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

[WildspokeJoe]

What if they either turned off the radios at 30k to go or make them one way.

 

[doperhopper]

Re: Re:

Taaramae just stopped 50 metres from end and climber over the ad boards to abandon

what?

is this a form of "lanterne rouge" game?

last one to abandon, or closest to the finish...

btw, who gets the combativity award (and will wear red number next 4 years)?

 

[PeterB]

I truly can't undertand how it's possible that van Avermaet survived those brutal climbs. He probably deserves the medal just for this, beating of all odds that you must be pure climber to win. But to those condemning Majka for wheelsucking and praising van Avermaet for active riding, I am not so sure that was actually the case today. Van Avermaet made it to Caruso's move if I remember correctly but then did not do much work after that. So to me there was no difference between how much him or Majka deserved to win on the basis of their willingness to work today. If anyone, then Fuglsang was the most active from those three.
But Nibali and Henao are those who should have fight for gold in an ideal world. That descent was a bit too dangerous to my liking.

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Purito just cost Majka the gold medal... F***!

I can always count on Purito.

I think only polish people and an odd few Majka fans are dissapointed. Majka once again never ever had his nose in the wind until his 2 companions who did everything crashed and then when he hit the wind he got chased down. Hallelujah!

It's a big dissapointment henao and nibali crashed out, but from that moment on I so dearly hoped they chased Majka down. So glad GVA and Fuglsang did just that. Atleast GVA is a rider we can count on racing.

 

[Climbing]

Re: Re:

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

With 9 men teams and radios?

I hope after this even UCI has to realize the future is 5-man teams and no radios.

I consider both (Majka as well) very bad sprinters, and would have been more tactics and legs than anything else for the gold.

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

I would still rate Roubaix higher this year than today's race. That was one for the ages, despite having race radios and nine men teams.

Based on today, 6-7 men teams (depending on types of races) and no race radios must be the way forward. Sadly, in reality it is not likely to happen any time soon.

Today was also brilliant. I think it's hard to prefer one over the other for me.

About the 2nd part. So true, all of it.

 

[trucido]

Re: Re:

I would still rate Roubaix higher this year than today's race. That was one for the ages, despite having race radios and nine men teams.

Based on today, 6-7 men teams (depending on types of races) and no race radios must be the way forward. Sadly, in reality it is not likely to happen any time soon.

Today was also brilliant. I think it's hard to prefer one over the other for me.

About the 2nd part. So true, all of it.

Which also might help them meet the ridiculous WT schedule next season with more riders to spare.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re: Re:

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

With 9 men teams and radios?

I hope after this even UCI has to realize the future is 5-man teams and no radios.

5 is excessive. But 7 with no radios is the way to go

5 for 1-day races, 7 for stage races.

5 for one day race, 6 for one week stage races, 7 GT

 

[Põhja Konn]

Re: Re:

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

With 9 men teams and radios?

I hope after this even UCI has to realize the future is 5-man teams and no radios.

5 is excessive. But 7 with no radios is the way to go

7 in GTs and 6 in every other races plus no radios. Would open up the races without making them too much of a lottery.

 

[doperhopper]

Re: Re:

I would still rate Roubaix higher this year than today's race. That was one for the ages, despite having race radios and nine men teams.

Based on today, 6-7 men teams (depending on types of races) and no race radios must be the way forward. Sadly, in reality it is not likely to happen any time soon.

Today was also brilliant. I think it's hard to prefer one over the other for me.

About the 2nd part. So true, all of it.

then the fans should team up and install noise transmitters on these frequencies in the region (say, from 50k to go) and job done

 

[Alexandre B.]

Sadly we're only fans, not team owners.

And team owners despise one thing in particular : Uncertainty.

 

[HelloDolly]

I don't think it was that the climbs were so hard , steep in places but not so hard

It was the sheer number of climbs, descents, cobbles, heat , course length, etc that meant you had to be very tough to perform in it...you had to hang in there ...GVA hung in there

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Sadly we're only fans, not team owners.

And team owners despise one thing in particular : Uncertainty.

Team owners despise one thing even more: a fall in popularity. If less people are watching cycling due to it becoming boring, there's less incentive for sponsors to show up, and if they do, they won't pay as much. Keeping cycling entertaining has to be a priority

 

[cocteau_ireland]

did froome really go for a number two?

 

[Christian]

Congratulations to Van Avermaet, what a great victory! I am very happy for him, as well as Fuglsang and Majka. We Luxembourgians have half adopted Fuglsang (his wife is Luxembourgian, he lives in the country and speaks the language), so I consider it half a medal for Luxembourg That was rough for Majka, getting caught only 1,5km from the line, but luckily he was able to hold on for bronze which I'm sure is considered a great success for Poland's Olympic team.

Also honorable mention to Luxembourg's sole starter Fränk Schleck, at 36 years of age the 6th oldest starter in the peloton, who without a team managed to come in a very respectable 20th position.

 

[Ikbengodniet]

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

Froome just doesn't know how to race without his radio. I think he has some mild form of autism or something.

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Sadly we're only fans, not team owners.

And team owners despise one thing in particular : Uncertainty.

Rightfully so. Uncertainty isn't good so they better decide quickly that smaller teams is the way to go.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: 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

Froome just doesn't know how to race without his radio. I think he has some mild form of autism or something.

Classy

Froome lost it when Nibali attacked on the descent. Worth risking a pretty much guaranteed medal on Wednesday for a shot at a medal today instead with the possibility of ending up like Porte/Nibali/Henao/Thomas?

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: 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

2012 before he was leader >

Yeah he rode for Wiggins but boy did he make a song and dance about it

And Purito and Meijtes had long gone when Froome attacked and kept going with Alaphilipe on his wheel

Not sayig he is not a great GT rider but ridiculous to not ride for Thomas today ...didn't see him do that once ?? And wasting Stev3e Cummings was madness ...even Boardman could see that ..

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Pity road racing doesn't have multitude of lengths,like swimming has thousands. Cud race this course over 50k 100k etc. Aerobic & anaerobic guys get their shot

 

[Kwibus]

Re: 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

Froome just doesn't know how to race without his radio. I think he has some mild form of autism or something.

I think so as well (no offense intended, just sincere here). Ofcourse that's not a problem, but he can be a bit áwkward at times. That's for sure.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Pity road racing doesn't have multitude of lengths,like swimming has thousands. Cud race this course over 50k 100k etc. Aerobic & anaerobic guys get their shot

Just.... no

 

[SKSemtex]

Poland probably could have win or podium,even if they have just went with Kwiatko as a leader. Everybody was so scared of those hills that they thought only top climbers could win the race. Kwiatko looked very strong today.
But I am glad they have not. My second most favorite rider won.

 

[Escarabajo]

That's racing. For Colombia a medal is huge. Especially when you have the best crop of riders in history of Colombian cycling. And in cycling is where we have to capitalize our medals. Oh well. I'll get over it. Next 4 years.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: 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

Froome just doesn't know how to race without his radio. I think he has some mild form of autism or something.

I think so as well (no offense intended, just sincere here). Ofcourse that's not a problem, but he can be a bit áwkward at times. That's for sure.

Well, autism diagnoses are handed out like ritalin these days