European Cycling Championships | Plouay (24-28 August)

[boneshaker]

Sagan 15th. He is really out of form

 

[Jspear]

Yes he can. If he had managed to latch on to the Belgian train on the right-hand side, he could have won. As it was, the road just got flooded with riders in front of him, and he couldn't get through.

Part of competing in sprints is not getting boxed in. He doesn't have as much experience as some of those he was competing against.

 

[Red Rick]

Hey Stuyven got sixth you know!

They must be extatic

 

[Metal earth]

Yeah but he can't compete with these boys in a sprint. Where was he supposed to go? What could he have done differently?

I disagree, he had to speed to overtake Nizzolo en Demare but his positioning needs work which is understandable, these other guys have been sprinting on the road for a longer period of time. He desperarately needed a leadout man.

 

[ppanther92]

Pretty pathetic racing by several countries. Nothing happened the last lap. Perfect for teams with top class sprinters.

The strongest teams were mostly the teams with the sprinters though. You could argue if Belgium should have tried more because Stuyven is not going to beat those guys but then Stuyven did try it with an attack too.

Also, I have read the name Ťoupalík the first time about 3 weeks ago at the Czech Cycling Tour and he performs strong ever since. I guess he is a candidate for going full-pro.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

 

[ppanther92]

He was the fastest because he came from behind

Sure. But if he came from behind Ackermann or Stuyven he would have had plenty of space on the right.

 

[Rollthedice]

What was the plan of the Belgians today?

They had noone who could really win so they just rode along.

 

[RedheadDane]

NTT Jersey designers: Okay! Time to get working.
Unless, of course, they were smart enough to realise that he was among the favourites - and doing the Tour - and therefor pre-designed a jersey.

Though, imagine if Demare had won; he's doing Poitou-Charentes, which starts tomorrow. Then again; same as above - regarding being a favourite a pre-designed the jersey - can probably be said about Demare.

 

[Red Rick]

The strongest teams were mostly the teams with the sprinters though. You could argue if Belgium should have tried more because Stuyven is not going to beat those guys but then Stuyven did try it with an attack too.

Also, I have read the name Ťoupalík the first time about 3 weeks ago at the Czech Cycling Tour and he performs strong ever since. I guess he is a candidate for going full-pro.

GvA then. Close down VdP once, don't cooperate, then do nothing anymore

 

[Red Rick]

Hadn't realised this was only 177k long.

Kind of a joke really

 

[Rollthedice]

Whether you like him or not, Cassani has been doing a great job with the Italian teams, working with what he has, making his riders stick to the plan and ride as one.

 

[Red Rick]

Whether you like him or not, Cassani has been doing a great job with the Italian teams, working with what he has, making his riders stick to the plan and ride as one.

That one fan on AdH disobeyed him severely though

 

[Breezy1985]

meeeeeeh
VDP boxed. I'm pissed. He's positioning should really improve... he had the speed damnit

He looked the strongest in terms of pure speed but I don't know what gap he was trying to hit between Nizzolo and Demare at the finish. He's lucky he didn't cause a pileup

 

[Wvv]

Shame the big guns didn't try to make difference in the ultimate lap anymore. Ok the race was very short, but still, there might've been opportunities.

Third Italian in a row. Nice job.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm trying to remember when Dutch media were telling me VdP was already better than Sagan.

 

[yaco]

The Italian's have set the benchmark in big championships for the last three years - They ride as a cohesive teams, get the tactics right and choose the correct riders - Chapeau.

 

[Earns1985]

Sagan 15th. He is really out of form

For Peter´s brother Juraj I think it´s a good result...

 

[boneshaker]

For Peter´s brother Juraj I think it´s a good result...

Very good. that's why I was winking.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Whether you like him or not, Cassani has been doing a great job with the Italian teams, working with what he has, making his riders stick to the plan and ride as one.

Cassani only made bad calls when he selected the team for the 2014 WC, other than that he has been great.
Happy for Nizzolo, a shame that we won't see a proper Italian NC jersey all year long. At the Tour he could actually win one of the hillier sprint stages for team NTR

 

[PeterB]

He looked the strongest in terms of pure speed but I don't know what gap he was trying to hit between Nizzolo and Demare at the finish. He's lucky he didn't cause a pileup

The one who almost caused the pileup was Nizzolo himself. He definitely did not hold his line and put into danger both VdPoel and also Demare. I thought exactly this kind of sprinting was going to be punished but yet again, it is obviously allowed until someone crashes (oh, wait, when was the last crash?). Really, I would not mind DQing Nizzolo for that final swerve if we are going to pretend we care for safety...

Front view of the sprint:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1298624712218640384

View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1298624712218640384

 

[SafeBet]

Whether you like him or not, Cassani has been doing a great job with the Italian teams, working with what he has, making his riders stick to the plan and ride as one.

If only they could win the WC once.

 

[Koronin]

Sounds like Italy did a good job trying to control the race and giving Nizzolo a real chance to win. Good job by Nizzolo finishing off the the work of his teammates.

 

[Sciatic]

NTT Jersey designers: Okay! Time to get working.
Unless, of course, they were smart enough to realise that he was among the favourites - and doing the Tour - and therefor pre-designed a jersey.

Though, imagine if Demare had won; he's doing Poitou-Charentes, which starts tomorrow. Then again; same as above - regarding being a favourite a pre-designed the jersey - can probably be said about Demare.

That was exactly my thought: the NTT tailor/seamstress holding Nizzolo’s just-completed National jersey watching today’s race, looking down at the jersey in their hands and saying, “oh sh$t; well, back to the drawing board“

 

[RedheadDane]

That was exactly my thought: the NTT tailor/seamstress holding Nizzolo’s just-completed National jersey watching today’s race, looking down at the jersey in their hands and saying, “oh sh$t; well, back to the drawing board“

Might also explain why Van Der Breggen didn't have a Dutch jersey for yesterday's GP de Plouay. The Boels-Dolmans tailor just deciding that; "She's probably gone win the European Championship anyway! Not going through with this."