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

[roundabout]

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 would have had a better chance had they been able to rejoin the leaders after the penultimate downhill. That's the tactical mistake, I think.

 

[yaco]

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.

What a misinformed post - Those three riders would have worked together like crazy in the last 10km of flat, because they were all guaranteed medals - No way they would have been caught.

 

[Andy262]

Re:

What were GVA's pre-race odds?

28-1 was what I took this a.m. With Bet365.

 

[Warhawk]

Seen a number of people on reddit commenting that they rarely or have never watched cycling, but found this exciting. The Olympics is a good way to get exposure for the sport, and I think they picked a great course to do that this year.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Nibali's downfall was presumably failing to drop Henao on the last stretch of the climb: he knew he would have been outsprinted by him, and overcooked it in trying to get away from him in the descent.

GvA so nearly lost the wheels of the lead group on the first half of the final ascent: a brilliant recovery. But although he did contribute to the chasedown of Majka, it was Fuglsang's strength that won him his gold medal.

 

[hfer07]

Can Brazil get savvy and utilize that spectacular course for a World Tour race?

 

[Yingge]

Well done to GVA, he has really gotten the monkey off his back in the past 12 months.

 

[Punkan]

Alaphillipe 4th. Strong ride. Just a question of time before he wins a monument.

 

[yaco]

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.

GVA rode out of his skin but the fact is the three leading riders before the crash were all climbers.

 

[Red Rick]

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.

Sometimes stars align and hell freezes over.

 

[laurensde+]

What happened to Alaphilippe on the descent? Did the Nibs/Henao crash hold him up or did he go down?

 

[Climbing]

Re:

Nibali's downfall was presumably failing to drop Henao on the last stretch of the climb: he knew he would have been outsprinted by him, and overcooked it in trying to get away from him in the descent.

GvA so nearly lost the wheels of the lead group on the first half of the final ascent: a brilliant recovery. But although he did contribute to the chasedown of Majka, it was Fuglsang's strength that won him his gold medal.

Henao, the famous sprinter?
Yeah sure.

 

[the asian]

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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

He probably wan't satisfied with a medal and wanted to drop Majka and Henao on the descent.

That's what makes him such a great rider but there are times it doesn't come off.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I love that there are people still refusing to accept that one day racing is a very different thing after a "climbers race" won by Greg Van Avermaet.

Riders can be both GC climbers and good one day racers. It is not an either or choice. But the two abilities are to a considerable extent independent of each other. There is often nonsense talked about how GC riders with no significant classics pedigree would be super strong in one day races if only they targeted them. They wouldn't be. One day races involve different physical and mental skills. It is possible to be an excellent GC climber and an excellent hilly classics rider, but being one does not imply the other in either direction.

 

[Ramira]

Re:

Seen a number of people on reddit commenting that they rarely or have never watched cycling, but found this exciting. The Olympics is a good way to get exposure for the sport, and I think they picked a great course to do that this year.

Yup, it was a great showcase for cycling.

And I think UCI or ASO should start to think about how to inject more of this racing. Maybe smaller teams, or no race radio (or if there is race radio have it be totally public, so there's no safety issue but the riders need to decide tactics themselves).

 

[IndianCyclist]

It was a once in a lifetime ride by GVA. Considering Gilbert is the person for the Punchier classics and the parcours, GVA should have been long gone. Dropped a number of times and with the late attack and his traditional sprint, he has won a well deserved victory.

 

[HelloDolly]

I got to say I had it up to my ears with Froome today

For one thing Elingworth and himself making him leader when race wasmore suited to Thomas ( who had to bring Froome back from peeing) Cummings (who has to ride on the front)and even Yates ( who had to go back to car for bottles)

Does he not beleive in sharign the glory and giving something back

Why was he attacking with Allphillipe on his wheel with Thomas up the road...seen that before
Stop hogging the limelight ...even sprinting at the end....give others a chance Froome
Thomas rides his ar** off for you ...let him take some glory and be leader FFS

 

[Ramira]

Re:

Can Brazil get savvy and utilize that spectacular course for a World Tour race?

Don't think that's possible. First it's to long for a non-monument. And second the descents are far to dangerous. They'd have to fix the canopy and the roads. And probably make the cobbles slightly better.

They could probably adjust the course and create one worthy of a WT, but this one can't be raced every year, people wouldn't take the risk.

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

Can Brazil get savvy and utilize that spectacular course for a World Tour race?

With 9 men teams and radios?

 

[deValtos]

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It was a once in a lifetime ride by GVA. Considering Gilbert is the person for the Punchier classics and the parcours, GVA should have been long gone. Dropped a number of times and with the late attack and his traditional sprint, he has won a well deserved victory.

Well 2011 Gilbert would've crushed this. GVA well deserved win.

I'm disappointed for all the crashed riders though.

 

[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.

What a misinformed post - Those three riders would have worked together like crazy in the last 10km of flat, because they were all guaranteed medals - No way they would have been caught.

Is that really necessary
And besides that I also disagree. Look how the chasing group worked on the final climb. They only stopped harmonizing because they knew two of them would win a medal even if they don't catch the leader, so they started to look at each other. The gap of the Nibali group was very small on the descent, only about 15 seconds, so a by far larger group definitely would have had a chance against the small leading group.

 

[doperhopper]

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.

Are fuglsang, majka not GC climbers? Nibali definitely is.

and let's not forget this is not the GVA beating Sagan in sprint, but GVA winning MTF stage in TdF (so much for discussions about Sagan's chances)

in the meantime: terrorist machette "allahu akbar" attack in Belgium (and some were afraid of going to Rio because of security)

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

I got to say I had it up to my ears with Froome today

For one thing Elingworth and himself making him leader when race wasmore suited to Thomas ( who had to bring Froome back from peeing) Cummings (who has to ride on the front)and even Yates ( who had to go back to car for bottles)

Does he not beleive in sharign the glory and giving something back

Why was he attacking with Allphillipe on his wheel with Thomas up the road...seen that before
Stop hogging the limelight ...even sprinting at the end....give others a chance Froome
Thomas rides his ar** off for you ...let him take some glory and be leader FFS

He had to cover Purito's move.

See 2012 TdF if you think Froome isn't prepared to help teammates

On paper, this race was suited to Froome more than anyone else for GB

 

[Atwood]

My guess is that Nibali was going for nothing less than gold. There was a lot of pressure on him. But he couldn't get the lead he needed -- he couldn't shake Majka and Henao on the climb. He needed more time from the chasing group too and the only place left was descent and sprint. In his mind there was no other option but try to get those seconds on the descent. Good chance GVA or someone would have caught him on in the final 10k anyway. Of course Nibali wouldn't have known exactly who was in the chasing group but he knew about the need for more time than he had!!
Love NO RADIO'S!

 

[BigMac]

Re:

Seen a number of people on reddit commenting that they rarely or have never watched cycling, but found this exciting. The Olympics is a good way to get exposure for the sport, and I think they picked a great course to do that this year.

Reddit people are the last kind of people I'd want following my beloved sport.