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

[Lequack]

Pogacar training with his pals, and his girlfriend on the far right

 

[Breezy1985]

After watching the U23, I would say it's more of a Pogacar / Alaphilippe (in shape that is) parcours, than a WvA / Matthews parcours.
Weather, tactics and Evenepoel will be decisive factors with MvdP as a joker.

As long as it's not a Matthews course im happy.

 

[Lequack]

Wout: "And then I said to Remco, sure we will work together!"

 

[Nick2413]

I didn’t watch but people seemed to be saying it might be too hard to get away especially in good weather, would you say that’s not the case?

 

[Poursuivant]

First of many for the Pog.

 

[Skalman]

Still thinks the clear favourite is MvdP . I know the French and Italians will try to attack non stop but if his team is up for it until the finale MvdP will take it.

 

[Cookster15]

Would be good to see Pog win, I like his racing style and was disappointed he couldn’t three-peat the TdF. I also wouldn’t mind if Alaphilippe could defend as he also is exciting to watch. MvDP is playing down his form, maybe he is bluffing? But my patriotism wants to see Matthews pull off the impossible.

But it isn’t an easy race to pick. I just hope the racing is hard and we don’t end up with a bunch finish like 2010 Geelong (Hushovd).

 

[Skalman]

Who wins the women's though? Van Vleuten? 4:25 is brutal btw

 

[Berniece]

Who wins the women's though? Van Vleuten? 4:25 is brutal btw

After her fall? Well if anyone can do something like that it's her, but I think they are more likely to let her help Vos win.

 

[Sciatic]

A paltry 67K for the women's junior race tomorrow. Zoe Backstedt won in Leuven last year on a course that was 10K longer, but had 250m less elevation. I don't know how either of these factors might affect tomorrow's result due to knowing pretty much nothing about WJ racing. But if someone was able to gap her on the last climb, there would only be a few K for her to, inevitably, gain back time.

Watched her ITT yesterday on replay, and it was astonishing how much quicker she was just visually, regardless of the timing info. The commentators noted that she was 17 seconds faster than any of the elite riders to the first checkpoint, though of course, they had an extra 20K to ride and had a headwind? Also apparently, the first person to hold four rainbow jerseys simultaneously (Road, ITT, Madison, Cyclo-cross).

That is bizarre that it’s so short—especially now that women pros are gradually getting to perform on tougher course like P-R and LeTour Femmes. I’ve never known—is course design & length for WCs up to the UCI or the host nation’s cycling federation?
Ed. Ack-sorry, I thought this was the women’s elite race at 67k.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

Van Aert 3-1
Pogacar 7-2
MVDP 7-2
Remco 5-1
Alaphilippe 10-1
Matthews 16-1
Girmay 20-1
Laporte 25-1

Odds vary from site to site of course.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Apparently next year the U23 woman get their own race.

No, as things currently stand it won't happen before 2025.

 

[42x16ss]

Would be good to see Pog win, I like his racing style and was disappointed he couldn’t three-peat the TdF. I also wouldn’t mind if Alaphilippe could defend as he also is exciting to watch. MvDP is playing down his form, maybe he is bluffing? But my patriotism wants to see Matthews pull off the impossible.

But it isn’t an easy race to pick. I just hope the racing is hard and we don’t end up with a bunch finish like 2010 Geelong (Hushovd).

Geelong was possibly the most entertaining bunch finish in the sport's history TBF though

 

[tobydawq]

Geelong was possibly the most entertaining bunch finish in the sport's history TBF though

MSR 2009?

 

[42x16ss]

MSR 2009?

Why I said possibly. I have Geelong ahead because it was a better race as a whole, but understand why you might take MSR 09

 

[Sciatic]

Geelong was possibly the most entertaining bunch finish in the sport's history TBF though

In my recollection that’s partly because it was such a surprise that the peloton suddenly appeared in the final kms when I (and the announcers I was listening to) they were well distanced. It was exciting though.

 

[sir fly]

I didn’t watch but people seemed to be saying it might be too hard to get away especially in good weather, would you say that’s not the case?

Depends.
As always is the case, size and composition of the group factor the possibilities.
But, yeah... consensus is the course leans toward a select group finish.

 

[Skalman]

Zoe got a healthy gap, can she hold on...

 

[postmanhat]

2 minute gap for Backstedt at the halfway point.

Pitifully small number of spectators for a World Champs.

 

[tobydawq]

2 minute gap for Backstedt at the halfway point.

Pitifully small number of spectators for a World Champs.

If the WC was in your neighbourhood, would you be out eight hours a day, eight days straight to watch?

 

[Skalman]

Zoe in a class of her own, rode away with 57 km to go and so far crushing it

 

[sir fly]

Zoe got a healthy gap, can she hold on...

Hold on?
Building on.

Blink and you miss it... over before began.

 

[postmanhat]

If the WC was in your neighbourhood, would you be out eight hours a day, eight days straight to watch?

It's been the same for all the races I've seen, and this is midday on a Saturday. Maybe it's too far from anywhere for other Australian fans to make the trip? The end result however is a lack of any event atmosphere.

 

[postmanhat]

She could exceed Van Vleuten's 2019 winning margin, at less than half the distance.

Edit - Maybe not. Understandably, seems to be easing off a bit/tiring.

 

[sir fly]

She could exceed Van Vleuten's 2019 winning margin, at less than half the distance.

Edit - Maybe not. Understandably, seems to be easing of a bit/tiring.

I'm thinking about her exceeding Vleuty's career in the future.
That's the impression she's making.