Olympic Road Race Men

[hrotha]

Cav:

"It seems like most teams are happy not to win as long as we don't win," Cavendish told BBC One. "It's the story of our lives in cycling. It shows what a strong nation we are.

FFS.

 

[Andy99]

Cav:

FFS.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[la.margna]

you're wrong there were 4 ! Schär, Rast and Albasini and Cancellara. at least the 3 first mentioned had imho a huge impact on the race and the brake not getting caught.

Definitiv. Ohni d'Schwiizer wär überhaupt nüt gloofa in dem Renna und d'Gruppa wär igholt worda! Super Leischtig vo dr Schwiizer Mannschaft! Chapeau. Unverständlich, was Fäbu in dieser Kurve gemacht hat. So schade. Gold wäre auf sicher gewesen! Aber in vier Johr isch as wieder Olympiade. Und denn schtoht dr fäbu zoberscht! Yes. Fäbu Go!

 

[Richeypen]

Cav:

FFS.

Pretty accurate description of several teams today.

 

[TourOfTexas]

Naff race with a good finish, didn't mind which of the two won the gold, either would have been fine be me

Team GSkyB have no-one to blame but themselves, they seemed to believe all that 'Dream Team' nonsense and thought that they could do it by themselves.

Funny:
"We were always working at Mark's pace, so we couldn't react to those things" David Millar (re: breakaways).

Yes, it was a classic Greek tale of hubris - and fit for an Olympics!

 

[la.margna]

"It seems like most teams are happy not to win as long as we don't win," Cavendish told BBC One

What a BS Cav. Of course they wanted to make your mates work, drop you and win themselves, like in any race. And secondly, it's your fault if you want to dominate and control a race and don't have the power and endurance to do it. I admire and highly respect Team GB's performance. They did a great race and gave everything. But this statement is unnecessary and not true. Cav, you're the best sprinter ever, but sometimes think before you talk.

 

[Andy99]

Definitiv. Ohni d'Schwiizer wär überhaupt nüt gloofa in dem Renna und d'Gruppa wär igholt worda! Super Leischtig vo dr Schwiizer Mannschaft! Chapeau. Unverständlich, was Fäbu in dieser Kurve gemacht hat. So schade. Gold wäre auf sicher gewesen! Aber in vier Johr isch as wieder Olympiade. Und denn schtoht dr fäbu zoberscht! Yes. Fäbu Go!

Hope Fabian's injury is nothing too serious.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Pretty accurate description of several teams today.

No it isn't. The only teams which wanted a sprint besides UK were Australia and Germany.
Germany worked with UK almost from the beginning. Australia had a man in the front group, but arguably could've worked with them.

All other teams attacked and had a man in front, with more chance (even though slim) to win than if they went to a sprint with Cav/Greipel/Goss/Chan (0.00001% to win).

So tactically, those other teams did nothing wrong, except Australia maybe.

UK only has to blame themselves for naivety instead of pointing with fingers. It makes them look like sore losers

 

[la.margna]

Hope Fabian's injury is nothing too serious.

Looking at the pictures, unfortunately, I fear you might be wrong. Didn't look good at all. So sad. Really wanted either Cav or Cance to get this gold medal. But whatever...

 

[Richeypen]

No it isn't. The only teams which wanted a sprint besides UK were Australia and Germany.
Germany worked with UK almost from the beginning. Australia had a man in the front group, but arguably could've worked with them.

All other teams attacked and had a man in front, with more chance (even though slim) to win than if they went to a sprint with Cav/Greipel/Goss/Chan (0.00001% to win).

So tactically, those other teams did nothing wrong, except Australia maybe.

UK only has to blame themselves for naivety instead of pointing with fingers. It makes them look like sore losers

Again, Germany didnt go all in and it cost them. Australia didnt even try and it cost them. Both teams raced conservatively with the aim of knakering out GB, but that only works if you exploit the situation when it comes along.

 

[DirtyWorks]

...They should have tried to force the others to work a bit at least.

How would that work? "You there! Faster! Venga! Allez!..." They didn't have radios to broker a deal between the DS's.

I assumed Sky had TdF power to crush all-comers and were just waiting for 20K to go to end all breakaway hopes. Looking back, I think they needed to close the break down much earlier because riders kept popping off the front fueling the break.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Chris Horner is a cyclist I like very much... For his unusual career development, his approach to training, lifestyle and nutrition, his left leg´s pedalling style, and his person in general.


And, what makes me laugh little bit, are his race result predictions. He publicly predicts a lot, always seems VERY confident in his predictions, and believes in guys who aren´t rated as top favourites by large parts of the cycling world... and always is wrong

This time, his BIG favourite was Sagan, because with this Box Hill laps, there could be no other than him...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Germany pretty much put Tony Martin at the front very early. That's going all-in for me. The fact that they kept Degenkolb at hand is logical. If you want to beat Cavendish you at least have to keep the lead-out man for Greipel alive.

Again, UK should not blame others. They failed.

 

[will10]

Again, Germany didnt go all in and it cost them. Australia didnt even try and it cost them.

