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Race thread: Olympics 2020/21 Tokyo, Men's Road Race, 234k

Page 47 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Not if Woods keeps racing like this against this level of competition. Loved Pogacar's body language when Woods finally took a pull ....when their break had been reeled back in by the chasers due to Woods just sitting on Pogacar's and McNulty's wheels.
I agree with your first comment, but there's no way Woods should have pulled at all with those two being the only others in that break, and generally speaking, a great time to attack is when you're break is caught (if you can) so who cares about TPs body language. His downhill attack and attempt at catching RC and BM were matches that perhaps could have been spared, but on the other hand, some aggression made the race less boring. A bit more tactical nouse would be of huge benefit ... I wonder how much his late coming to the sport impacts that
 
Nice ride from WVA who became the victim of his own success in the tour having to do most of the work on his own.
WVA needed Remco to get over the Mikuni pass with the others to really stand a chance taking gold.

Smart and strong race from Carapaz. Deserved victory.
 
I loved seeing some of the riders from the leading group after the finish just sitting in the grass chatting with their coach or whomever like it was just after some local race, rather than the usual escorting of top finishers immediately into tents (yes, I know why) and disappear.
 
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Doesn't mean the race is worthwhile to watch for me. I didn't watch the Tour and it didn't rain most days there either.

Sleeping was much more useful.

I think it was nice for people from Ecuador among others. A race is never universally useless even if you might not like the outcome. It's very childish to not be able to acknowledge that.
 
I think it was nice for people from Ecuador among others. A race is never universally useless even if you might not like the outcome. It's very childish to not be able to acknowledge that.

As I said, I'm glad I didn't bother staying up and watching it and went to bed instead. My sleep was much more useful than the race. Also found the men's volleyball game that was on earlier today to be much more entertaining.
 
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As I said, I'm glad I didn't bother staying up and watching it and went to bed instead. My sleep was much more useful than the race. Also found the men's volleyball game that was on earlier today to be much more entertaining.

Clearly that's the case for you, different for others.

Anyway, do you know more about Valverde and Fraile? I can't imagine it was the motivational effect that had such a heavy impact, there were like 90-100 guys in the peloton when Fraile dropped, but maybe they are sick, too? Or was it the quarantine? Schachmann said something like they weren't let out yesterday because of the Geschke-positive, don't really know how the rules were exactly.
 
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Clearly that's the case for you, different for others.

Anyway, do you know more about Valverde and Fraile? I can't imagine it was the motivational effect that had such a heavy impact, there were like 90-100 guys in the peloton when Fraile dropped, but maybe they are sick, too? Or was it the quarantine? Schachmann said something like they weren't let out yesterday because of the Geschke-positive, don't really know how the rules were exactly.

No idea about that. Although I do know that the positive Covid test the day before destroyed the moral of the team and even though they were able to race they had already lost the race. The Spanish was originally told they couldn't race and then in the morning after not sleeping were told if they had a negative test at that point they could race. Their race was over long before it started. I'm not surprised it basically had the same effect on the German team.
 
You look at the race minus Greg Van Avermaet..pretty different outcome in my opinion. The guy absolutely buried himself!! He had a special ride and it was really really really beautiful..Belgium and Slovakian teams rode great..the post race interviews with Pogocar reveal over and over the guy has grace and class...lots of riders never had the race days in the bank against riders coming healthy to Tokyo after Gran Tours and elite competition. There was definitely some riders racing over their heads and it didn't show..so yes I wish an underdog, a small country rider would have won or podiumed..but watching them give 110% was enjoyable..
Carapaz pulled it off w no surprise..he rode a great race..
The support and lack of constant radio chatter made the race more pure in my opinion. The race route was breathtaking and really overall fantastic..
for any kid or adult who wants to race a bike,you got a how to lesson..first give a 110% and then mix good luck and good form.
Peter has been replaced as my favorite Sagan.
 
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Enjoyed that one, particularly the end. Great ride by Carapaz, showing he's a racer through-and-through. Glad to see him roll the dice and come up sixes. Amazing ride by Wout as well, the strongest man today -though Pogacar was impressive as always. But that's cycling, tactics matter as much as strength does, form is fickle, and even the weather plays a role. Carapaz definetely rode the smartest race and had the legs to make it count. Brave ride by Rigo as well, who might not have had the best legs, but sure as hell wasn't racing for second today.
 
Watched the last 20 km again. Great racing by RC and BM ... Carapaz I think was smart in watching out for McNulty's wheel. WvA raced to win, so good on him. BM timed his move right when vA needed a moment, which was brilliant. Woods, while tactically could be better, was at least aggressive. TP played the trade team card a lot with BM (chase disruptor) and so I was glad he did not win.

WvA will have a tough time winning big races because there is so much negative racing around him. I am am sure he still will, but wow was there a lot of negative racing going on.
 
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