Richmond 2015 World Championships, Sep 19-27

[Pantani_lives]

Sagan was one of the most agressive riders in the Tour and many others races, usually finishing 2nd or 3d. I'm delighted to see him win today, because he's the exact opposite of a "wheelsucker". He won by attacking at the right moment. He was the strongest and deserves this win. I look forward to seeing him in the rainbow jersey next spring!

 

[jaylew]

I figure you have to give everyone a second chance, particularly when mistakes are made at a young age. I was critical after the podium incident and very critical of the t shirt but I feel like he's learned his lesson.

I definitely get the impression that he regrets some things and wants people to have a different image of him and I appreciate what he was trying to say on the podium even if his English isn't good enough to make himself entirely clear.

Anyway, that top 10 is almost all pure class:

1 Sagan
2 Matthews
3 Navardauskas
4 Kristoff
5 Valverde
6 Gerrans
7 Gallopin
8 Kwiatkowski
9 Costa
10 Gilbert

 

[rick james]

Re:

Super
Attack
Gets
Awesome
News
Mark L

Wow...so cheesey

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Re: Re:

[quote="PhiberAwptik

My 14 year old daughter is less dramatic than this. And that's saying something.[/quote]

That your 14 year old daughter lives in a world in which Sagans immage isn't massively damaged by what he did sould wory you much more. It's his actions and the support he got for it, that create the cultural background against which women become victims of discrimination or sexual assault. But hey, let's not be dramatic about this, right?

 

[winkybiker]

Re: Re:

As I said, it's understandable that you feel bad with a Sagan win, but when you look at the guys who finished behind, you ought to thank him for it. It would be a disgraceful ending to have the wheelsuckers carousel winning the race. Sporting wise, Sagan totally deserved it. And at the end of the day, cycling wins.

I honestly don't get this hate for 'wheel suckers'.
Cycling isn't a sport about who can attack the most, it's a sport about who can win the most. Some does that by attacking, others do it by staying in the peloton and waiting for the sprint.
Others still do it by a bit of both.

Yet one has more merit than the other. Australia did absolutely nothing, they couldn't have done less, literally. They could, however, have attacked the race or even helped Germany chase (who in the end were undeservedly relegated out of the top ten, after Degenkolb tried to break away), having placed two guys among the best in the end. As for Valverde, for all the failed attempts he's had at gold now, should know that the only way he'll ever score big is to attack, because there will always be someone better than him. Same for Norway, who took pride in saying pre-race that they hoped it would come down to a sprint, when everybody knows Kristoff can be as succeceful by attacking. When one chooses the easy way, and someone else of the same characteristics actually does an effort to win, you ought to root for the latter.

Well said. While sprints can be exciting, seeing someone lay it on the line and win with a late attack is just fabulous. This wasn't where the peloton misjudges, and a breakway survives, but a true test where the best rider on the day (for that course) won the race. It would have been a travesty if "bling" had stuck his nose into the wind for the last 15m to take it by half a wheel after neither he, nor his (strong) team, contributed anything at all to the race. I mean zero. They did nothing. Nothing at all. Not a single metre on the front (that I saw, anyway). The 'strayans should go away knowing that they therefore deserved nothing. Even 2nd is too good for them.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Real podium should have been:

1. Sagan
2. GVA
3. Stybar

Really? Why? Because they attacked? So then why don't we give the gold medal to Suitsou, he attacked twice!

 

[SeriousSam]

I'll just briefly note that Sagan was the bookmakers' favourite. Yet another victory for market, not infallible, but least fallible of anyone who predicts.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Tom DumoulinVerified account ‏@tom_dumoulin 8m8 minutes ago
F*ck! So close to a medal! Got caught with 50m to go... But us Dutchies made a great race out of it and we can be proud as a team!

