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

[Vladivar]

That was simply a magnificent way to spend an afternoon with a crate of beer and a plate of snacks.

Incredible race.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: 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

On the other hand if that group with Nibali and Henao would have been caught (and I think thats not that unlikely) he maybe wouldn't have won a medal at all.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

GVA deserved it more than Majka.

Why?

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

Fair enough. Based on today, I feel he deserved it just as much.

 

[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

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

Top-10 in Liege last year after a strong ride

 

[DFA123]

Re:

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

Don't think Chaves and Kruijswijk do them much, and have very few results. They were also nowhere today.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

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.

Strade Bianche was fantastic the moment Sagan, Stybar and Fabian bridged up to Brambilla. Nothing happened before, though, so I see what you mean

 

[Ramira]

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

Yeah but he's also a former no. 7 in the TDF. So he's not a generic classic rider, and definitely also falls in the category of GC climber.

But the whole base argument is nonsense. Valverde has won a GT and a monument. Nibali has finished on the podium at both LBL and MSR. Most GC climbers would be pretty good at one day racing if that was their pure focus.

However it's hardly surprising that Froome and Bardet weren't as good today as people like Nibali, Majka and Van Avermaet, none of whom had to go nearly as deep as Froome did in the Tour. Not to mention some of them didn't have nearly the peak in the Tour Froome did, meaning they're far closer to top form.

 

[Scarponi]

Re: Re:

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

Don't think Chaves and Kruijswijk do them much, and have very few results. They were also nowhere today.

They have also shown they cant even contend for a high place in a one week GC race. Legit one race riders

 

[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.

Everyone but GVA was a GC rider though

California doesn't count as a GT

 

[8472]

TBH Sagan wouldn't have beaten GVA if he rode, by far the strongest today

 

[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

Top-10 in Liege last year after a strong ride

I don't remember doing him anything last year in Liege but nobody apart from Moreno and Pozzovivo did anything as far as I remember, I might be wrong though

 

[johnymax]

Phenomenal race! Sad for Nibali and Henao, extremely happy for GVA...what a rider! Congrats to Majka and Fuglsang, too. Would have been happy to see Purito get a medal, but Spain made a tactical mistake.

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

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

Majka made the right splits. I don't like him, but he's obviously one of the smartest guys around right now regarding cycling intelligence. I'm glad he didn't win, but the medal is very well deserved.

 

[Scarponi]

Well its 5am here in Australia and I am glad I stayed up for every minute. Now the misses is going to be pissed im going to sleep in

 

[Pippo_San]

This was one day racing at its finest. The best race I've seen in years.
I'm still gutted too about the crashes...but really WHAT A FUCKIN BEAUTIFUL RACE.

 

[Climeon]

Can't get over how good this race was. Action the whole way through, and what a finish!

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Phenomenal race! Sad for Nibali and Henao, extremely happy for GVA...what a rider! Congrats to Majka and Fuglsang, too. Would have been happy to see Purito get a medal, but Spain made a tactical mistake.

Why do Spain always make a tactical mistake whenever they don't win? Valverde clearly didn't have the legs so sacrificed himself for Purito, who also couldn't quite hold on during the climb, and had no chance on the flat.

They tried their best but just weren't strong enough today.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

GVA deserved it more than Majka.

Why?

He was in the break most of the day!
It was very impressive. I don't have anything against Majka but when I realized that GVA was trying to hang on on the 3 climbs all day that tells you something about his desire to win. IMHO.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

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

Majka made the right splits. I don't like him, but he's obviously one of the smartest guys around right now regarding cycling intelligence. I'm glad he didn't win, but the medal is very well deserved.

Add in the role that Kwiatkowski played as well in making the race hard from early on and putting in a big pull with the Italians to establish the decsive breakaway, and Poland definitely would have been worthy winners.

 

[Pippo_San]

Re: Re:

Phenomenal race! Sad for Nibali and Henao, extremely happy for GVA...what a rider! Congrats to Majka and Fuglsang, too. Would have been happy to see Purito get a medal, but Spain made a tactical mistake.

Why do Spain always make a tactical mistake whenever they don't win? Valverde clearly didn't have the legs so sacrificed himself for Purito, who also couldn't quite hold on during the climb, and had no chance on the flat.

They tried their best but just weren't strong enough today.

They should've given free reins to Erviti. Boom

 

[TMP402]

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.

Strade Bianche was fantastic the moment Sagan, Stybar and Fabian bridged up to Brambilla. Nothing happened before, though, so I see what you mean

Strade Bianche is usually good though. This had a novelty factor.

 

[Red Rick]

Nibali crashed through debris on the road, according to a random post on a tennis forum. Gotta love the Olympics with people watching everything

 

[Andy262]

Re: Re:

If only Nibs and Henao didn't crash...its almost clear one of the trio would've won.

Ah well. Sour grapes.

Probably yes, in many ways the crash hurt Majka more than it helped him. He could've sat in some wheels and maybe sneaked away were it not for the crash.

Yeah, think if Majka, Henao and Nibs had stayed away, Majka would have had a fair shot at the win. It was having to bury himself alone which gave him no chance at the end. Would have been gutted for Majka if he'd got nothing.

 

[Gigs_98]

Btw, I remember a few discussions where people said GVA is stupid to go to the Olympics since he has absolutely 0 chance on that course. Tbf, I'm also very surprised by how well he climbed today but still retrospective that discussion is quite funny.

 

[Ramira]

Re: Re:

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

Majka made the right splits. I don't like him, but he's obviously one of the smartest guys around right now regarding cycling intelligence. I'm glad he didn't win, but the medal is very well deserved.

Yeah, honestly if Nibali hadn't crashed, and Majka had been able to sneak away or win the sprint, he would've deserved the gold.

However GvA is a far better Olympic champion than Majka in my mind. He's done far more for cycling the last four years, and figures to do even more now that he has this win in the bag, might relieve some pressure.