Olympic Road Race

[El Pistolero]

Oh... like we don't have 15 big classics a year with 7-8 size trade teams. There would be no point even running it in 2012 then, we could just watch Hamburg Cyclassics or Paris-Tours.

Why should they change the only race with small national teams, which happens to occur only once every 4 years.

Anyway, Australia's team for the test event is:

O'Grady
Goss
Haussler
Matthews
Howard

Can I buy a sprinter?

National teams is what I like about the Olympics and Worlds. They should never change that. Too bad the TTT next year is done with trade teams, but I guess otherwise they wouldn't be able to award a jersey.

Anyone have a start list for the test event?

 

[Ferminal]

National teams is what I like about the Olympics and Worlds. They should never change that. Too bad the TTT next year is done with trade teams, but I guess otherwise they wouldn't be able to award a jersey.

Are they bringing back a TTT at the Worlds?

 

[El Pistolero]

Are they bringing back a TTT at the Worlds?

Yeah, next year in Holland

Not yet this year though.

 

[karlboss]

How will this end.

Bunch sprint of 70+ = 97%
bunch sprint of 20 with 70+ together 5 minute down= 2%
1,2 or 3 away bunch 1 minute back= 1%.

 

[42x16ss]

How will this end.

Bunch sprint of 70+ = 97%
bunch sprint of 20 with 70+ together 5 minute down= 2%
1,2 or 3 away bunch 1 minute back= 1%.

I'm going with a bunch sprint of around 20-30 riders. The Italians, Spanish, French, Belgian and Australian teams will thow everything they have at the UK team to stop Cav winning in a bunch kick. They all have guys who are great in a smaller bunch kick and will probably end up forcing the pace so high it's ridiculous.

 

[42x16ss]

National teams is what I like about the Olympics and Worlds. They should never change that. Too bad the TTT next year is done with trade teams, but I guess otherwise they wouldn't be able to award a jersey.

Anyone have a start list for the test event?

Funny predicament isn't it! I'd like to see national teams ride the TTT just out of curiousity. My first tip would be Germany FTW, but I wouldn't put money on it though.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm going with a bunch sprint of around 20-30 riders. The Italians, Spanish, French, Belgian and Australian teams will thow everything they have at the UK team to stop Cav winning in a bunch kick. They all have guys who are great in a smaller bunch kick and will probably end up forcing the pace so high it's ridiculous.

That's a possiblity The Germans and Americans will also be looking for a bunch sprint and because the course isn't as hard as Melbourne it may very well be easier for those nations to control things with a bunch sprint. GB will have a strong team that could control things so I still see a bunch sprint being very likely.

Cancellara may try to spoil the party by putting in a late attack. That would be cool.

 

[Andy99]

Anybody going to watch the test event?

I'll be driving back up north from a trip to the Alps, so may call in for a look...

 

[Bavarianrider]

National teams is what I like about the Olympics and Worlds. They should never change that. Too bad the TTT next year is done with trade teams, but I guess otherwise they wouldn't be able to award a jersey.

Anyone have a start list for the test event?

They won 't use national teams in the TTT at the world's next year?

Too bad the 100k TTT isn't in the olympics anymore

 

[patterson_hood]

That's a possiblity The Germans and Americans will also be looking for a bunch sprint and because the course isn't as hard as Melbourne it may very well be easier for those nations to control things with a bunch sprint. GB will have a strong team that could control things so I still see a bunch sprint being very likely.

Cancellara may try to spoil the party by putting in a late attack. That would be cool.

Will they though? No Wiggins, Thomas, Millar maybe no Kennaugh, I think if someone decides they want a break GB will struggle to control it.

 

[Andy99]

Will they though? No Wiggins, Thomas, Millar maybe no Kennaugh, I think if someone decides they want a break GB will struggle to control it.

I know Jeremy Hunt is riding. He was asked about his program on the podium following his win at the East Riding Classic today. He said he is one of the team working for Cav...

 

[cycladianpirate]

I think he means trade teams.

I didn't.

It would be the national team (all five) that wins medals and mounts the podium (not any individual).

I'd personally favour the second rider across the line.

Make the Olympic RR different.

 

[woodie]

I didn't.

It would be the national team (all five) that wins medals and mounts the podium (not any individual).

I'd personally favour the second rider across the line.

Make the Olympic RR different.

So why no just make it a TTT then? And you want the second placed rider to be the winner? How the hell would that work? Your not making much sense maybe you should elaborate

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Will they though? No Wiggins, Thomas, Millar maybe no Kennaugh, I think if someone decides they want a break GB will struggle to control it.