 

[cala]

EBH followed easily in the last hill. He said he had more power left but stupidly he waited for Kristoff. He could've followed Sagan. What a disaster of a tactic. Kristoff was captain but he said EBH could try if he wasn't there. Edvald said the plan was to be in front when the attacks started and wait for Kristoff in the sprint, but when you have the chance to win or take a medal and you don't even know if Kristoff is there, you keep going. He is so stupid tactically sometimes. He even said before the race that plan B was him.

Congratulations to Sagan.

.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

I don't get all the hate for Matthews. He's by no means a new 'Gerrans'. Surely he isn't so exciting, but he's very talented. Why not hate all 2nd tier sprinters then?

 

[MatParker117]

Re: Re:

As I said, it's understandable that you feel bad with a Sagan win, but when you look at the guys who finished behind, you ought to thank him for it. It would be a disgraceful ending to have the wheelsuckers carousel winning the race. Sporting wise, Sagan totally deserved it. And at the end of the day, cycling wins.

I honestly don't get this hate for 'wheel suckers'.
Cycling isn't a sport about who can attack the most, it's a sport about who can win the most. Some does that by attacking, others do it by staying in the peloton and waiting for the sprint.
Others still do it by a bit of both.

Yet one has more merit than the other. Australia did absolutely nothing, they couldn't have done less, literally. They could, however, have attacked the race or even helped Germany chase (who in the end were undeservedly relegated out of the top ten, after Degenkolb tried to break away), having placed two guys among the best in the end. As for Valverde, for all the failed attempts he's had at gold now, should know that the only way he'll ever score big is to attack, because there will always be someone better than him. Same for Norway, who took pride in saying pre-race that they hoped it would come down to a sprint, when everybody knows Kristoff can be as succeceful by attacking. When one chooses the easy way, and someone else of the same characteristics actually does an effort to win, you ought to root for the latter.

Well said. While sprints can be exciting, seeing someone lay it on the line and win with a late attack is just fabulous. This wasn't where the peloton misjudges, and a breakway survives, but a true test where the best rider on the day (for that course) won the race. It would have been a travesty if "bling" had stuck his nose into the wind for the last 15m to take it by half a wheel after neither he, nor his (strong) team, contributed anything at all to the race. I mean zero. They did nothing. Nothing at all. Not a single metre on the front (that I saw, anyway). The 'strayans should go away knowing that they therefore deserved nothing. Even 2nd is too good for them.

Tried something similar with Goss in 2011, Cav had other ideas then as well.

 

[Armchaircyclist]

Re:

Lol EBH didnt chase after Sagan because he had to ride for Kristoff at all cost. What a bunch of stupid twats at #TeamNorway.

--------------------

Really ? From what I heard from Kristoff interviewed after the finish, EBH was supposed to try to neutralize anybody going from the front. By not taking any pulls he would help Kristoff by weakening any breakaway rider. I think he just couldn't follow Sagan, too bad, but well deserved win. Kristoff said after the finish that the course turned out to be harder than on paper, and basicly he suffered all the way. Almost seemed like he was happy With 4th, could easily have been dropped completely today.

 

["Jeff"]

Re:

Lol EBH didnt chase after Sagan because he had to ride for Kristoff at all cost. What a bunch of stupid twats at #TeamNorway.

Somebody really need to tell this dude, that he was once one of the most promising talents. He wasted years at team Sky and now this.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Lol EBH didnt chase after Sagan because he had to ride for Kristoff at all cost. What a bunch of stupid twats at #TeamNorway.

I know it's crazy. They may have bridged across had he worked and at least guaranteed a medal.

Have to wonder why Gerrans wasn't chasing either.

Thought it was just GVA and EBH who were in the chase group behind Sagan with 1k to go?

 

[Metabolol]

Re:

Tom DumoulinVerified account ‏@tom_dumoulin 8m8 minutes ago
F*ck! So close to a medal! Got caught with 50m to go... But us Dutchies made a great race out of it and we can be proud as a team!

Yeah would have been nice to actually see what happened behind Sagan too....

 

[Knutsen]

Re:

Lol EBH didnt chase after Sagan because he had to ride for Kristoff at all cost. What a bunch of stupid twats at #TeamNorway.

