Ponferrada 2014 World Championships, Sep. 21st-28th

[Richeypen]

Bravo Kwiat and poles. If this was left to all the wheelsuckers there, we would have slept until 200m. Bravi azzurri, with no punchers, this was the right tactic. No idea what Spain was going to do with 9 men, they just need 1 (Valverde) and leave space for other people with willing to ride. Belgium meh, Germany mah, GB....

Did you not watch the race?

 

[BigMac]

Come on BigMac, just give in to the Kwiat side and join the bandwagon.

I can't I'm destroyed and ruined. I actually liked Kwiat a lot before Strade Bianchi, but then he turned to a demi-god in the eyes of most fans, even those who can't even pronounce and spell his name right. Most didn't even know or cared about who he was.

I'm so sad. Oh well, may Richmond and Qatar come so at least I don't get any expectatations.

 

[Tournesol]

Cycling won today,a victory for attacking racing.Take the gamble and you can win. So happy for Flowerpower.

 

[Red Rick]

Kwiatkowski could be a little more excited about this victory, he's just sitting there like he won a random stage in Algarve or something

 

[zapata]

Beautiful win!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gerrans what a disgrace of a rider. Sprint for whatever place it is. I'm sorry that Kwiatko has to share the podium with him.
Good job from Rodriguez/Valverde although the last climb looked too late.
Rui Costa didn't had the legs. Period. He should have been closer to the top10. Time to think about next season with calm and without the rainbow pressure.
Hats off to Kwiatko and the entire polish team. Well ridden, well timed attack and taking the win from Gerrans is a plus to me.
Breschel....Can he keep injuries away now that he finally seems to be back in top shape?

I'm an Aussie and I am happy Gerrans lost. Riders like that just sit on the wheel for all of their major results...disgusting

 

[trevim]

Also Gilbert was really commited chasing for GVA, nicely done. And Gallopin is turning out to be another wheelsucker, just like in the classics.

 

[Shardi]

Remember amstel this year, when Kwiatkowski was forced to chase at the cauberg, going early, while gerrans/valverde sat on, he was cooked at the top thus, there was noone for Gerrans/valverde to chase Gilbert. Kwiatkowski eventually rejoins when they wait, then they have him pull all the way while its too late, and eventually Vanendert nips away and takes 2nd while Valverde/Gerrans are fighting about whos going out of whos slipstream with 200m to go, taking away kwiatkowskis 3rd place.

Yep. Rebound!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I say boring World Championship with a good ending. At least Gerrans/Valverde didn't win.

 

[Carols]

I will enjoy seeing Kwiatkowski in the rainbow all year. A proper little animator he is, not afraid to Go for the Glory. 24 years old, great future

 

[BigMac]

BigMac misses the Froome love-a-thon he has with Tank91.

Tough last few weeks for ol' Mac.

Don't know what you're talking about.

Give it a rest.

Don't take it too seriously, I'm extremely emotional right now.

 

[Orbit501]

Anyone with any shred of love for bike racing at all surely has to be absolutely delighted with that Kwiatkowski win. He'll do the jersey proud!

Double bonus is wheelsuckers (they know who they are) losing out.

 

[gthx_gthx_]

IMO i'm surprised that everybody kept chasing while Gerrans wasn't doing anything. He is not gonna stop wheelsucking if others riders keep behaving as his lead-out team.

 

[trevim]

Valgren 20th. Really well ridden race from Denmark too. One of the best teams with Breschel, Andersen and Jensen

 

[the asian]

Congrats to Kwiat !

Fully deserves it after a great ride and an awesome season.

No let's hope he concentrates on the hilly classics without trying to become a mid level GT rider. This season's results should convince him.

Gerrans & Piti the two most annoying wheel suckers in the peloton finishing 2nd & 3rd is poetic justice

Great ride by Gilbert too. If he had slightly better form coming in to the race he surely would have won it.

 

[Walkman]

Also Gilbert was really commited chasing for GVA, nicely done. And Gallopin is turning out to be another wheelsucker, just like in the classics.

Should have been the other way around today though.

 

[jaylew]

Awesome podium; three of the most successful riders this season.

Good post. Quality podium once again. 3 great riders who had terrific seasons. Not a Kwia fan but he definitely deserved the win. The only top guy who really went for it all or nothing style.

Wow, 6 podiums for Valverde. Amazing. He really should have been taking notes. Kwia raced how he should have.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

I say boring World Championship with a good ending. At least Gerrans/Valverde didn't win.

Agreed, and I even had to listen to Herbert and Maarten, double bummer.

 

[cineteq]

Winners: Poland/Kwiat, Belgium
Big Losers: Australia/Gerrans and Spain/Valverde

 

[DFA123]

IMO i'm surprised that everybody kept chasing while Gerrans wasn't doing anything. He is not gonna stop wheelsucking if others riders keep behaving as his lead-out team.

Well perhaps he should stop. If he had taken a couple of turns he may well have been world champion now.

 

[Savant12]

Great ride by Kwiat.

Delighted that Gerrans didn't win. Wouldn't have minded for Valverde to be second as he actually took a pull on the front.

 

[trevim]

IMO i'm surprised that everybody kept chasing while Gerrans wasn't doing anything. He is not gonna stop wheelsucking if others riders keep behaving as his lead-out team.

Gilbert and Valverde rode to win today not to sprint for a random place like Gerrans. I can understand that even if Gerrans annoys the hell out of me.

 

[BigMac]

Oh well, on a side note, yet another amazing ride by Nelson Oliveira. Hope he gets his chances next year.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Gilbert deserved 2nd. Two chumps like Gerrans and Valverde don't deserve the podium.

Such a great win for Kwia. Superb.

 

[DFA123]

Good post. Quality podium once again. 3 great riders who had terrific seasons. Not a Kwia fan but he definitely deserved the win. The only top guy who really went for it all or nothing style.

Wow, 6 podiums for Valverde. Amazing. He really should have been taking notes. Kwia raced how he should have.

I'm not sure Valverde did a lot wrong here, at least not at the end of the race. He took a few pulls and timed his attack well - decent sprint as well. The problem was his team didn't make the race hard enough.