The Olympic Road Race 2016. Rio de Janeiro. 253km

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

!!!!! The race of the Year !!!

Totally. It even beats Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix for me

Strade Bianche wasn't that good imo. Even races like the Ronde were clearly better. I agree though that this was the best race of the year...which I watched.

 

[WildspokeJoe]

Amazing Race. Great Course. Closed Course. Team size. No radios.

 

[Põhja Konn]

As versatile as GVA is, I never even thought he is able to win on such a course. Absolutely amazing ride by him. Fuglsang going for a certain medal instead of gambling for gold was decisive in catching Majka.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Great, great race!! Not a big fan of GVA but he rode brilliantly - great ride by all riders in the top 10, in fact

So gutted about the crashes

 

[BigMac]

I'd seriously get depressed had Majka won. I'm not even joking.

Thanks Greg and Jakob for a well coordinated chase.

And of course, congrats GVA!

 

[roundabout]

Re: Re:

Lets never hear people say that GC climbers would be great at one day racing if they tried it again. One day racing is different.

Fuglsang and Majka are not exactly your generic classic riders...

Fuglsang is a pretty decent 1-day rider

 

[Ramira]

And now get rid of 9 men teams. Do we need better evidence than this race.

and how about getting rid of Radios within 50K to the finish? wouldn't be awesome?

Yeah I think radios might be a bigger effect than smaller teams in some ways. Removing race radio always makes racing more interesting.

 

[yaco]

Actually Nibali and Henao crashing cost Majka a chance of a gold medal. Once he had to ride alone for the last 10kms it left him susceptible to any late attack - It was a curse for majka.

 

[Arnout]

Why do we only get one one-day climbing classic once every four / eight years (apart from late-season Lombardia)? Feeling for Nibali and Henao, but great great race by Van Avermaet. And Brazil is very beautiful - all those sports and cycling is the sport most able to make this Games feel Brazilian.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

GVA deserved it more than Majka.

Why?

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Lets never hear people say that GC climbers would be great at one day racing if they tried it again. One day racing is different.

Fuglsang and Majka are not exactly your generic classic riders...

They both have pedigree in hilly classics. Majka 3rd in Lombardia, twice on the podium in Milano-Torino and top 10 in loads of important Italian races. Fuglsang also has finished 4th in Lombardia and has top 10s in LBL and FW. They are both deecent one day riders.

Froome, as shown again today, is hopeless at them.

 

[Scarponi]

Re:

Lets never hear people say that GC climbers would be great at one day racing if they tried it again. One day racing is different.

Everyone but GVA was a GC rider though

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

GVA deserved it more than Majka.

Why?

Because he was prepared to work when with other people in a group

 

[Punkan]

Happy for Birdsong. If he just had a finish!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

Lets never hear people say that GC climbers would be great at one day racing if they tried it again. One day racing is different.

Fuglsang and Majka are not exactly your generic classic riders...

The strongest in the race were Henao, Nibali, GVA. All top classics riders. Fuglsang and Majka were indeed very strong but just as they aren't "your generic classic riders" they also aren't top GC climbers.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Actually Nibali and Henao crashing cost Majka a chance of a gold medal. Once he had to ride alone for the last 10kms it left him susceptible to any late attack - It was a curse for majka.

Yep... in that group he would have had a chance in the sprint, he looked strong

 

[MacBAir]

Re: Re:

GVA deserved it more than Majka.

Why?

His whole career? ALl of those years attacking, making races and coming short?

 

[burning]

Re: Re:

Lets never hear people say that GC climbers would be great at one day racing if they tried it again. One day racing is different.

Fuglsang and Majka are not exactly your generic classic riders...

Fuglsang is a pretty decent 1-day rider

He was decent when he was in Saxo, but I don't see him doing too much in one day races when he is in Astana

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Lol, and imagine Peter Sagan skipped this race on purpose.

Exactly. Crazy decision.

Yep, all that talk about how hard the race was. Ultimately it was too hard for most of the pure climbers, not the one day specialists.

As much I like Sagan, he would probably had no chance, his climbing this year is much worser then Greg one.

True, but still more chance than he has in the MTB race

 

[dlwssonic]

Re: Re:

Lets never hear people say that GC climbers would be great at one day racing if they tried it again. One day racing is different.

Everyone but GVA was a GC rider though

What are you talking about that man won the yellow in the mountains and won TA.

 

[Scarponi]

Who other than Contador, Froome, Richie Porte and TVG are GC guys who never ride one days though?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Re: Re:

Lets never hear people say that GC climbers would be great at one day racing if they tried it again. One day racing is different.

Fuglsang and Majka are not exactly your generic classic riders...

Fuglsang is a pretty decent 1-day rider

yep, and if he focused on it he would probably be much better. Now hes just a wannabe GT top 10 rider.

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

GVA deserved it more than Majka.

Why?

Majka was following wheels all day untill circumstances put him in front with a good gap in perfect position and he still couldn't hold on. NOt sure how anyone can think Majka would have deserved to win this

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Greg van Avermaet, what a champion. On such a course I'm stupified really. Amazing tactics and great race.

Italy had the best tactics and best plan, but Nibali ruined it all by taking too many risks (not the first time). Gotta feel for Henao though.. he had nowhere to go

 

[Red Rick]

Did that sign justy say that Frank Schleck finished second?