Elite male WC road race

[BigMac]

I think it's just meant as a discussion thread over the elite RR, I had already created a official race thread for the whole world championships (stickied at the moment).


I would be able to add a poll to the thread. How's the options...
Degenkolb
Gerrans
Sagan
Cancellara
Valverde
GVA
Costa
Gilbert
Kristoff
other

...sound to people?

Take Degenkolb, Kristoff, Sagan, Cancellara, Gerrans, Gilbert, Van Avarmaet out. They won't be a factor. Oh, and make it in alphabetical order so Costa appears first. Ta.

 

[Arredondo]

According to Thijs Zonneveld, the race is too easy to be a hard course and too hard to be an easy course.
He does say that it doesn't look it's possible to drop Gerrans or Matthews on such a course.

Is Bouhanni participating btw? Might even be able to survive this. He survived some tougher Vuelta stages after all.

Zonneveld often says something about routes before, and we got a completely different outcome.

 

[Flamin]

I think it's just meant as a discussion thread over the elite RR, I had already created a official race thread for the whole world championships (stickied at the moment).


I would be able to add a poll to the thread. How's the options...
Degenkolb
Gerrans
Sagan
Cancellara
Valverde
GVA
Costa
Gilbert
Kristoff
other

...sound to people?

Good, except maybe Kwiatkowski instead of Gilbert. Or even Boonen.

According to Thijs Zonneveld, the race is too easy to be a hard course and too hard to be an easy course.
He does say that it doesn't look it's possible to drop Gerrans or Matthews on such a course.

Is Bouhanni participating btw? Might even be able to survive this. He survived some tougher Vuelta stages after all.

Say what?

 

[Rollthedice]

According to Thijs Zonneveld, the race is too easy to be a hard course and too hard to be an easy course.
He does say that it doesn't look it's possible to drop Gerrans or Matthews on such a course.

Is Bouhanni participating btw? Might even be able to survive this. He survived some tougher Vuelta stages after all.

He is. On another hand an interesting thing said by Nibali today:

"That descent between the two climbs is ugly," he warned. "You’ll need to pay a lot of attention if it rains, because the road surface isn’t the best either."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-on-world-championship-we-cant-wait-for-the-finale

 

[Flamin]

Thanks Afrank

Can't wait for Sunday. So many different scenarios possible, so many potential winners. No idea who will win, so I'll vote for the guy I like to win

 

[BigMac]

Thanks for putting Costa and Valverde first in the poll, Afrank.

 

[Netserk]

Sags FTW! _O_

 

[Afrank]

Thanks Afrank

Can't wait for Sunday. So many different scenarios possible, so many potential winners. No idea who will win, so I'll vote for the guy I like to win

Thanks for putting Costa and Valverde first in the poll, Afrank.

De nada. I made sure to put Costa and Valverde first specifically for you BigMac.

Sags FTW! _O_

This.

 

[MellowJohnny]

I think Sagan will do it,

Though I'd personally like to see Kristoff or Degenkolb do it.

 

[BigMac]

De nada. I made sure to put Costa and Valverde first specifically for you BigMac.



This.

I got that feeling! Thanks a lot.

 

[Jancouver]

Cancellara 2nd place is pretty much given.

Voted for Kristoff
Hoping for Sagan
Anybody other then Gerrans is OK with me

1.Kristoff
2.Cancellara
3. Valverde

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

With the form he is in, I expect Dumoulin in the top 10 as well btw

 

[sir fly]

Since Sagan and Cancellara are occupying over 50% of the votes at the moment, I'll go with Boonen.
And that's not "other/Vino" option.
It's Boonen.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

people will wiat for the sprint and Kristoff will take it. a boooring race

 

[Pricey_sky]

Going for a Kwiatkowski win, although it will probably be Gerrans or Valverde.

 

[SafeBet]

Cancellara 2nd place is pretty much given.

Voted for Kristoff
Hoping for Sagan
Anybody other then Gerrans is OK with me

1.Kristoff
2.Cancellara
3. Valverde

Sums up my feelings too.

 

[Kwibus]

The fact that the finish is only 4.5km after the top of the climb and it's pretty much all downhill after the top.

I really do think this will favour a puncheur, but it will be mighty hard to drop Gerrans since he's pretty much a puncheur as well.

Not giving much for sprinters like Matthews, Bouhanni or Degenkolb, but Sagan is able to attack on these climbs as well. If he's feeling great he might as well be among the first to crest the top of the final climb.

Still if about 5-15 riders are at the top it will be hard to control since riders will watch riders like Sagan, Gerrans or Valverde to close the gap and they won't likely do it. Attacking that final group will have a nice chance of success, allthough that it's downhill doesn't help.

The u23 race will be a good indication though. A lot less organised racing there though.

 

[MellowJohnny]

The fact that the finish is only 4.5km after the top of the climb and it's pretty much all downhill after the top.

I really do think this will favour a puncheur, but it will be mighty hard to drop Gerrans since he's pretty much a puncheur as well.

Not giving much for sprinters like Matthews, Bouhanni or Degenkolb, but Sagan is able to attack on these climbs as well. If he's feeling great he might as well be among the first to crest the top of the final climb.

Still if about 5-15 riders are at the top it will be hard to control since riders will watch riders like Sagan, Gerrans or Valverde to close the gap and they won't likely do it. Attacking that final group will have a nice chance of success, allthough that it's downhill doesn't help.

The u23 race will be a good indication though. A lot less organised racing there though.

With that in mind I'd sway more towards Degenkolb - I think he stronger than Gerrans/Matthews.

It depends what sort of team Sagan has - I assume it will be his brother and Bodnar.

 

[sir fly]

With that in mind I'd sway more towards Degenkolb - I think he stronger than Gerrans/Matthews.

It depends what sort of team Sagan has - I assume it will be his brother and Bodnar.

Velits brothers, according to the sources I rely on.
Bodnar is a Pole.

I also think it will come down to puncheurs.

 

[Kwibus]

With that in mind I'd sway more towards Degenkolb - I think he stronger than Gerrans/Matthews.

It depends what sort of team Sagan has - I assume it will be his brother and Bodnar.

What? You think Degenkolb climbs better than Gerrans/Matthews? I think he will get dropped and will be too far behind.
He also spend atleast a full a week in the hospital right after the Vuelta. That can't be good for your form.

 

[Jspear]

So far Gerrans isn't the favorite here.
Voted Cancellara because that's what I want. I do expect him and Valverde to podium though. Hard to say who the winner will be....hoping things get to hard for the sprinters.

 

[greenedge]

Gerrans
Cancellara
Valverde

 

[cineteq]

Sags FTW! _O_

Agree! He'll get it right this time.

 

[diggercuz]

I dont care who wins - i just want this guy at the finish creating a super charged electric sexual atmosphere! Oh man that would be a sight.

Ah but i do care who wins - rooting for an aussie victory for national pride. Dream scenario for me would be that gerrans and matthews are still in the lead group on the last lap and Gerrans to launch an attack well before the hill to make other teams chase and drag matthews along with them and then coming to the line matthews to smoke them all.

That however has about as much chance of happening as Cadel winning another Grand Tour (and yes, i know he has retired)...

But hey, one can dream cant they.

Anyway cancellara and Piti to battle out the podium spots with an outsider to solo to the line while everyone just looks around to see who will chase, and when noone does it will be too late...

 

[Escarabajo]

I won't vote unless they put Betancur in the list!