Grands Prix Cyclistes de Canada (Québec & Montréal) - 1.WT2

[Alexandre B.]

Michael Matthews owes Nans Peters a pint!

Peter Sagan looks very good for the Worlds.

 

[Keram]

Sagan saved Greg from 4th consecutive 2nd place

 

[Screecher]

Matthews gambled on the fact that it's going to come back together and he was absolutely correct.

 

[carton]

Matthews was following no wheels for about 30 meters, and that was enough. Oh well.

That's the way bike racing usually goes.

It was a good move, but EF just caught them on the finishing straight, working their tails off to set up Vanmarcke's devastating sprint for 11th place

C'est la vie. Chapeau Bling.

 

[tobydawq]

Thanks, he's won at Montreal also hasn't he?

Yes, he took the double last year. Third consecutive Canadian Classic win for him. Hopefully, that streak will come to an end Sunday.

I was surprised that Sagan could follow Alaphilippe's attack because he had let a gap open in front of him to GVA on the preceding hill and had to spend the descend afterwards closing that gap. Then suddenly he was stronger than the others, almost going for it solo. That could have been something.

 

[Climbing]

Matthews gambled on the fact that it's going to come back together and he was absolutely correct.

He didn't have the legs to follow, most likely.
Still, nice win!

 

[tobydawq]

To be fair to Matthews, the selection was almost entirely made due to positioning. He could have been the strongest rider in the world today, and he wouldn't have been able to go with the front trio when they attacked, if he had more than a couple riders between himself and Van Avermaet.

And in the interview he did indeed say that he was angry with himself for being badly positioned, because he wanted to go with them. Now it wound up becoming a blessing in disguise (at least for his palmarès, not for his esteem in this community).

 

[Red Rick]

You can't doubt Matthews was very strong.

2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 came from the late attack.

 

[42x16ss]

He didn't have the legs to follow, most likely.
Still, nice win!

Post finish interview Matthews strongly criticised his own positioning, said that he should have been in a place where he could join the attack.

He readily admitted that he was lucky AG2R rode when they did.

 

[Bushman]

You can't doubt Matthews was very strong.

2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 came from the late attack.

Stuyven wasnt in the group, he couldnt follow Alaphillippe’s attack. Otherwise you’re right.

 

[42x16ss]

Matthews gambled on the fact that it's going to come back together and he was absolutely correct.

Not gambling, badly positioned. He said he got lucky in the post race interview and should have been in a place where he could respond. Apparently he was quite angry with himself.

 

[Noddy97]

People are talking only about MVP but sagan seems the clear favourite to me for the worlds

 

[Red Rick]

Sagan and VdP are the biggest favorites but I find it really hard to rate them against each other at this point.

 

[AQETUYIOI]

Peter Sagan looks very good for the Worlds.

What sets him apart from the rest?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

To be fair to Matthews, the selection was almost entirely made due to positioning. He could have been the strongest rider in the world today, and he wouldn't have been able to go with the front trio when they attacked, if he had more than a couple riders between himself and Van Avermaet.

And in the interview he did indeed say that he was angry with himself for being badly positioned, because he wanted to go with them. Now it wound up becoming a blessing in disguise (at least for his palmarès, not for his esteem in this community).

This.

That climb is 95% positioning and only 5% power.

 

[jmdirt]

Sagan and VdP are the biggest favorites but I find it really hard to rate them against each other at this point.

Yes, they look good! There are several others who could be good as well, like everyone in the move at the end. Obviously there are some guys who we aren't even thinking about who are polishing their form like ninjas.

 

[Alexandre B.]

What sets him apart from the rest?

Three worlds championships.

 

[yaco]

I suspect a puncheur will win today in Quebec, especially seeing the extra two laps and increased elevation.

 

[AQETUYIOI]

Three worlds championships.

That was years ago, what sets him apart from the competition today/in two weeks?

 

[Wvv]

Let's see. With last Friday, previous editions, the 2019 season and the longer route in mind, I'd say:

***
Peter Sagan
**
Michael Matthews & Julian Alaphilippe
*
Greg Van Avermaet, Diego Ulissi & Tim Wellens

My dark horses: Valgren, Mohoric & Woods


Go Greg!

 

[Rollthedice]

Five lonely usual suspects in the break, 2 Rally, 2 Canada and 1 Israel Cycling. A long day ahead.

 

[Bonimenier]

That was years ago, what sets him apart from the competition today/in two weeks?

"years ago"
He was still wc 1 year ago. You act like it's been forever ago.

 

[tobydawq]

Really, this race has more than 4700 altitude meters? That sounds hard.

 

[tobydawq]

Game over?

 

[DNP-Old]

We've won.