Absolutely correct..

 

[Metabolol]

Re: Re:

Lol EBH didnt chase after Sagan because he had to ride for Kristoff at all cost. What a bunch of stupid twats at #TeamNorway.

Somebody really need to tell this dude, that he was once one of the most promising talents. He wasted years at team Sky and now this.[/quote]

Agreed, he most likely threw away a medal by not working.

 

[classicomano]

Re: Re:

Lol EBH didnt chase after Sagan because he had to ride for Kristoff at all cost. What a bunch of stupid twats at #TeamNorway.

I know it's crazy. They may have bridged across had he worked and at least guaranteed a medal.

Have to wonder why Gerrans wasn't chasing either.

Its Gerrans, hes literally unable to accelerate untill 100 meters before the finish line.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

I'll just briefly note that Sagan was the bookmakers' favourite. Yet another victory for market, not infallible, but least fallible of anyone who predicts.

With who? I put my bet on before the race (about 1pm) and Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and Hills all had Kristoff as favourite. Sagan was similar odds to GVA, Degenkolb and Stybar

 

[MatParker117]

Re: Re:

Lol EBH didnt chase after Sagan because he had to ride for Kristoff at all cost. What a bunch of stupid twats at #TeamNorway.

I know it's crazy. They may have bridged across had he worked and at least guaranteed a medal.

Have to wonder why Gerrans wasn't chasing either.

Thought it was just GVA and EBH who were in the chase group behind Sagan with 1k to go?

He finished in the top 10, would of thought he'd of burned himself out for Bling.

 

[cipurian]

OMG a board member has an opinion about a rider. Let's attack said board member all the while while saying how small and petty he or she is. Ain't this just being a little bit small and petty too?

Now getting of my high horse.

Sagan won (or using his English - Sagan one) whooo. Last 3k were quite enjoyable and then came the giant Turd by organizers when he just stood alone in the finish and looked like wtf do I do here and were just doing some random stuff, that was enjoyable too.

 

["Jeff"]

Re: Re:

Tom DumoulinVerified account ‏@tom_dumoulin 8m8 minutes ago
F*ck! So close to a medal! Got caught with 50m to go... But us Dutchies made a great race out of it and we can be proud as a team!

Yeah would have been nice to actually see what happened behind Sagan too....

The camera work was a disaster this whole WC and that was the icing on the cake.

 

[Andy262]

Re: Re:

Lol EBH didnt chase after Sagan because he had to ride for Kristoff at all cost. What a bunch of stupid twats at #TeamNorway.

Somebody really need to tell this dude, that he was once one of the most promising talents. He wasted years at team Sky and now this.[/quote]

Second was in his pocket if he'd chased. Was screaming at the screen just over 1 km out. Not that i'm bitter with my 33-1 ew voucher.

 

[cadence]

Re: Re:

[quote="PhiberAwptik

My 14 year old daughter is less dramatic than this. And that's saying something.

That your 14 year old daughter lives in a world in which Sagans immage isn't massively damaged by what he did sould wory you much more. It's his actions and the support he got for it, that create the cultural background against which women become victims of discrimination or sexual assault. But hey, let's not be dramatic about this, right?[/quote]

His action was wrong but I don't seem to remember him getting support for it? Also, he seems to be at face value a pretty decent guy who had a few mis-steps a few years ago when he was very young. But you seem to know a lot more history on his sexual assaults and discrimination of women

 

[jaylew]

Re:

I don't get all the hate for Matthews. He's by no means a new 'Gerrans'. Surely he isn't so exciting, but he's very talented. Why not hate all 2nd tier sprinters then?

I think it's because he climbs well enough to "steal" races other than pure sprints, some of which are major one day races. And unlike Sagan, he rarely goes on the attack to try and win.

That said, I don't have any problem with him or anyone else for their style of riding as every rider has to play to their strengths in order to get the best results. I can understand why people prefer other types of riders but it doesn't make much sense to me to criticize the rider for playing to his/her strengths.