I guess I'm mostly stubborn about it because of people constantly whining about "spoilers". Not so much on here, I can understand if you might not want to see the result of the Worlds in the LKR thread, but when a news media - that exists to, you know, bring news about a race - posts about a race on FB, and some people go "WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA! Not you spoiled it!"
And you were the one who started this discussion, by claiming it's not an extensive mental gymnastics. Well, it might not be for you!
And in 40 years time, some people will be sitting on the internet, whining about how the 2020es were "Sooooooooooooooooooo much better!" all the while disregarding the races happening in the present.
The past is all well and good, the present is always better.
No, it isn't. That too is a myth . There simply are periods in which a certain magic was present and the period of Hinault, Fignon, Lemond, Roche, Delgado, Kelly, etc, the first "modern" decade of the sport, but still old school, was one. But this really isn't even the point, rather it's that it used to be that certain appointments were simply sacrosanct. And they were considered sacred by tradition; for which being present was simply deemed obligatory, as a tribute to the sport one was so fortunate enough to make a career in and to it's supporting public that wants to see all the marquis riders battling it out at the Worlds. Can you imagine the 89 Worlds without Lemond or Fignon, because one or the other said he was "just not motivated?" Back then the press would have had a field day with such an excuse! And rightly so, but then again such an outrage would have been unimmaginable at the time, simply because there was an honor code to respect. And it was a good thing, because good for the sport in general. Now this Worlds road race will doubtless still be entertaining with Pog, Remco, WvA, MvdP, Alaphilippe and the other usual suspects present, who rarely all go head to head at once in a single cycling event - this is why Worlds is special, because it brings the Bigs of different specialities from classics to GT riders together in direct competition and on national teams (another uniqueness) - however, in the glaring absence of the Tour winner, whose non-presence is frankly unconscionable. While Vingo"s crack at Lombardia is all well and good, he should be lining up at Worlds, end of story. As it would have respected the spirit of competition at "mandatory" events the sport needs and the reason fans turn up roadside to watch (and on TV) throughout the season, without which there is no pro cycling. So, contrary to your way of thinking, I can't approve of this nonsense about whatever any rider decides to race or not race is fine and to be respected. No there are certain appointments that, bar injury or some other misfortune, should be a rider's obligation to honor and with great motivation! Just having the Tour first and second place at Worlds in intense confrontation with the other challengers would be special to fans. It's the stuff the sport thrives, and has always thrived, on. It's thus a great pity that the new generation doesn't always see it that way. I also disapproved of Thomas snubbing Worlds following his Tour win, by the way. By contrast, Valverde giving his absolute soul to finally earn the Rainbow Jersey shows how, after the Golden Fleece, it is cycling's biggest prize and as a one-day win probably only second to Roubaix (although this is debatable). For this reason, not nostalgia and not because of the racing per say, since great racing isn't confined to a particular decade (even if the era of mountain trains and measured watts leaves something to be desired), cycling truly was "better" once upon a time. Since it would have been (rightly) unheard of that a Pog would be present at Worlds but not a Vingegaard under similar circumstances, because back then, even if motivation was wanting (which practically would have been impossible), because the cycling culture at the time made turning up onligatory, something that you simply owed to the sport and its fans. Probably, however, and this is another unfortunate sign of how a certain cycling no longer exists, Vingo's trade team and its sponsors have little interest in the Rainbow Jersey. JV likely even pressured him not to take part. But this is just unfortunate, such that if the trend continues why bother with Worlds at all if the best in the world don't participate, because it no longer matters to the sponsors? O tempore, o mores actually fits the case.