Just going here to say that I still don‘t see Pogi winning this one. The circuit just seems too easy.
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The Belgians will see it as a huge miss if WVA doesn't win on this circuit, with good reason.
He's obviously a big favourite, but I'm not sure if he'll win, as a Belgian. France and The Netherlands are going to try and make it as hard as possible. To really make him work for those 4.000 altimeters. Just like they did yesterday in Montréal, and last year at the WC. After such a race he's just not strong enough anymore, and like he didn't win the sprint yesterday from Pogacar, I don't believe he can win the sprint from Van der Poel.
Is the total gain 4000m? That's 1000 less than at Montreal, although 30+ km longer? IMO Wout would have won yesterday at Montreal but there was just too much vertical. So this should be more in his wheelhouse. That said, it would have also been perfect for an Alaf 3-peat.
Not sure about MvDP's shape regarding his base for such a long race, and like WvA, if he goes to the line in a small group after 260 km, anything can happen.
As a farn, I'm going to go for MvDP as I'd really like to see him in WC colors but I'd be happy if Wout won -- he's taking a lot of flack for his consistent 2nd places...
If I had to pick a winner based on head vs heart, I just don't see how anyone beats Pogacar. Yesterday was mighty impressive.
Not sure about MvDP's shape regarding his base for such a long race, and like WvA, if he goes to the line in a small group after 260 km, anything can happen.
As a farn, I'm going to go for MvDP as I'd really like to see him in WC colors but I'd be happy if Wout won -- he's taking a lot of flack for his consistent 2nd places...
If I had to pick a winner based on head vs heart, I just don't see how anyone beats Pogacar. Yesterday was mighty impressive.
I’m pretty sure it’s more to do with the UCI points rather than being in Australia that’s having riders pull out, the last worlds in Australia had a pretty good field across the races.
Yeah, reduced hills intensity at the Worlds compared to Montreal should favour WVA more. OTOH those super-long and difficult one-day races have not been his strongest side so far (as opposed to Pog, who likes long races with large cumulative climbing). As for MVP, he could still peak for a one-day race (like he did for Flandres) despite reduced base preparations so he's a contender for sure. Not sure how Ala responds to the crash but he's a traditional favourite on such a route. Those four have biggest chances IMO, unsurprisingly.
Total elevation of 3945m, that's indeed much less than Montréal, but then again last year it was only 2562m. I also think that Wout is still growing in form, and will be better in 2 weeks.
He's going to be ready. When you check his Strava, he's doing a lot of long +200km rides. He doesn't have the base to also be good after the WC, but purely for one-day I expect him to sprint for victory unless someone is able to ride away solo.
All depends on the situation of the race me thinks. If we go to the line with a group big enough for it to be called a bunch sprint and there are helpers present, I believe Wout will win. If we go to the line with a small group of +/- 5 riders, he'll struggle.
Van Aert is a weird animal. He really struggles in sprints where the pace is a bit lower, the sprint shorter and where more explosiveness is required. There is just no way he loses a bunch sprint with proper trains to Van der Poel or Pidcock, but put them in a mano a mano like in Vlaanderen or Brabantse Pijl and he loses, albeit by minimal margins. The longer the sprint, the better for Wout.
Long story short: Wout better hope Stuyven and Remco survive.
Tadej, Remco, Wout, Mathieu and Julian are my favorites in that order. Would not feel bad about having such a great WC at all, and I'd be surprised if anyone else won it. Lots of unknowns though, how does Julian respond to the crash, Remco to the Vuelta, Mathieu to his stupid GT double, and how hard is the route actually?
Very much looking forward to it, we have a golden generation in these riders.
Very much looking forward to it, we have a golden generation in these riders.
Well, last year the favourites began attacking 200 kms from the finish. I'm setting my alarm clock for 2 am (15 minutes before the race start).
I'll have a few days off and probably will be at the girl's house and she has no tv and slow internet. I think I'll sleep at home for that night
. in any case I'll set the alarm at 7 am. race should finish around 8:45 am
I don't know, I don't think riders like Pedersen leave it be for UCI points. It's probably the addition of the factors, some riders are just really tired, there are some big favourites who dominate races, so they somehow don't see chances for themselves despite viewers giving them a chance, then the UCI points for some...
I get the feeling there are few riders in the peloton who had worlds as a major goal from the beginning of the season because they just don't expect to win it.
Or maybe the curse of the rainbow jersey which has shown itself so openly this year keeps them away.
What an embarrassing team Spain is sending. Since when do the trade teams have a say in call-ups for the World Championships?
Jesper Worre mentioned that there is a clause in all contracts that says the trade teams have to accept if their riders are called up for national duty.
Jesper Worre mentioned that there is a clause in all contracts that says the trade teams have to accept if their riders are called up for national duty.
I don't know about this lack of base. He has been riding consistently uninjured since before the giro, right? He seems to have over cooked himself in there somewhere but has been quiet since the tour just training away - he could come back and be flying.
It's about the UCI points - The Aussie riders who are not in the ITT are taking a more relaxed attitude towards travel - Most of the Aussie elite men's team for the RR will arrive next Monday which is 6 days before the race - Reading some comments you would think they were travelling to the moon.
The course is halfway in difficulty between Quebec and Montreal - The kickers are the extra 50kms, the 1km climb at 7.1 per cent can do serious damage and the climb is followed by a downhill finish - In top form this is a course for MVP and Alaphalippe.
There is an article on CN where the Spanish coach states he's only able to pick two riders from his short list - It's not just riders missing races for UCI points but riders supporting chosen leaders who can steal UCI points - I'd be very disappointed if I was the organizer of the World's to see the result of my investment.
Yes, but that was the same for Evenepoel, and he also had a smaller base last year. It's as if they really need to be able to rest and train properly in the winter, and if you didn't do that, your base is small. This isn't based on any science, and I also don't feel this is completely correct. Doesn't make sense that it would work like that.
Nonetheless this doesn't matter since Van der Poel only needs to shine for 1 more race. I don't think he cares about the Italian classics at the end of the season.
Don't trust the official vertical gain. No way is Mount Ousley only a fourth of the vertical gain of the circuit.
It's not particularly hilly.
I mean, that's what you get for not having Worlds on the other end of the world (compared to most of the season) after the autumn races have finished. Would it been that hard to have this one after Lombardia and the block of Italian one day races?
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