Olympic Road Race

[El Pistolero]

Harder than it looks? Besides the distance this race could hardly be any easier.

This race could still be good though, because of the 5 men teams...

 

[taiwan]

The difficulties of the last 2 WCs have been overrated. I think this is similar and we can just expect Cav v Goss v Greipel finale again.

 

[Winterfold]

I-Harm

Sorry but you're not really getting it right.

From strava and Daniel Lloyd's track from the Olympic trial the climb section of Box Hill is

2.5km Distance
4.9% Avg Grade
43m Lowest Elev
166m Highest Elev
123m Elev Difference

(it continues as false flat after this, but the NT cafe is a clear and obvious 'end' to the climb)

Daniel's times varied between 6:14 and 4:54 - 4:54 is an avg speed of 30.6kmh

The gradient of the climb is not totally consistent and varies between 4 and 7% but it is a nice easy climb like the Alpes Maritimes. They have resurfaced it since the Olympic trial event and it is much better surface now - which is good as it was embarassingly bad before .

 

[l.Harm]

Could be, I only put the course in google maps like that site does.

 

[Cancellator]

Having ridden it once every two weeks the last few months, I can say that it will certainly be a "big ring" climb for the pros. You can do the whole thing without feeling the need to stand up. It is a piece of cake (much like the delicious and overpriced ones at the cafe on the top) compared to something like Ditchling Beacon or that more serious climb in Surrey (can't remember the name).

The new surface is the best I've ever ridden on in the UK, which is good because it used to have speed bumps.

All in all, an easy climb for a pro. Nine of them surely pile up, but with 40k of flat left, there's not much that can stand in the way of a sort-of-reduced sprint. Cavendish will have a small team, but he will have top guys, and he is ultra-motivated, losing weight and all. Sagan will have no problem with the hill. Germany will probably want to help pull any breaks back, in an attempt to get silver or bronze. Maybe Australia as well?

I think only the Spartacus of 2010 could attack on Box Hill and make it all the way to London. I wouldn't give it more than a 10 % chance, because his Roubaix long attack was helped by the cobblestones, which Surrey sadly lacks.

 

[maltiv]

I think only the Spartacus of 2010 could attack on Box Hill and make it all the way to London. I wouldn't give it more than a 10 % chance, because his Roubaix long attack was helped by the cobblestones, which Surrey sadly lacks.

He might as well attack on the flat with 5k to go or so. As long as the peloton is small and few teams have many helpers left, late attacks on the flat could very well stick, particularly if it's Spartacus driving the pace.

 

[will10]

He might as well attack on the flat with 5k to go or so. As long as the peloton is small and few teams have many helpers left, late attacks on the flat could very well stick, particularly if it's Spartacus driving the pace.

The final kms are, unfortunately, heavily suited to a chasing group.

 

[PCutter]

Having ridden it once every two weeks the last few months, I can say that it will certainly be a "big ring" climb for the pros.

Agreed. The pro's won't get out of the big ring on box hill and new resurface makes it that little bit easier. Bunch sprint certainty, smaller bunch sprint than a tour stage, but not because the stage is difficult, but because there's so many non World Tour riders in an Olympic race. GB v Australia v Germany trains at the finish, with a long WIDE straight to the line, whoever gets the train dialed in the most will deliver the winner.

 

[Ferminal]

Cav will be fine as long as he can stay with Froome and Wiggins on the flat.

 

[offbyone]

Agreed. The pro's won't get out of the big ring on box hill and new resurface makes it that little bit easier. Bunch sprint certainty, smaller bunch sprint than a tour stage, but not because the stage is difficult, but because there's so many non World Tour riders in an Olympic race. GB v Australia v Germany trains at the finish, with a long WIDE straight to the line, whoever gets the train dialed in the most will deliver the winner.

I don't know, I think you are right but it will be close. It could end up as a hardman's sprint ala hushovd, boonen, cancellera, etc, maybe even sagan. Cav hasn't proved consistent over long distances, if he makes it to the end, then he will win and I will be cheering, but i will believe when I see it.

 

[PCutter]

The reason I feel confident on the bunch sprint is that even if you have a hard man race where the likes of Cancellara, Boonen, etc can get away up box hill, you then have a chase group being (feasibly) driven by a 6 man train of Wiggins, Millar, Evans, Rogers, Martin and Grabsch dragging the group back for 40km. It would be a very hard man who could hold off that 6 man freight train for 40km.

