Kwiat Beats the wheelsuckers! Best thing of worlds?

[Moose McKnuckles]

IIRC, Leipheimer wheelsucked Cunego then delivered a coup de grâce near the finish. But I reckon a not insignificant part of the anti-Bottle reaction wasn't just because of his tactics, but because of his role in the Armstrong saga.

Three things about Bottle Leipheimer:

1. Bottle is a complete d-bag.
2. He's cheated from the very start of his career.
3. He's a wheelsucking rider who is terrible to watch.

 

[Netserk]

I'd say that accurately describes Gerrans at the WC race.

Yes, I agree with that. It also describes Valverde, Breschel, Gallopin and (GVA).

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yes, I agree with that. It also describes Valverde, Breschel, Gallopin and (GVA).

Valverde did actually attack in the race. That's more than 90% of the peloton did.

 

[Netserk]

Valverde did actually attack in the race. That's more than 90% of the peloton did.

Where did he attack?

On the last climb Purito attacked, then Gilbert went after him, Gerrans went after Gilbert and Valverde followed with Breschel on his wheel.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Where did he attack?

On the last climb Purito attacked, then Gilbert went after him, Gerrans went after Gilbert and Valverde followed with Breschel on his wheel.

And then Valverde attacked towards the top.

 

[toolittle]

Having watched the video again, it seem that the key moment for the chasers came with about 700m to go, when Gilbert, who is clearly cooked, flicks his elbow and moves to the side. Gallopin does nothing, so Gilbert resumes the chase. If Gallopin had taken any sort of pull, they might have had a chance, but after that it wasn't going to happen.

I think Beglium raced a wrong strategy at the final kilometers.

Over half of riders in small chasing group are wheelsuck specialists.

It is a big mistake to send Gilbert to pull. If Gilbert attack out of the chasing group, he might get silver.

If the chasing group chase Gilbert, GVA might have a great change to get gold.

Now Gilbert chased, they wheelsuck as normal.

 

[Bushman]

I think Beglium raced a wrong strategy at the final kilometers.

Over half of riders in small chasing group are wheelsuck specialists.

It is a big mistake to send Gilbert to pull. If Gilbert attack out of the chasing group, he might get silver.

If the chasing group chase Gilbert, GVA might have a great change to get gold.

Now Gilbert chased, they wheelsuck as normal.

That was my thought as well. Had Gilbert attacked in the descent, GVA would have had a great opportunity to counter, had Gilbert been caught.

 

[Akuryo]

That was my thought as well. Had Gilbert attacked in the descent, GVA would have had a great opportunity to counter, had Gilbert been caught.

Problem is, Gilbert had nothing left to start a real attack. He said himself he was not in top shape and glad to even be in that group.

 

[Bushman]

Problem is, Gilbert had nothing left to start a real attack. He said himself he was not in top shape and glad to even be in that group.

Yes you are right. But still, had he attacked full out, knowing that he couldnt sustain it, he would still give GVA a great opportunity to counter and get away.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Yes you are right. But still, had he attacked full out, knowing that he couldnt sustain it, he would still give GVA a great opportunity to counter and get away.

Yes, and because of the structure of the race, lots of very cautious racing happens even between temporary teammates.

 

[sponsor]

A tougher circuit minimizes the cautiousness. This course was not tough enough.

I like no radios.

 

[damian13ster]

A tougher circuit minimizes the cautiousness. This course was not tough enough.

I like no radios.

I don't agree with either of your points to be honest. Tougher circuit doesn't minimize cautiousness. Its quite the opposite. It keeps everyone waiting for the last hill. A circuit like this year's forced people to attack. Some were too afraid, and Kwiatkowski wasn't so he was rewarded. If it ended on an uphill sprint then pretty much everybody would have waited AGR style.

And I like no radios but just in classics. In stage races its a bad idea because there is no other way to communicate the gaps (Tour of Britain being the perfect example)

 

[nepetalactone]

Yes, and because of the structure of the race, lots of very cautious racing happens even between temporary teammates.

But those two are both BMCers....

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I think Beglium raced a wrong strategy at the final kilometers.

Over half of riders in small chasing group are wheelsuck specialists.

It is a big mistake to send Gilbert to pull. If Gilbert attack out of the chasing group, he might get silver.

If the chasing group chase Gilbert, GVA might have a great change to get gold.

Now Gilbert chased, they wheelsuck as normal.

If Gilbert attacked, no way the group would have chased with GVA in their wheels.
If every other rider took only 1 pull in the last 2k, they all might had a chance for gold.
Silver is worthless in a WC

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

And I like no radios but just in classics. In stage races its a bad idea because there is no other way to communicate the gaps (Tour of Britain being the perfect example)

As often mentioned: use radios that are only connected to the official race radio, that mentions gaps, dangerous points,... (preferably in 2 or 3 languages)

 

[damian13ster]

thats not a bad idea. Still makes rider memorize how much time he has over opponents in GC that got into the break (you cant contact each individual rider through official channel with that info). Just take a look at last 2 stages in ToB.

 

[greenedge]

Problem is, Gilbert had nothing left to start a real attack. He said himself he was not in top shape and glad to even be in that group.

That is true, but he was definetely one of the strongest from that group- stronger than Breschel, Gallopin and GVA.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

For Sure he wouldn't have outsprinted GVA, and there's no reason to assume Gallopin couldn't have pulled like Gilbert did (it looked impressive, but he wasn't able to gain much time, did he?)

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

For Sure he wouldn't have outsprinted GVA

Hmmm... I think he could have? Van Avermaet may be a tad bit faster in a flat sprint, but is also much more likely to screw things up... as we all saw. He was not even close to a medal (unlike Breschel)

and there's no reason to assume Gallopin couldn't have pulled like Gilbert did (it looked impressive, but he wasn't able to gain much time, did he?)

You don't rate Kwiatkowski?

 

[ciranda]

That is true, but he was definetely one of the strongest from that group- stronger than Breschel, Gallopin and GVA.

Nobody can say because he was a helper for van Avermaet. Idk about Gallopin but at least Breschel was very active until minus three km when everyone except Gerrans were still contributing.

 

[ILovecycling]

Yep, I was very impressed by Breschel, especially that he could handle attacks on mirador, mighty impressive!
Gallopin was great too, the wheelsucking ruined it for me but still big breakthrough year for him imo.

 

[Netserk]

Nobody can say because he was a helper for van Avermaet. Idk about Gallopin but at least Breschel was very active until minus three km when everyone except Gerrans were still contributing.

Please watch it again. Gerrans pulled twice, it was only GVA and Gallopin who didn't contribute. Gerrans contributed almost as much as Matti did. Valverde did more than Matti (bigger difference between those two's contributions than SG's and MB's contributions).

 

[memyselfandI]

Everybody left..

Next!

 

[blackcat]

Please watch it again. Gerrans pulled twice, it was only GVA and Gallopin who didn't contribute. Gerrans contributed almost as much as Matti did. Valverde did more than Matti (bigger difference between those two's contributions than SG's and MB's contributions).

thanks for the commentary netty, i went to sleep in the last 20kms here in Aus.

nother check of your avatar, looks like sagan and wearing a t-shirt either in thai characters or hebrew script... sagan, thus i am deducing, could be a thai jew

 

[Netserk]

thanks for the commentary netty, i went to sleep in the last 20kms here in Aus.

nother check of your avatar, looks like sagan and wearing a t-shirt either in thai characters or hebrew script... sagan, thus i am deducing, could be a thai jew