Olympic Road Race Men

[Franklin]

For sure. But you cannot always control everything.

Which is exactly what they thought they could do.. And yes, I thought so too, as did most of use here, let's be honest.

But they themselves should have known better, as Hrotha said, it was a case of hubris really. It never would have worked, whereas they certainly were the strongest team with the strongest riders.

They shouldn't have taken responsibility at all and just have adapted on how it would unfold. They had such big guns in their arsenal.. it's a waste to sacrifice them from km 4.

 

[cineteq]

Conclusion: Cycling without radios and smaller teams makes everything turning out much more adventurous, unpredictable and opens up potential for surprises. Was a great race. I felt like a rider without a radio too. Information on TV was not olympic level at all. No regular gaps, distances, km to go, profiles, graphs, etc. 1 out of 10? But at least the race was good except this one crash that still hurts me so much..

It's been discussed lately in these threads:
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=17959
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=18017

 

[Franklin]

They just went too slowly up the final climb of Box Hill.

There were attacks left and right and Wiggins just cruised at his speed, allowing them all to get clear, and letting the break go.

Had they set a solid pace up that final climb it just would have been the original break clear, and they would have been able to pull them back. I think they just had too much faith in their own ability.

And then what? Everyone and their grandmother would have continued jumping (which they were already doing for awhile).

The plan simply could not work.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Will Vino still quit now? I hope he does, nothing good will come from him if he remains longer. It can only go downhill from here.

One thing is certain: He won't be around to defend his title.

Thought about this after. Maybe after one year, the Olympic champion
will no longer be in the peloton.
Maybe this is worse than any past doping infringement.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

They shouldn't have taken responsibility at all and just have adapted on how it would unfold. They had such big guns in their arsenal.. it's a waste to sacrifice them from km 4.

I am not sure how that would have helped? The breaks would have just got further away and they would need to end up chasing harder. No one helped them even towards the end. No one would def. have helped them at the start. Sure, not putting someone in the break was probably a mistake but they perhaps counted (mistakenly) on help from other countries that was never there.

In hindsight it is easy to say it is hubris but I did not see many people calling that for most of the race.

 

[El Pistolero]

Queen is not amused.

 

[taiwan]

Again, their selection was predicated on them only needing 2 to chase. Degenkolb was there to lead out Greipel if he was there or to sprint himself if Greipel was dropped. Germany did all they could to help, but Tony Martin pulling out early was what ended it for them. Him and Grabsch contributing to the pacemaking alongside the Sky guys when the Germans started doing turns, and there's a good chance that break comes back.

Oh, I assumed Degenkolb would man the break and just Sieberg lead out. TBH I didn't see the whole race, watched from slightly before Gibert's solo foray until the final break started looking like they might make it. It was pretty much just four GB guys riding apart from a few minutes of Grabcsh, I thought.

 

[JibberJim]

The only mistake GB really made was doing the final climb at Cav's pace - if they'd let him surf the bunch with just Stannard or Millar to help him back to the front then the 15-20seconds closer to those who jumped might've been enough to keep it together. That wasn't a decision to know at the time though, and the plan had been plenty to get Nibali and his companions back the first time they went hard up the hill.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Just got back - completely knackered, sun burnt, and feeling rather flat.

Daft tactical error to let so many riders jump across on the last climb without moving out of tempo; created a dynamic where they were never going to win.

Very disappointed to see utterly juvinile coverage on British websites which discovered they are obsessed with cycling about 2 weeks ago, and now post headlines like 'Cavendish Crumbles'. Total nonsense - he followed the wheel he was given the whole way and never looked in trouble on the climbs, reaching the top of the last 1 about a minute after the head of the race, so absolutely no 'blame' can be placed there.

Oh well, at least this will help him out the door at Sky.

 

[Franklin]

I am not sure how that would have helped? The breaks would have just got further away and they would need to end up chasing harder. No one helped them even towards the end. No one would def. have helped them at the start. Sure, not putting someone in the break was probably a mistake but they perhaps counted (mistakenly) on help from other countries that was never there.

Eveyone (including most of us) thought they were in control, so why help?

In hindsight it is easy to say it is hubris but I did not see many people calling that for most of the race.

Well, I agree with you about us, the spectators. But they themselves should have known it was too tall an order?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Queen is not amused.

She's still got 16. It's not a bad collection.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He would have a point if it was only GB aiming for a sprint finish. If GB, Germany and OZ had all cooperated it was certainly controllable.

I think Germany certainly contributed fully.

 

[Franklin]

And guys, about that last climb... actually they didn't let the gap grow as they were pushing hard. It was just that all of a sudden Swiss and Spain were pulling!

