Do we need the UCI Road World Cup back in some version?

[Tobi]

I think we need something like the UCI Road World Cup back with a Jersey it could just be based on who’s leading the rankings what do you think?

 

[Anderis]

I personally don't need it.

 

[Fuente De]

Yes, I miss it, would be awesome to have the prior races in it + some new additions like Strade Bianche or even Tro Bro Leon.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

They just have to make a jersey for the One Day Race World Ranking.

 

[Wvv]

The World Cup was awesome back in the day. A new ranking + jersey for the one day classics would be very nice.

 

[Tobi]

Yes, I miss it, would be awesome to have the prior races in it + some new additions like Strade Bianche or even Tro Bro Leon.

Yea you right I think this would be the best idea

 

[Wyndbrook]

I often think something is needed more than the current ranking points, rarely do I even know who is leading, although the womens ranking seems to get more publicity.
Ironically when the world cup was around there seemed to be more interest in the seperate world rankings.
Perhaps one day, and seperate stage race, end of season champions based on current ranking points.
No changes required and just someone to add the numbers up.

 

[tobydawq]

NO!

It devaluates the races. I don't need watching people tank potential victories in one-day races because they have to mark their rivals.

One-day racing should be just that. No tomorrow, no yesterday.

 

[Panda Claws]

I'm inclined to think more jerseys are often a plus. That's one of the reasons I am such a fan of the European Championships even though some people think it's superfluous and unnecessary. But Tobydawq's argument may just trump any such considerations. Personally I wasn't really watching cycling yet in the days of the World Cup but stuff like that definitely shouldn't influence the race results. It's bad enough when riders 'have' to hold on to their 9th place in GC at all costs because their team desperately needs the points.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

NO!

It devaluates the races. I don't need watching people tank potential victories in one-day races because they have to mark their rivals.

One-day racing should be just that. No tomorrow, no yesterday.

Good point. GVA would win it and it would therefore mean as much as the most top tens without a win thread.
Having said that it would be nice if the rankings did get a bit more publicity,

 

[roundabout]

To be honest, I don't remember much marking instead of trying to win the race happening. But the last edition was 17 years ago and my memory isn't what it used to be.

 

[Tobi]

NO!

It devaluates the races. I don't need watching people tank potential victories in one-day races because they have to mark their rivals.

One-day racing should be just that. No tomorrow, no yesterday.

true that’s a downside I haven’t considered

 

[tobydawq]

true that’s a downside I haven’t considered

I have recently read a book about the world cup where all the races of its history were accounted for and for Paris-Tours and Lombardia it was always the same story with the leading riders only having eyes upon each other.

It even looked like Zabel deliberately tanked Paris-Roubaix one year in the sense that he didn't want his group to ride too fast because he then risked dropping and losing an opportunity to score points even if that meant he couldn't win the race.

 

[Fuente De]

NO!

It devaluates the races. I don't need watching people tank potential victories in one-day races because they have to mark their rivals.

One-day racing should be just that. No tomorrow, no yesterday.

I don't think that was the case in the original World Cup. They raced to win.

 

[tobydawq]

I don't think that was the case in the original World Cup. They raced to win.

Not near the end of the season (see my previous post).

 

[roundabout]

I have recently read a book about the world cup where all the races of its history were accounted for and for Paris-Tours and Lombardia it was always the same story with the leading riders only having eyes upon each other.

It even looked like Zabel deliberately tanked Paris-Roubaix one year in the sense that he didn't want his group to ride too fast because he then risked dropping and losing an opportunity to score points even if that meant he couldn't win the race.

From memory and some CN archive search

at least for Lombardia

2004 - both Bettini and Rebellin dropped well before the finale
2003 - Bettini won the WC before Lombardia
2002 - i think Bettini had won the WC before
2001 - Dekker won the WC before
2000 - i think the same for Zabel

I guess the closest thing was 1999 and I suppose 1997 when Bartoli IIRC was just happy to finish 4th and did not contest the finish

Edit: IIRC in the last few Paris-Tours WC editions not much happened from WC contenders behind the breaks

 

[Leinster]

In the pre WC days, for the Pernod Superprestige, Kelly needed to win Lombardia, and have Lemond/Anderson not place in 83/85. Lemond finished 2nd in one of the tightest 4-way sprints ever caught on camera to take the title. Anderson was dropped early and was showered and in the velodrome to watch Kelly win in the group sprint and take the trophy.

Having a WC depend on the races might make some guys race negative to block one or two rivals, but in general there will be enough racers on the start line who want to win to make it interesting.