Team sizes finalised for World Championship

[MatParker117]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/germany-limited-to-six-rider-team-for-qatar-world-road-race-championships/

France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, Colombia, the Netherlands, Australia, Norway and Switzerland all finished in the top ten and so have been awarded a full team of nine riders for the elite men’s road race.

Like Germany, Canada and the USA have been awarded six places for the elite men’s road race. Slovakia has just three places as Peter Sagan tries to defend his world champion’s rainbow jersey.

This is going to be a sprint too many nations with nine riders will want one. If the tour is anything go by the only thing that will stop Cav is a *** lead out by Ben Swift and Andy Fenn.

 

[DFA123]

I think it could end up being a pretty hard race. 260km long, 150km through open desert with a decent chance of crosswinds, and temperatures reaching close to 40 degrees. Plus, strong teams like Holland, Belgium, Spain and Switzerland all trying everything to avoid a straight up sprint.

It will be much, much harder to win than any of the Tour de France stages that Cavendish took. I think it favours the more rounded sprinters like Kristoff, Degenkolb and Sagan, who have proven they can last the distance and handle difficulties within a race.

 

[carton]

Funny how the parcours changes everything. In the Olympics Germany was using up their road slots for track cyclists while Colombia decided leave Pantano and Atapuma home, bring no domestiques and not do a time trial in order to focus on the road. Now Geramny's picking between Kluge and Geshke and Arndt while Colombia needs to figure out if they're going to take Brayan Ramirez or Brayan Sanchez (or both).

 

[MatParker117]

Re:

I think it could end up being a pretty hard race. 260km long, 150km through open desert with a decent chance of crosswinds, and temperatures reaching close to 40 degrees. Plus, strong teams like Holland, Belgium, Spain and Switzerland all trying everything to avoid a straight up sprint.

It will be much, much harder to win than any of the Tour de France stages that Cavendish took. I think it favours the more rounded sprinters like Kristoff, Degenkolb and Sagan, who have proven they can last the distance and handle difficulties within a race.

Don't think the Dutch will go with Dylan or DVP? On the other note France, Italy, GB, Australia and Norway will all bring teams committed to a sprint.

 

[Gigs_98]

I don't understand why there are such big teams in WC's. Why not making a race like the Olympics, or maybe at least only 6 or 7 riders. But this way 10 nations (so almost all big teams) have 9 men teams, so the race can be controlled even better than other one day races.
Was it always like that? In my memory the teams were a bit smaller in the last years.

 

[PremierAndrew]

German team will be interesting. Degenkolb will probably go to support the leader but will both Greipel and Kittel go or just one (Kittel)

I don't understand why there are such big teams in WC's. Why not making a race like the Olympics, or maybe at least only 6 or 7 riders. But this way 10 nations (so almost all big teams) have 9 men teams, so the race can be controlled even better than other one day races.
Was it always like that? In my memory the teams were a bit smaller in the last years.

Been like this for a while. In fact, in 2001-2003, Spain and Italy won with 12 man teams and in 2004, Spain won with a 13 man team I believe

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

I think it could end up being a pretty hard race. 260km long, 150km through open desert with a decent chance of crosswinds, and temperatures reaching close to 40 degrees. Plus, strong teams like Holland, Belgium, Spain and Switzerland all trying everything to avoid a straight up sprint.

It will be much, much harder to win than any of the Tour de France stages that Cavendish took. I think it favours the more rounded sprinters like Kristoff, Degenkolb and Sagan, who have proven they can last the distance and handle difficulties within a race.

Don't think the Dutch will go with Dylan or DVP? On the other note France, Italy, GB, Australia and Norway will all bring teams committed to a sprint.

I think the Dutch should go for Groenewegen as Plan A with a Plan B of Terpstra/Boom/Westra.

 

[Escarabajo]

It would be fun to see how those tiny mountain goats work for Gaviria!

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

It would be fun to see how those tiny mountain goats work for Gaviria!

Gaviria is riding with the U23's, and he'll have plenty of decent help.

 

[Breh]

I'm wondering what France's plan is.

 

[scurrrr]

Re: Re:

It would be fun to see how those tiny mountain goats work for Gaviria!

Gaviria is riding with the U23's, and he'll have plenty of decent help.

Nice joke

 

[rghysens]

Re:

German team will be interesting. Degenkolb will probably go to support the leader but will both Greipel and Kittel go or just one (Kittel)

I don't understand why there are such big teams in WC's. Why not making a race like the Olympics, or maybe at least only 6 or 7 riders. But this way 10 nations (so almost all big teams) have 9 men teams, so the race can be controlled even better than other one day races.
Was it always like that? In my memory the teams were a bit smaller in the last years.

Been like this for a while. In fact, in 2001-2003, Spain and Italy won with 12 man teams and in 2004, Spain won with a 13 man team I believe

Yep, in the past all big nations could bring in 12 riders + the world champion. Don't remember when it changed to "smaller" teams.