Boonen said the Germans were dead, what are they supposed to do? The Aussies played the card of O'Grady, who made a career of winning from such situations. Easy to say it was the wrong thing to do after the race. If they'd chased and got 4th in the sprint with Goss we'd be saying they shouldn't have chased.

 

[Richeypen]

Germany pretty much put Tony Martin at the front very early. That's going all-in for me. The fact that they kept Degenkolb at hand is logical. If you want to beat Cavendish you at least have to keep the lead-out man for Greipel alive.

Again, UK should not blame others. They failed.

Lol, so you are basically contradicting yourself. Germany had tactics to beat GB, not to win the race.

 

[thehog]

What a BS Cav. Of course they wanted to make your mates work, drop you and win themselves, like in any race. And secondly, it's your fault if you want to dominate and control a race and don't have the power and endurance to do it. I admire and highly respect Team GB's performance. They did a great race and gave everything. But this statement is unnecessary and not true. Cav, you're the best sprinter ever, but sometimes think before you talk.

In addition from where I was standing Sky tried to ride against everyone else from the start. Riders werent riding against them they were responding to Sky's from the gun tactics. Simple. If you want teams to assist then don't try and drop them off your wheels from the start.

 

[Winterfold]

What a great day out. It seemed like everyone in the South of England was out on a bike in the Surrey Hills

So we didn't win, they tried, unlike some other teams, and it's nice to see the 'evil doping' Vino go out with a win worthy of all the enjoyment he has given me over the years.

Too many people on here are just too cynical, try and enjoy the fecking sport for what it is, a bunch of dudes riding bikes fast.

 

[Caruut]

How would that work? "You there! Faster! Venga! Allez!..." They didn't have radios to broker a deal between the DS's.

I assumed Sky had TdF power to crush all-comers and were just waiting for 20K to go to end all breakaway hopes. Looking back, I think they needed to close the break down much earlier because riders kept popping off the front fueling the break.

There were plenty of deals and the like in the days before race radios (Stephen Roche was reputedly a fantastic tactician and broker), and the teams have road captains. They worked all day and made it obvious that they would do so. They should have tried to force the others to work with them by sitting up and not committing so hard so early, or by putting men up the road.

 

[will10]

What a great day out. It seemed like everyone in the South of England was out on a bike in the Surrey Hills

So we didn't win, they tried, unlike some other teams, and it's nice to see the 'evil doping' Vino go out with a win worthy of all the enjoyment he has given me over the years.

Too many people on here are just too cynical, try and enjoy the fecking sport for what it is, a bunch of dudes riding bikes fast.

It's a discussion forum. Can we have your permission to discuss the race please?

 

[Caruut]

What a great day out. It seemed like everyone in the South of England was out on a bike in the Surrey Hills

So we didn't win, they tried, unlike some other teams, and it's nice to see the 'evil doping' Vino go out with a win worthy of all the enjoyment he has given me over the years.

Too many people on here are just too cynical, try and enjoy the fecking sport for what it is, a bunch of dudes riding bikes fast.

The joy of this sport is in the combination of tactics and hard riding, for me. Telling people on a cycling forum not to discuss tactics is laughable.

 

[HL2037]

Despite the best efforts of the stewards, I think everyone on our little hill had an absolutely fantastic time. My family just managed to get to a pub in time to see the attack from Uran and counter from Vino. Despite Cav being obviously out of it, an entire pub-full of people who clearly weren't bg racing fans were absolutely enthralled by the finale.

As Vinokourov crossed the line, there applause from many in the pub. A nice gesture from a crowd that had been there to see the home favourite take the gold.

That is really great to hear. I saw the race on TV and it was impressive to see how many people stood along the road. I would be great, even if their guy didn't win, if some of those new to cycling should see the excitement and beauty of it and become long term fans!

Edit: And oh how I shall miss Vino.

 

[Richeypen]

The joy of this sport is in the combination of tactics and hard riding, for me. Telling people on a cycling forum not to discuss tactics is laughable.

I think it was in relation to Vino Uran conversation.

 

[Cookster15]

Nice result for Vino. What a great way for him to finish his career. I feel for Cav personally but not for team GB / Sky , sooner or later rival teams would conspire to prevent Cav getting a sniff of the breakaway .... it's a wonder we had to wait until the Olympic road race to see it. Best thing was firstly GB / Sky weren't able to control the break 'by maintaining a certain wattage' and secondly they failed to get a rider in the break. Retribution for their arrogant suffocation of the TDF.

Now I'm reading that Cav / GB are blaming Australia for not winning ... that is plain wrong and smacks for sour grapes. Cav / GB did not have any god given right to winning this race. As others have pointed out Australia had O'Grady in the break and Goss is never going to beat Cav in a bunch sprint.

 

[cineteq]

Cav:
"It seems like most teams are happy not to win as long as we don't win," Cavendish told BBC One. "It's the story of our lives in cycling. It shows what a strong nation we are.
FFS.

Cavendish should learn a thing or two from his teammate Millar:
"We can't complain. Everyone knew what we were going to do, so it was their job to try and derail us, which they did"

 

[Caruut]

I think it was in relation to Vino Uran conversation.

In that case, my bad.