National Championships 2013

[Libertine Seguros]

Spanish nationals are in Bembibre this year (near Ponferrada), on a complex course consisting of a number of circuits interweaving.

Here's my approximation:

I make that final climb 3km @ 6,3% and 10-11km from the finish. Could be an interesting one, after two straight sprinters winning (although Rojas won by beating Contador in a two-up sprint, which is a sprint even Rojas can't lose).

Portugal, depressingly, will be returning to the Pataias circuit once more. This is mostly flat, though there is a dip partway through the circuit, and it climbs back out of this again, however it's about half a kilometre at 6-7%, not enough, were the nationals a "normal" race, to prevent the sprint. However, national championships aren't always a normal race, so while in 2011 João Cabreira and Mario Costa just evaded the bunch, 2012 was the bunch sprint you might have expected, with Manuel Cardoso triumphing.

My approximation:

 

[Gloin22]

Hopefully Rojas / Ventoso don't win.

I wouldn't mind Valverde / Intxausti winning though.

Barbero as a big dark horse?

Although Txuruka winning would make my day.

 

[argyllflyer]

Because the best riders of the US don't even care about their national championship. They don't even bother to race it

Involvement in it means either no Giro or no Dauphine if a rider wants to be either fresh for the nationals after the first, or be ready for the second. Danny Pate tweeted something last night along those lines, saying it should be in late June with the rest of them.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Hopefully Rojas / Ventoso don't win.

I wouldn't mind Valverde / Intxausti winning though.

Barbero as a big dark horse?

Although Txuruka winning would make my day.

Did you notice Intxausti turned down the big Spanish flag at the Giro? One wonders what he'd do with a Spanish national jersey. Probably something as clear and obvious as Big Mig's one.

I think the time has come for Madrazo now. He's laid low all season, and people have kind of forgotten him. Time to wake up from his slumber and destroy all comers.

 

[Gloin22]

Did you notice Intxausti turned down the big Spanish flag at the Giro? One wonders what he'd do with a Spanish national jersey. Probably something as clear and obvious as Big Mig's one.

I think the time has come for Madrazo now. He's laid low all season, and people have kind of forgotten him. Time to wake up from his slumber and destroy all comers.

Good shout. Do you know if he has any form?

He'd be an epic winner, but his crash set him back quite a lot I think...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The circuit for the French championships in Lannilis, in Brétagne. This is Tro Bro Léon country, which shows up in the course - that first climb is 900m of "ribin" familiar to races such as that.

I believe this is the sector:

However, most of the route back to Lannilis is, while rolling, on a major road, so teams will need to make it hard on the ribin, and also on the twisty run-in, if they want to prevent FDJ taking it with Demare or Bouhanni again.

 

[Eshnar]

The Italian Championship this year will be coupled to the Trofeo Melinda:

 

[manafana]

interesting from the french so, dying to see an Irish nationals were we get to use some of roads I actually ride on theirs great climb into dublin mountains they could use.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Germans:

They're in Wangen im Allgäu this year, with a long circuit that could be a much more interesting short circuit. When I saw it was going to be in the Allgäu my interest was piqued, sadly it is headed in the opposite direction from my hopes.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Switzerland:

Could be interesting with that drag up to the line.

 

[gerundium]

Netherlands same course as last year.

 

[The Hitch]

lol. Colombians even winning other countries nats now.

 

[hayzer114]

Irish championship course is supported to be pretty flat this year suiting someone with a strong sprint. Sam Bennett showed huge promise in the Rás last week taking two stages with relative ease and could the man to watch. Brammeier is going for four in a row but dont know has he the form. Philly Deignan also talked up his chances after California but could be too flat for him. Would be interested to see if Roche and Martin ride or will they be in preparations for the tour, Roche has only the tour de suisse pencilled in and after a couple of near misses in the last few years it and having a strong training camp behind him it may well be his opportunity to win a second tricolour jersey which would be huge going into the tour.

 

[RedheadDane]

Because the best riders of the US don't even care about their national championship. They don't even bother to race it

If I understood correctly it was more about the fact that they couldn't race it. Because it conflicted with the Giro...

 

[Pippo_San]

EDIT...Already posted but...oh well

Italian championships, Saturday 22nd of June. It reads: TROFEO MELINDA

Will Epic Moreno find his form again?
Lots and lots of climbing = awesome racing.

 

[Gloin22]

Visconti is my bet tbh. That is if nibali doesn't turn up.

Caruso might be good shout too.

 

[nobilis]

For the minor countries in cycling, our RR national championship (Lebanon) will be this Sunday. (Note that I'm the defendent champion )

 

[mc_mountain]

For the minor countries in cycling, our RR national championship (Lebanon) will be this Sunday. (Note that I'm the defendent champion )

is it a different format this year ie not the 3 stages ITT, MTF and flat stage? hope you go well.

 

[nobilis]

is it a different format this year ie not the 3 stages ITT, MTF and flat stage? hope you go well.

This year they decided to adhere to UCI rules and make one race of 183 kms instead of a combination of 3 races like last year. But the route is not really that interesting.
Thx for your wishes

 

[LaFlorecita]

For the minor countries in cycling, our RR national championship (Lebanon) will be this Sunday. (Note that I'm the defendent champion )

Oooh good luck Nobi!

 

[Pulpstar]

Are the climbs as steep as the profile makes them look ?

 

[mc_mountain]

This is they decided to adhere to UCI rule and make one race of 183 kms instead of a combination of 3 races like last year. But the route is not really that interesting.
Thx for your wishes

when is the ITT - you should go well in that, yes?

 

[nobilis]

The ITT is oen week later. A 42-km mostly flat TT. Yeah I should podium in that. Last year I was 2nd.

About the climbs, they're not as steep as the profile suggest. They're 2-2.3 kms for about 5%.

 

[GPdesAmeriques]

For the minor countries in cycling, our RR national championship (Lebanon) will be this Sunday. (Note that I'm the defendent champion )

What does the champion's jersey look like? Does it have a big cedar on it?

 

[RedheadDane]

For the minor countries in cycling, our RR national championship (Lebanon) will be this Sunday. (Note that I'm the defendent champion )

Seriously?
That's pretty cool! Good luck.