They just need to put a guy in the break as well and double bluff everyone.

 

[42x16ss]

They just need to put a guy in the break as well and double bluff everyone.

Maybe, but what if a couple of guys like Flecha, Haussler, Bennati, Voeckler, Gilbert etc get in the break? If a couple of decent sprinters from the bigger teams (but not UK) who can really drive a break get away towards the end then Cav and co. could really be caught out.

It's probably the only possible way to stop a guaranteed gold for Cav so I'll be expecting it. TBH if I was a selector for one of the major teams I'd stack the squad with breakaway specialists for this reason.

 

[bjorno]

Is the Box Hill area accessible for the public? Do you need a ticket? Or is it just for the VIP?

 

[Thomsena]

2010 was hardly a flat words.

It was though.

 

[patterson_hood]

They just need to put a guy in the break as well and double bluff everyone.

won't work, this is a one day race and they don't have anyone who is going to compete in a breakaway judging by who is on the track racing schedule. GB will probably need help from the USA, Aussies, Germans, Italians and any other nation who think they have a chance in the sprint. That said I think they'll get the help they need.

 

[Andy99]

Squad sizes for the Olympic Road Race announced by the UCI today...

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/g...bjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NzM5ODE&LangId=1

Notably;

AUS 5
BEL 5
CAN 1
DEN 4
ESP 5
FRA 4
GBR 5
GER 5
IRL 3
ITA 5
KAZ 2
LUX 2
NED 5
NOR 3
NZL 2
SWE 1
USA 5

 

[Winterfold]

Is the Box Hill area accessible for the public? Do you need a ticket? Or is it just for the VIP?

VIP - its a shocking **** up they planned the route but didnt check if the site could take thousands of fans (it is a site of SSI/national heritage). They are also restricting access on a lot of the roads around the hill.

Total fecking balls up - a lot of fans over here are very hacked off with it.

Big corporate sponsors will be there no doubt...

There are a few hundred tickets becoming available that were due to be done on a lottery through Cycling Weekly - but I think CW told them they could not do that on principle (road racing being free to spectate as a principle) - they may come up somehow.

As a Brit who lives in the area and rides up box Hill a lot, I am both deeply pi55ed off and hugely embarrassed by it.

 

[The Hitch]

VIP - its a shocking **** up they planned the route but didnt check if the site could take thousands of fans (it is a site of SSI/national heritage). They are also restricting access on a lot of the roads around the hill.

Total fecking balls up - a lot of fans over here are very hacked off with it.

Big corporate sponsors will be there no doubt...

There are a few hundred tickets becoming available that were due to be done on a lottery through Cycling Weekly - but I think CW told them they could not do that on principle (road racing being free to spectate as a principle) - they may come up somehow.

As a Brit who lives in the area and rides up box Hill a lot, I am both deeply pi55ed off and hugely embarrassed by it.

So wait, we cant go watch the race on box hill?

 

[El Pistolero]

So wait, we cant go watch the race on box hill?

VIP: Very important persons --> guessing you have to pay

 

[The Hitch]

But as I understand the hill is about 2km.

All of it will be out of bounds?

Anyone know if there are any other uphill areas where one can watch maybe?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Squad sizes for the Olympic Road Race announced by the UCI today...

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/g...bjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NzM5ODE&LangId=1

Notably;

AUS 5
BEL 5
CAN 1
DEN 4
ESP 5
FRA 4
GBR 5
GER 5
IRL 3
ITA 5
KAZ 2
LUX 2
NED 5
NOR 3
NZL 2
SWE 1
USA 5

5 man teams? Gee that is small!

 

[Andy99]

VIP - its a shocking **** up they planned the route but didnt check if the site could take thousands of fans (it is a site of SSI/national heritage). They are also restricting access on a lot of the roads around the hill.

Total fecking balls up - a lot of fans over here are very hacked off with it.

Big corporate sponsors will be there no doubt...

There are a few hundred tickets becoming available that were due to be done on a lottery through Cycling Weekly - but I think CW told them they could not do that on principle (road racing being free to spectate as a principle) - they may come up somehow.

As a Brit who lives in the area and rides up box Hill a lot, I am both deeply pi55ed off and hugely embarrassed by it.

Yep, it is shocking.

Bumped into the organising committee who were on a recce at the worlds in Copenhagen. We 'politely' raised our concerns regarding the issue. We were assured that they would do all they can to rectify the situation.