretty sure they are not particularly strict in Belgium either.

Correct!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

This Belgian rule that all pro's must take part in the national championships:

It seems a serious enough deal that the vast majority of riders turned up (even if it would be an exaggeration to say they all raced), but what of those who didn't show? De Plus, Wellens and others weren't there: do they have to show a medical reason? And what sanction is there if they don't?

Yes, it's the reason Van Aert "suddenly" had some issues last year with his knee i think. But he was well enough to fly to training camp and start training 17 and a half seconds after the NC RR had ended.

I don't know the sanctions, could be what the Italian boys said. In any case serious enough to fake an injury for.

 

[awavey]

Another point on the low number of finishers in some championship races:

We have to remember that championships almost always end on a circuit, which means riders are removed by officials when they are in danger of being a circuit behind.

So it's not necessarily riders quitting the race, but often simply because they are too far behind.

One aspect in the British races they were applying their own interpretation of the outside time limit rule, which didnt match the UCI rule under which they were meant to be using, so some riders finished but BC refused to place them as finishers.

But maybe they wanted to distract from their attempt to repeat Tour de Pyrenees levels of road closures

 

[fox]

Just reading full results list of Danish Elite Men RR.

77 finishers of the 160 starters spread all over with huge time gaps, coming over finish line either in small groups or as solo rides. Which gives thoughts to a Angliru MT finish rather than a punch of smaller hills race design.

What especially strikes me is the complete mixture all the way down the list of top WT riders and semi-amateurs from small teams, like a thoroughly shaken bag of candies.

During my studies in the 90ies I lived different places in the city and the vicinity, and took quite some hill challenges on my bike, and in fact a loop close to copy of final rounds in this race here.
Though hilly circuit, certainly didn't expect the route to shake things up in this extend, even last year (Andreas Kron's victory) would prove, this looks close to the extreme.
I guess high humidity and hot weather played a role today?

Edit: What extreme bad luck for Casper Pedersen (broken collar bone, result from early crash) I was really rooting for him in the upcoming tour to display his lead-out skills learned from Master Yoda Mørkøv.

Vingegaard didn't compete? Isn't it an obligation for a pro rider to take part in the nationals? I know it is in Belgium.

 

[Boehmand]

Vingegaard didn't compete? Isn't it an obligation for a pro rider to take part in the nationals? I know it is in Belgium.

Only Belgium really enforces such a rule - and AFAIK the only possible sanction is not getting selected for races the federation determines the team for - i.e. European championships and Worlds.

In Denmark it's the norm that GC riders doing the Tour stay away from Nationals, because riding in Denmark is usually not conducive to optimum Tour preparation.

That being said, Vingegaard is an odd duck... he also said no to getting selected for Worlds last year, despite the route suiting him excellently.