And that says it all. Spain and Swiss, much weaker teams, were relatively fresh. No way that they could have kept the barrage of attacks in check.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Well, I agree with you about us, the spectators. But they themselves should have known it was too tall an order?

Well, in that case they got it wrong and payed the price.

 

[Richeypen]

I think Germany certainly contributed fully.

Martin and Gabsch yes but not Sieberg or Degenkolb. They did more than the Aussies but were a long way off fully co-operating.

 

[Franklin]

Martin and Gabsch yes but not Sieberg or Degenkolb. They did more than the Aussies but were a long way off fully co-operating.

Well, what did you expect after what Cavendish did in the last days of the TdF?

Goss was at best margin for Bronze. Why would the Ozzies trash themselves in an early stage if team GB happily drives the train???

 

[mb2612]

And guys, about that last climb... actually they didn't let the gap grow as they were pushing hard. It was just that all of a sudden Swiss and Spain were pulling!

And that says it all. Spain and Swiss, much weaker teams, were relatively fresh. No way that they could have kept the barrage of attacks in check.

They had to let some go, but they let them all go.

In the end I think enough people just really didn't want it to come to a sprint, and would rather just hope they get lucky with their attack.

 

[la.margna]

As a Swiss, I am obviously biased, but I think I have never seen such a great Swiss team, neither at Worlds or Olympics. Perfect work. Great setup.

Vino can say thank you to Switzerland. Without the f..king Richmond Park Cancellara corner, Fabs would have roasted them all and rocketed off for Gold on the Mall.

But nobody cares about should have would have could have. It's worth nothing and hypotethic. Flanders 2012, second edition, probably even worse.

Without the Swiss doing most of the work in the front group until km15, Cav or Greipel would have won Gold like they planned it and Wiggo & Co. would be heroes. That's sport sometimes.

Hats off to Swiss team and team GB [+Castrovijecho & Nibali]. They both did a great job and worked hard. None of them got rewarded for it. Life can be hard and cruel sometimes (I might be repeating myself).

 

[cineteq]

Well managed race from Australia. Just bad luck for me.

Actually, Sky ans AUS were the two big losers of the day. AUS didn't use Gerrans or Evans at all.

Individually:
- Kudos to Nibali and Gilbert for detonating the race
- Boonen missed out by not following Cancellara
- Sagan ended up in the wrong side of the draw
- LL Sanchez was caught sleeping
- Gilbert's solo attack proved to be a costly waste of energy
- Cancellara's tough luck continues

 

[Rocksteady]

Just have to say I'm happy with the way USA played their cards today. Could have been completely unnoticed, but used their young guys and ended up with a 4th place.

Kudos.

 

[Richeypen]

Well, what did you expect after what Cavendish did in the last days of the TdF?

Goss was at best margin for Bronze. Why would the Ozzies trash themselves in an early stage if team GB happily drives the train???

Im not talking about an early stage, im talking about with 50km to go when there was a massive group up the road. Cav may well have won but silver or bronze with the chance of gold is better than zero chance or anything, which is the route they went down.

 

[hrotha]

Eveyone (including most of us) thought they were in control, so why help?



Well, I agree with you about us, the spectators. But they themselves should have known it was too tall an order?

In our defense, we've talked so much about the Clinicky ridiculousness of Sky, we had convinced ourselves they could do it. And apparently, so had they.

 

[mb2612]

Actually, Sky ans AUS were the two big losers of the day. AUS didn't use Gerrans or Evans at all.

Individually:
- Kudos to Nibali and Gilbert for detonating the race
- Boonen missed out by not following Cancellara
- Sagan ended up in the wrong side of the draw
- LL Sanchez was caught sleeping
- Gilbert's solo attack proved to be a costly waste of energy
- Cancellara's tough luck continues

Can't blame Sagan, he has to guess and he guessed wrong.

I suspect the break would never have towed him to the line anyway.

 

[Richeypen]

Just have to say I'm happy with the way USA played their cards today. Could have been completely unnoticed, but used their young guys and ended up with a 4th place.

Kudos.

There is a lot of potential there for sure

 

[Kellys Big Sprocket]

Massive weight of expectation on Cav. The whole of the UK know who he is even if they don't follow cycling. Hope ho does well. Infact I hope he wins the race. Not for GB or his team but because I've £40 on him to win it.

The so called dream machine failed this afternoon. Lost £40 on Cav Should have put it on Vino as he was 33/1 in the local bookies to win it Well done Vino. What a wonderful accomplishment. A great win for him, his family, his country, his legions of fans and for the London 2012. Great start for the Olympics.