 

[scurrrr]

Re:

German team will be interesting. Degenkolb will probably go to support the leader but will both Greipel and Kittel go or just one (Kittel)

I don't understand why there are such big teams in WC's. Why not making a race like the Olympics, or maybe at least only 6 or 7 riders. But this way 10 nations (so almost all big teams) have 9 men teams, so the race can be controlled even better than other one day races.
Was it always like that? In my memory the teams were a bit smaller in the last years.

Been like this for a while. In fact, in 2001-2003, Spain and Italy won with 12 man teams and in 2004, Spain won with a 13 man team I believe

German team already said they degenkolb will be plan b and they will only have one leader, so either gorilla or kittel will stay home

 

[TMP402]

Re:

I'm wondering what France's plan is.

Bouhanni, unless they allow motor-pacing.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

I think it could end up being a pretty hard race. 260km long, 150km through open desert with a decent chance of crosswinds, and temperatures reaching close to 40 degrees. Plus, strong teams like Holland, Belgium, Spain and Switzerland all trying everything to avoid a straight up sprint.

It will be much, much harder to win than any of the Tour de France stages that Cavendish took. I think it favours the more rounded sprinters like Kristoff, Degenkolb and Sagan, who have proven they can last the distance and handle difficulties within a race.

Don't think the Dutch will go with Dylan or DVP? On the other note France, Italy, GB, Australia and Norway will all bring teams committed to a sprint.

Would be ridiculous for either of those teams to ride commited to a sprint. Sure, take Nizzolo, Matthews or whoever else in case it ends in a sprint. But they're not going to win an easy race; both countries would be much better taking a punt on a late solo attack or at least trying to make it a harder, more selective race. Same for the Dutch - they're much better off trying to make a more selective race, particularly if there is some kind of wind.

It will be a one day race / monument specialist that wins this. Kittel has no chance, Greipel very little chance and I don't think Cavendish has that distance in his legs any more - GB should probably be riding for Swift or Thomas.

 

[Billie]

Kittel or Greipel who'd you take?

Easy choice for me. Kittel lacks the engine. Greipel is better rider.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Kittel or Greipel who'd you take?

Easy choice for me. Kittel lacks the engine. Greipel has the bigger engine.

Don't think either are going to do anything in a 260km race, with winds and temperatures close to 40C. Especially not as part of a six man team. Kittel doesn't have the engine for that distance and Greipel is hopeless in a chaotic finish without a leadout.

If he can show any kind of reasonable from in the next month, they should go all in for Degenkolb.

 

[Billie]

Boonen has been talking a lot about Qatar. Hope Belgium really goes for it.

Boonen-GVA-Vanmarcke-Roelandts-Debsucchere-Vandenbergh-Stuyven-Benoot-Keukeleire to create complete carnage in the wind.

 

[carton]

Re: Re:

It would be fun to see how those tiny mountain goats work for Gaviria!

Gaviria is riding with the U23's, and he'll have plenty of decent help.

Really? A little undercooked endurace wise after Rio, maybe? Interesting, as Viviani and Cav are probably in the same boat. On the flip side, can Colombia just bow out of the elite race? [edit: Or just rent out the team to Slovakia or something?]

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Boonen has been talking a lot about Qatar. Hope Belgium really goes for it.

Boonen-GVA-Vanmarcke-Roelandts-Debsucchere-Vandenbergh-Stuyven-Benoot-Keukeleire to create complete carnage in the wind.

I'm pretty sure they can and will split the race apart at some point. It could easily turn into a real war of attrition. Perhaps GVA could take another famous win - there's not many who can hold their sprint so well after six tough hours racing, and he seems to be able to hold ridiculously long peaks nowdays.

 

[deValtos]

Belgium are going to be the big team looking to avoid the sprint and they'll have some real strong firepower.

This could actually turn out to be a very interesting race or a massive let down ....

 

[PremierAndrew]

Wonder if Cancellara can do something. Just got pipped to the line by Greipel for 3rd place in the similarly long Copenhagen route

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

Kittel or Greipel who'd you take?

Easy choice for me. Kittel lacks the engine. Greipel has the bigger engine.

Don't think either are going to do anything in a 260km race, with winds and temperatures close to 40C. Especially not as part of a six man team. Kittel doesn't have the engine for that distance and Greipel is hopeless in a chaotic finish without a leadout.

If he can show any kind of reasonable from in the next month, they should go all in for Degenkolb.

I agree with you about the length and heat, but it's being held in the least windy month there is. It's unlikely crosswinds will play a major role. (Also, Greipel's hardly a terrible freelancer). Should be all in for the gorilla.

 

[Red Rick]

Oh great. The Great One Day Race With The 9 Man Teams. Flat roads. No obstacles whatsoever. I can't wait

 

[carton]

Re:

Oh great. The Great One Day Race With The 9 Man Teams. Flat roads. No obstacles whatsoever. I can't wait

Well, it can't be far off these GT sprint stages featuring no actual GT sprinters (again, no offence to Gianni Meersman and his kin).