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

[auscyclefan94]

The only thing Gerrans could win is the team vote for Team Aus leader...lol

 

[IronCQ]

I watched the race, I was referring to the fact that the Geramn team disappeared after Martin was caught, they should have done a bit more after that

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

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.

Gerrans isn't a great rider. The only WC jersey he should ever wear is the one he buys online.

 

[Arredondo]

Cancellara isn't good on these coruses, no disappointment there. Costa was nearly taken down on the climb by Aru swerving. Seemed like Aru had a mechanical.


Can't believe I just defended that guy, but it's the truth.
Sagan, yeah.

Isn't good is something else then not doing one single thing in the whole race after a lot of bla bla before.

Didn't notice that from Costa though.

 

[dlwssonic]

Can't wait to see Gerrans try to wheelsuck gilbert at amstel next year. He deserved a podium spot.

 

[ILovecycling]

breathing really deep michal, about to cry

Gratulations again!

 

[Arredondo]

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.

The big thing is that if Kwiatkowski does it, they let him go. If Valverde does, they don't.

 

[No_Balls]

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

Such a great win for Kwia. Superb.

If anybody deserves the podium its Piti. Best rider of the season.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

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

There are many bigger losers. Netherlands (anonymous race, not in 1 move!!), Cancellara (Where was he?), Italy/Nibali (made part of the race but nowhere in the final)... Also don't think Belgium is a real winner, they rode a decent race but only Van Avermaet in 5th.. could've been so much better

 

[roundabout]

The big thing is that if Kwiatkowski does it, they let him go. If Valverde does, they don't.

Well, that was a pretty unorthodox move. When was the last time Valverde did one of those?

 

[SeriousSam]

The big thing is that if Kwiatkowski does it, they let him go. If Valverde does, they don't.

Exactly.

Valverde did pretty much everything right today. A worlds would have been such a great, crowning achievement of his great season. One of the strongest riders all season whilst the marginally better GT specialists can't even last the distance for this race.

 

[ILovecycling]

whata great pic tp see this great rider between those 2 clowns

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Also on the list of losers, Sagan. Haven't seen him at all?

 

[dirkprovin]

Wheel sucker Gerrans gets what he deserves. Did not deserve to win that.

Stellar ride by your hero, BTW !! Respect him immensely but your comments remind me of a Murdoch press opinion page ..... all bile !!

 

[Richeypen]

Also on the list of losers, Sagan. Haven't seen him at all?

Commentators mentioned that he was there a few times. Didnt see him myself once.

 

[Ferminal]

A little disappointed that Piti even attacked, 50 man sprint would have been apt.

 

[Orbit501]

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

I think I'd add Denmark to the winners list, even though Breschel just misses out on podium. They rode a good race as a team.

 

[DirtyWorks]

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.

Agree. But, this was kind of a conventional Worlds. The year-long podium contenders watch each other while a few get away.

 

[ILovecycling]

Also on the list of losers, Sagan. Haven't seen him at all?

he was there until the last hill,after that he was gone

 

[GuyIncognito]

Well, that was a pretty unorthodox move. When was the last time Valverde did one of those?

Vuelta. Attacking Contador and Froome 10kms out

 

[jaylew]

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.

I don't think he really did anything wrong, per se, but he has to be willing to take a chance in the big races. Throughout the year he attacks successfully but is afraid to at the biggest races. Unlike someone like Gerrans, he could have easily done exactly what Kwia did today and maybe it would have been him on the top step.

 

[roundabout]

Commentators mentioned that he was there a few times. Didnt see him myself once.

He was dangling at the back on the longer climb on the last lap. Guess it just wasn't his day.

 

[Red Rick]

WCRR parcours should change in the future. On a real hard parcours, climbers are waiting for the last hill, on an intermediate parcours, punchers are waiting for the last hill.

The beauty of most monumental classics is that the toughest parts are pretty far from the finish.

I think that in the future the race should perhaps have two alternating circuits, with the hardest climbs being the penultimate lap, so that climbers will have to make a move there. That, or have longer circuits with the hardest climbs early in the circuit. As it is now, everything is gonna be decided by those who are the fastest on the final hill.

Look at the Italians. Great, Aru attacks from 65k out, but when they get caught they do nothing. De Marchi was never gonna win, and Nibali just sat there waiting to find out for the 234123413th time he can't match the likes of Valverde, Purito, Gerrans on a sharp hill.

Also, **** off with the 9 man teams. Use man teams at most, if you want to have action, this is probably way more important

 

[Arredondo]

Well, that was a pretty unorthodox move. When was the last time Valverde did one of those?

Vuelta this year in the stage to Cordoba

But you're right. But it's not easy for a big favourite, in your own country, to do a attack with the risk to lose it all.

 

[Afrank]

Also on the list of losers, Sagan. Haven't seen him at all?

Like I expected of him coming into the race, he likely has no form in him ATM.