The Grand 2022 Wollongong UCI Road World Championships Thread, September 18th-25th

[Cookster15]

Who else would they send on this course considering Ayuso is tired after the Vuelta.

Ayuso said this? I am surprised since for the worlds it is common riders who do well (on GC) at the Vuelta are in peak condition for the worlds?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Ayuso said this? I am surprised since for the worlds it is common riders who do well (on GC) at the Vuelta are in peak condition for the worlds?

Usually that's true for classic oriented riders who can take it easy and pick two or three stages to go in the break on a terrain they excel at and go for stage win.

 

[Cookster15]

Usually that's true for classic oriented riders who can take it easy and pick two or three stages to go in the break on a terrain they excel in and go for stage win.

Not necessarily. The rider I had in mind was Cadel Evans. 3rd on GC in 2009 Vuelta and some say he could have beaten AV if not for his team messing up a bike change. Then Cadel aced the worlds at Mendrisio on a tough course. Obviously Evans wasn't too tired? I am sure there are others? Plus at Ayuso's age recovery is usually better.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Not necessarily. The rider I had in mind was Cadel Evans. 3rd on GC in 2009 Vuelta and some say he could have beaten AV if not for his team messing up a bike change. Then Cadel aced the worlds at Mendrisio on a tough course. Obviously Evans wasn't too tired? I am sure there are others? Plus at Ayuso's age recovery is usually better.

But at Ayuso's age you don't generally ride a GT for a GC right until the end.

 

[yaco]

Surely in the nationals the true spirit of the event should be that every rider rides for their own chances not riding for a designated colleague in their trade team.

Check out the 2022 Eritrean National Championship.

 

[StryderHells]

Ayuso said this? I am surprised since for the worlds it is common riders who do well (on GC) at the Vuelta are in peak condition for the worlds?

19 years old, just finished 3rd at the Vuelta (with Covid) and the long trip out to Australia. I can see why he might be a bit tired.

 

[StryderHells]

PELLO BILBAO

ALEJANDRO VALVERDE

ALEX ARANBURU

ION IZAGIRRE

LUIS LEON SÁNCHEZ

JESUS HERRADA

OMAR FRAILE

Maybe Aranburu might be in with a shout at the podium but that’s it.

 

[Lequack]

UAE world champs jersey, if they win it

 

[search]

any idea how Durbridge ended up on Australia's time trial lineup instead of Plapp now?

 

[movingtarget]

Jai Hindley tested positive for Covid the day after the Vuelta ended. I guess that delays his departure for Australia.

 

[KZD]

any idea how Durbridge ended up on Australia's time trial lineup instead of Plapp now?

He is pretty good in these kind of flatish TTs and Bike Exchange setup is quite good this year.

 

[yaco]

any idea how Durbridge ended up on Australia's time trial lineup instead of Plapp now?

Plapp is tired after the Vuelta or it could be that Bike Exchange wants any points Durbridge could grab from the ITT - Durbo should finish in the 12th to 15th bracket.

 

[search]

He is pretty good in these kind of flatish TTs and Bike Exchange setup is quite good this year.

Plapp is tired after the Giro or it could be that Bike Exchange wants any points Durbridge could grab from the ITT - Durbo should finish in the 12th to 15th bracket.

yeah, I was just surprised as all this was known already when they initially confirmed Plapp to do the ITT, and it sounded like he was really looking forward to it.

It could make sense to rest him for the TTT of course, but Australia's team for that one (Plapp, O'Connor, Schultz, Baker, Chapman, Manly) doesn't look great either.

 

[tobydawq]

Plapp is tired after the Giro or it could be that Bike Exchange wants any points Durbridge could grab from the ITT - Durbo should finish in the 12th to 15th bracket.

One must have terrible recovery if tiredness post Giro is not gone at the time of the Worlds

Sorry

 

[yaco]

yeah, I was just surprised as all this was known already when they initially confirmed Plapp to do the ITT, and it sounded like he was really looking forward to it.

It could make sense to rest him for the TTT of course, but Australia's team for that one (Plapp, O'Connor, Schultz, Baker, Chapman, Manly) doesn't look great either.

The women's side is strong enough but on the men's side you need a Dennis and a Hepburn or Durbridge.

 

[Big Doopie]

I have a very Pogačar feeling about the RR and a very Remco feeling about the TT.

hmm. Ganna has been training only TT since the TDF. He is doing the hour in october. Says the new pinarello is super fast. I think a (tired?) Remco will have a tough time…

 

[Big Doopie]

ITT

1. Ganna
2. Remco
3. Pog

RR

1. Vdp
2. Pog
3. Loulou

FANTASY

ITT: Remco
RR: Remco

 

[Nick2413]

So the men’s TT starts around midnight Saturday in the US and 5AM Sunday in Europe? Is Ganna going favorite to win? I haven’t seen anyone mention Pog for the TT but he’s on the startlist. You never know with him..

 

[DNP-Old]

So the men’s TT starts around midnight Saturday in the US and 5AM Sunday in Europe? Is Ganna going favorite to win? I haven’t seen anyone mention Pog for the TT but he’s on the startlist. You never know with him..

Given his usual standards, he has throughout his career been really bad in standalone time trials. He has legendary recovery levels, which play little to no role in such, it's a different prep, different focus. I'd be somewhat surprised if he even podiumed.

 

[Nick2413]

Given his usual standards, he has throughout his career been really bad in standalone time trials.

Agreed but he’s also beaten some of the best even early in GTs, I see him as more of a wildcard for it.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

One must have terrible recovery if tiredness post Giro is not gone at the time of the Worlds

Sorry

It must be remarkably terrible considering he didn't even ride the Giro.

 

[Boes]

ITT:

1. Ganna
2. Remco
3. Bissenger

WC:

1. WVA
2. Poggy
3. Trentin

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

ITT:

1. Ganna
2. Remco
3. Bissenger

WC:

1. WVA
2. Poggy
3. Trentin

For the TT i'm not sure this is a course that really suits Bissegger. I'm actually thinking Hayter may surprise here (not for the win, but the podium). But it will be interesting if Küng can shed his "best of the rest" label here. He's only been on the podium once before and that was when Evenepoel was out of commission. This year Van Aert isn't riding, Ganna's form has been suspect on occasion and Evenepoel is coming out of the Vuelta, which could go either way. This would be a good moment for Küng to finally step up. I'm afraid this might come back to haunt Van Aert though, if he doesn't win the RR (for which imho he isn't the big favourite either).

From what i gather from Jens Verbrugghe's (autocorrect wants to turn that into Veggieburger) comments the TT course is difficult to plan a pace, because it's a lot of short sections of up and down with lots of bends, meaning you can't really look at your powermeter because the sections are too short and constantly differing. A lot will have to be done on feeling and experience. There are a lot of corners, but roughly 1/3rd of those can be taken at high speed according to Evenepoel.

 

[Netserk]

Given his usual standards, he has throughout his career been really bad in standalone time trials. He has legendary recovery levels, which play little to no role in such, it's a different prep, different focus. I'd be somewhat surprised if he even podiumed.

Copenhagen wasn't affected by recovery, so I think the difference is more down to how well the riders prepare for different events.

Armstrong was (consistently) the best TT'er of the early 00's, but he would only bring his A game to the Tour.

 

[yaco]

Looking to the future my outsider is Magnus Sheffield - He could sneak into the top 5.