Elite male WC road race

[Sasquatch]

Back when I joined this forum the popular belief was that no matter how bad the rest of the season is, the Worlds always delivered.

Though sadly since 2011 it has indeed been 3 years of really crap races.

I think we need to wait until 2017.

 

[ILovecycling]

Back when I joined this forum the popular belief was that no matter how bad the rest of the season is, the Worlds always delivered.

Though sadly since 2011 it has indeed been 3 years of really crap races.

yep,we are in an agreement sir.

I think we need to wait until 2017.

maybe even more

 

[ILovecycling]

Bananito looks ready to tear this race up.

thanks for the pic

bananito looks solid as predicted imo.rigo on the other hand...

 

[shalgo]

I'm convinced: I predict Betancur for the win.

 

[MellowJohnny]

According to Froome GB are riding for Ben Swift

Can't see it happening Chris. Gives the Yates twins a chance.

 

[classicomano]

Betancur looks like he just came off a massive coke bender that lasted from the end of the Vuelta till now. What a hot ****ing mess.

 

[greenedge]

I voted other for Bouhanni.

He might've improved his climbing enough to make the finish. Kristoff isn't in top shape anymore I think, Degenkolb's form might be lacking due to his health problems and Bouhanni is faster than Matthews.

If it's raced properly hard, of course Bouhanni won't be there. Don't know who would win in that case. Maybe Gallopin or a Belgian.

I've always had the sense that Mathhews would beat Bouhanni in most of the stages Bouhanni won, so hopefully that finally occurs. Exactly my thoughts as well about Kristoff, he has had a very long and very successful season.

big attention to the belgian mythical squadra if they made the same ritual as always before the worlds. i think they will destroy gerrans big time

Gilbert looks to be on not great form, Vanmarcke couldn't win in Canada and apart from beating Boonen in 2012 is not that great a sprinter. GVA also was beaten by Gerrans at Canada and while his wins after were impressive they were not against that many WT teams (I think...). If Boonen is there- I doubt it but I can't rule him out- I expect Matthews to be there and hopefully beat him in a sprint.

 

[greenedge]

Could be some nasty weather. Interested to see how Matthews does. The profile looks good but he has done very little in one-day races of this length.

True, but he has stepped up a whole level this year, he has a lot of pedigree and his win at the Giro this year was really impressive. If he's still with the front group by the last climb, I would say he has the nous.

Actually his Giro win this year was 257 km, just realised.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Bananito looks ready to tear this race up.

From left to right who are the riders in the photo?

 

[Sasquatch]

According to Froome GB are riding for Ben Swift

Can't see it happening Chris. Gives the Yates twins a chance.

Team Sky politics at play.

 

[pastronef]

How about Navardauskas for a surprise win?

(just dropping it here, since I'm somewhat surprised he isn't even mentioned by anyone)

that would be great. I was talking about it, riding with a friend last week. Navardauskas solo. wow. he almost did not know him

anyhow, I hope for a win that's not belgian nor italian, nor Valverde nor Sagan.

Cance or Kristoff or Swift (if he's in Milan-Sanremo shape)
well, the other two in Milan-Sanremo shape too

 

[Hugo Koblet]

From left to right who are the riders in the photo?

Uran, Seb. Henao, Arredondo, Anacona, Acevedo, Quintero, Betancur, Chaves, Rubiano

 

[Lupetto]

According to Froome GB are riding for Ben Swift

Can't see it happening Chris. Gives the Yates twins a chance.

Swift was on the podium of Milano - Sanremo this year. He is their best choice. The finale will be very similar to the last editions of La Classicissima. Riders trying to jump from the peloton on the last metres of the last climb. Like Cancellara did in 2012 with Nibali and Gerrans.

In U23 it was possible to stay away because Australia burned their team. I don't see how this is possible tomorrow. Super-Gilbert of 2011 maybe..

 

[Flamin]

In U23 it was possible to stay away because Australia burned their team. I don't see how this is possible tomorrow. Super-Gilbert of 2011 maybe..

And why did Australia burn their team? The same can happen tomorrow.

 

[Roderick]

And why did Australia burn their team? The same can happen tomorrow.

Hopefully the Italians, Belgians, Spaniards, Colombians,... have learned from yesterday's race and start dropping masssove bombs from 6-7 laps to go

 

[SafeBet]

Hopefully the Italians, Belgians, Spaniards, Colombians,... have learned from yesterday's race and start dropping masssove bombs from 6-7 laps to go

Don't know about other teams, but there's not much else the Italians can do.

 

[MellowJohnny]

Swift was on the podium of Milano - Sanremo this year. He is their best choice. The finale will be very similar to the last editions of La Classicissima. Riders trying to jump from the peloton on the last metres of the last climb. Like Cancellara did in 2012 with Nibali and Gerrans.

In U23 it was possible to stay away because Australia burned their team. I don't see how this is possible tomorrow. Super-Gilbert of 2011 maybe..

Thing is it was a sky team getting him there. Good luck to him but I think he will be massively out muscled by Sagan, Kristoff, Gerrans, GVA, Cancellera, Degenkolb etc.

 

[Polza_]

Thing is it was a sky team getting him there. Good luck to him but I think he will be massively out muscled by Sagan, Kristoff, Gerrans, GVA, Cancellera, Degenkolb etc.

According to G's article sounds like the Yates twins might have free roles, mentions domestic duties for most of the team then mentions not putting all the eggs in one basket and references the Yates twins.

Although will probably end of the usual way with the whole team riding on the front from 150K out for no reason!

Also recons it will be a 20-30 man sprint.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/29315153

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

According to G's article sounds like the Yates twins might have free roles, mentions domestic duties for most of the team then mentions not putting all the eggs in one basket and references the Yates twins.

Although will probably end of the usual way with the whole team riding on the front from 150K out for no reason!

Also recons it will be a 20-30 man sprint.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/29315153

Not sure why you think they will wait until the last 150km, they will have been on front for 100km by then and have used 4 or 5 riders up already.

 

[SafeBet]

Not sure why you think they will wait until the last 150km, they will have been on front for 100km by then and have used 4 or 5 riders up already.

Which is a shame, cause they have potential to make the race very hard if they choose to.

 

[Roderick]

Don't know about other teams, but there's not much else the Italians can do.

Maybe they think they can drop Gerrans if they just go flat out for two laps.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Uran, Seb. Henao, Arredondo, Anacona, Acevedo, Quintero, Betancur, Chaves, Rubiano

Thank you Sir.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Maybe they think they can drop Gerrans if they just go flat out for two laps.

If Gerrans is in top form they might not be able to drop him even if they go from a long way out. However if they are racing for Nibali then they have to try.

 

[l.Harm]

They need to isolate him, then he can't respond to every attack. But to isolate him they need to start early, cause with these 9 man teams and the quality of the Australian riders that will be very difficult. And I expect the Germans to help them a little, which won't be 'a little' if Tony M is joining.

 

[CyclingEnthusiast]

Looking at the women's and junior race the course doesn't look hard enough for the punchers unless the base is blistering all the way through, it may pan out very similar to the women's where on the final climb a few riders like Valverde, Nibali and Martin or similar riders kick off but then slow down before the sprint and get swallowed by the bunch.