 

[greenedge]

I would much preffer to see Evans doing work for Goss on Box Hill.

I think Farrar would be good here but he better get his sprinting legs back.

Boonen to win, even with Cav present.

 

[greenedge]

I would much preffer to see Evans doing work for Goss on Box Hill.

I think Farrar would be good here but he better get his sprinting legs back.

Boonen to win, even with Cav present.

 

[johnnycash]

If Cav doesn't achieve his goals at the tour, I feel that with his form and recent improvement in fitness, he will to so hungry for this that no-one else will get a look in. Boonen would be the other favourite but dropping the Brit/Aussie/German express train on reltively easy terrain, can't see it. And Boonen Vs cav in a sprint, would be great to see.

 

[Winterfold]

or that more serious climb in Surrey (can't remember the name).

(there's quite a few tbh but if you mean the one in this year's Tour of Britain, that is Barhatch Lane way up Winterfold Hill).

Box Hill is a 'big ring' climb for old crap me, pro's will fly up it.

 

[Hammerhed]

Bunch sprint, maybe. But won't Box Hill be very selective? Cav seems to think so as he has lost over ten pounds in preparation for this race alone. To me, Cav has sacrificed most of his Tour de France ambitions (green jersey anyway) in favor of Olympic gold. His loss of weight has made him a tad slower in favor increasing his endurance. Without a doubt, Cav will have the strongest team, just as he did at the Worlds last year. Though I am not a Team Sky fan, I certainly do admire them...I think.

 

[avanti]

.............. To me, Cav has sacrificed most of his Tour de France ambitions (green jersey anyway) in favor of Olympic gold. ....................

I suspect that Cav will drop out of the TDF before the Pyennees.

 

[TheEnoculator]

I can't understand Gesink's reasons to enter himself into the road race. The guy's a high mountain climber, not repeatedly short hill climber. I don't know where people get the idea that the road race course will be difficult, but 2.5 km at 5% gradient and doing it 9 times is like rolling stage at a GT. It'll either be a bunch sprint or won by a breakaway. Gesink has no chance whatsoever. I say Cav, Sagan, Boonen or even Gilbert if he's in form have the best chances

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I can't understand Gesink's reasons to enter himself into the road race. The guy's a high mountain climber, not repeatedly short hill climber. I don't know where people get the idea that the road race course will be difficult, but 2.5 km at 5% gradient and doing it 9 times is like rolling stage at a GT. It'll either be a bunch sprint or won by a breakaway. Gesink has no chance whatsoever. I say Cav, Sagan, Boonen or even Gilbert if he's in form have the best chances

Gesink is not going for himself I think. He said he had no problem working for someone else (like Boom or Terpstra). Which was also obvious at the dutch champs where he also worked for someone else (Boom)

 

[The Hitch]

I can't understand Gesink's reasons to enter himself into the road race. The guy's a high mountain climber, not repeatedly short hill climber. I don't know where people get the idea that the road race course will be difficult, but 2.5 km at 5% gradient and doing it 9 times is like rolling stage at a GT. It'll either be a bunch sprint or won by a breakaway. Gesink has no chance whatsoever. I say Cav, Sagan, Boonen or even Gilbert if he's in form have the best chances

This remains bizarre so long as people consider the orr to be less.prestigious than say e3 prijs.


The new mode of thinking that people need to get accustomed to.is that this is bigger than the monuments. Even riders like gesink will take time out for an Olympic experience and a raffle ticket.

Hell, since.guys.like gesink can be plenty good on flat if need be, we might even see.some riders.like that trying to.make.the botd

 

[patterson_hood]

If Gesink can get a good break with him on box hill then why not? He might not be a favourite from a small group but it's the Olympic games and is worth a shot.

I just hope some nations really put the hammer down on box hill and make it hard, even if I do want Cav to win.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Personally I'm looking forward to doing my bit to make box hill as narrow as possible, whilst TeamGB ride up 5 abreast serenely blocking the possibility of an attack...

 

[Frosty]

Gesink to TT to victory.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjVZvvLbt8&feature=related

God I love Muse lol

 

[The Hitch]

I went to box hill today and did it, and i can confirm the rumours are true, it does indeed resemble Alpe d huez.

Then again. ive never ridden Alpe d huez,and i see the 2 bridges over the motorway on my weekly 10 minute fun ride, as categorized climbs, not to mention that the 70k or so before box hill felt like the Sahara marathon so maybe you should take a closer look at the analysis of Winterfold, Cancellator and the others, more than at mine.