The Women's Road Racing Thread 2017

[Brullnux]

Rowsell is a great cyclist but as a commentator she isn't great

 

[Eagle]

Deignan waiting for the group behind

 

[Ramira]

Terrible direction in my opinion. There were a bunch of riders starting just after each other, and we were watching Deignan coasting instead.

 

[Tarnum]

Everybody riding for second.

 

[Brullnux]

ELB, Deignan and Guarnier together

 

[Ramira]

Re:

Everybody riding for second.

Honestly I think they're doing the only thing that gives them a chance to win. None of them would be able to close the gap to van Vleuten on their own, together they have an outside shot.

 

[DNP-Old]

Very interesting concept to say the least.

 

[Ramira]

Re:

Very interesting to say the least.

Yeah I really like the idea behind this, would love to see it more often, both in women's and men's races.

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Everybody riding for second.

Van Vleuten is a better TTer then everyone behind her, so the best option is to try to TTT their way to her.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Annemiek looking strong so far. Gap holding steady at 1'40".

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The problem is that when they get close enough to catch her (if they do), ELB is going to shirk turns, as well she should, because the Boels duo would wipe the floor with her in a sprint. I wouldn't be surprised if Elisa's already not giving it her all, as otherwise she's just going to drop off the podium. Once Lizzie was waiting, it was definitely best for her to wait with her, because she wouldn't stay away from Guarnier and Deignan working together with only a few seconds' lead, but if she wants to podium, they have to either catch Annemiek or she has to get rid of at least one of the Boels riders.

 

[DNP-Old]

Longo Borghini's national champ jersey looks sick, reminds me of Pozzato in Paris - Roubaix after Ballerini passed away.

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

The problem is that when they get close enough to catch her (if they do), ELB is going to shirk turns, as well she should, because the Boels duo would wipe the floor with her in a sprint. I wouldn't be surprised if Elisa's already not giving it her all, as otherwise she's just going to drop off the podium. Once Lizzie was waiting, it was definitely best for her to wait with her, because she wouldn't stay away from Guarnier and Deignan working together with only a few seconds' lead, but if she wants to podium, they have to either catch Annemiek or she has to get rid of at least one of the Boels riders.

My bet is that she'll attack on the climb. She already seems like she isn't giving it her all, so I expect her to be stronger toward the end.

 

[Pantani_lives]

They use this formula in biathlon, but there it's less advantageous to be in a group because of the lower speed.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

The problem is that when they get close enough to catch her (if they do), ELB is going to shirk turns, as well she should, because the Boels duo would wipe the floor with her in a sprint. I wouldn't be surprised if Elisa's already not giving it her all, as otherwise she's just going to drop off the podium. Once Lizzie was waiting, it was definitely best for her to wait with her, because she wouldn't stay away from Guarnier and Deignan working together with only a few seconds' lead, but if she wants to podium, they have to either catch Annemiek or she has to get rid of at least one of the Boels riders.

My bet is that she'll attack on the climb. She already seems like she isn't giving it her all, so I expect her to be stronger toward the end.

She's got to I think, otherwise 4th place is the most likely outcome, unless Annemiek blows up completely. I don't think she'll get rid of these two unless she really stamps on the pedals though, because she's going to need too big a gap for the duo to ride across to, and Meg is strong in the climbs especially of this kind of length and this climb is well within Lizzie's remit at the best of times, let alone on her unprecedented climbing form from the Izoard.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re:

They use this formula in biathlon, but there it's less advantageous to be in a group because of the lower speed.

and the added pressure in the shooting range.

Nordic Combined uses the same format, but they're much more keen on being in groups working together than the biathletes, mainly as you can work together for the race duration rather than only for one lap before shooting and everybody wanting to not be on the front near the end of the lap to get the pulse down.

 

[Brullnux]

Van Vleuten is so good, that the gap just isn't coming down at all and the group of three are working well together.

I much prefer the individual format than the team one.

 

[Pantani_lives]

The formula has something, but there is no suspense for the first place. In other situations a allrounder could come back to win in a sprint.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, according to Julie Leth, a guy who saw Lucinda Brand train commented on quick she'd been in getting the Sunweb kit after their success in the TdF...
Yeah, that's totally why she's wearing the kit...

 

[Brullnux]

This is steeper than I thought.

ELB and Deignan drop Gaurnier, and the gap drops quite a bit.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re:

The formula has something, but there is no suspense for the first place. In other situations a allrounder could come back to win in a sprint.

Hence why I thought an ITT leading to a pursuit hillclimb could be better. Of course, the fact that some of the purer climbers who would have been vulnerable in an ITT to the likes of ELB and Annemiek weren't at their best on Thursday didn't help, as Annemiek is both the best TTer of the top 5 and was the strongest climber on Izoard, and with it being Lizzie who was in the gap, who felt she had no chance of making up 43" against the clock, it gave her a huge gap. If it had been, say, van der Breggen for Boels, with Lizzie in Megan's position, the race would be wholly different I think.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I think it's a success. I hope they'll continue La Course as a multiple day event.

 

[Brullnux]

Annemiek really tempting fate

 

[jsem94]

Too easy.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

I think it's a success. I hope they'll continue La Course as a multiple day event.

But more as a general stage race, though. Shortened versions of the last week or so of stages in the men's race.