UCI Gravel World Championships 2023, October 7-8, Italy

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Top pro's need to adapt just a bit, get their gear right and they'll completely massacre that unbound lot. It's literally washed up WT pros there

This is simply ignorant. And let them come to unbound and see if this holds. What the UCI is putting on is nothing like the big US races. This is a road race with some dirt paths. Right now Swenson is in the hunt...so much for being washed up. He never raced in the WT, and he makes a lot more income doing what he does, than most UCI WT riders.

Update: That "washed up, nobody Swenson" is 15 seconds off of the front, and riding well...I guess some memes have good legs.

 

[Red Rick]

This is simply ignorant. And let them come to unbound and see if this holds. What the UCI is putting on is nothing like the big US races. This is a road race with some dirt paths. Right now Swenson is in the hunt...so much for being washed up. He never raced in the WT, and he makes a lot more income doing what he does, than most UCI WT riders.

Update: That "washed up, nobody Swenson" is 15 seconds off of the front, and riding well...I guess some memes have good legs.

Cool Swenson is somewhere. Where is literally everyone else?

 

[Samamba]

This is simply ignorant. And let them come to unbound and see if this holds. What the UCI is putting on is nothing like the big US races. This is a road race with some dirt paths. Right now Swenson is in the hunt...so much for being washed up. He never raced in the WT, and he makes a lot more income doing what he does, than most UCI WT riders.

Update: That "washed up, nobody Swenson" is 15 seconds off of the front, and riding well...I guess some memes have good legs.

He is not 15 seconds off the front lmao.

Almost 4 minutes behind the front 3.

 

[Samamba]

There's just no way Mohoric loses this if doesn't have bad luck right? He's by far the better climber in the front and the final is for climby boys it seems.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Almost four minutes, Schönberger and Hermans have joined the chasers.

 

[meat puppet]

20 minutes of starting interviews incoming when broadcast starts

All in accordance with the "spirit" of gravel (a successful marketing scheme).

As for re: road pros vs Mr Swenson in Unbound, I think ChewbaccaD is correct in the sense that it would not necessarily be a slam dunk. Swenson has posted eyebrow raising numbers at altitude for sure.

First, specificity counts, and the road calendar is not exactly a specific prep. Second, and I'll pardon for my cynicism, but the WT at least pretends to test and has the blood passport in place to constrain preparation. As far as I understand, the US gravel scene not so much. So different preps, one would surmise.

All that said, I think WT riders are WT riders for a reason and with equal, specific preps I would bet on one of them winning every time.

 

[Tim Cahill]

First image we see of the chase group is Valverde looking disinterested on the back, absolutely vintage stuff.

 

[Samamba]

So these are still no live images or are they?

EDIT: ah they're finally live

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Cool Swenson is somewhere. Where is literally everyone else?

Literally everyone else was gridded at the back, and made it clear their race was to get Swenson to the front...Swenson was also gridded well back, and fought through numerour WT riders to get into the front. Memeing away.

 

[roundabout]

Van Aert is more or less the same 9 minutes back. A race of what might have been for him

 

[Salvarani]

Vermeersch... where did he come from?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Van Aert hasn‘t lost any time since losing nine minutes with his crash, he‘s gone from 105th to 27th

 

[Red Rick]

Vermeersch... where did he come from?

The World Tour.

 

[Samamba]

The World Tour.

Well technically....

 

[Salvarani]

The World Tour.

He teleported to the front group.

 

[Samamba]

Van Aert actually making up time on the front. Not that it matters ofcourse, he's 9 minutes behind. But he's passing riders left and right (went from pos. 100 to 25). Would've been a good battle with Mohoric probably without the mech/crash

 

[Samamba]

He teleported to the front group.

He's been there all day.

 

[Salvarani]

He's been there all day.

...

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

All in accordance with the "spirit" of gravel (a successful marketing scheme).

As for re: road pros vs Mr Swenson in Unbound, I think ChewbaccaD is correct in the sense that it would not necessarily be a slam dunk. Swenson has posted eyebrow raising numbers at altitude for sure.

First, specificity counts, and the road calendar is not exactly a specific prep. Second, and I'll pardon for my cynicism, but the WT at least pretends to test and has the blood passport in place to constrain preparation. As far as I understand, the US gravel scene not so much. So different preps, one would surmise.

All that said, I think WT riders are WT riders for a reason and with equal, specific preps I would bet on one of them winning every time.

Again, let them come to Unbound (this is the real Gravel World Championship in reality), and see. So far, some WT pros have come and left with no wins. Unbound is not a road ride with some gravel paths used by people to commute to work. It is a completely different monster. Many of the other races are at altitude, and again are held on courses that are much more rugged than what we are seeing today. Leadville and SBT woud humble any of these guys. Sure, they might do well, but to think they would show up and mail it in, is just stupid. (not saying you said that...aimed at others who seem to think they know what they're talking about)

 

[Didinho]

Swift done.

 

[Samamba]

Mohoric ready for a solo

If he doesnt have bad lucks or makes a stupid mistake he can't loose this. He's stronger uphill and faster than Vermeersch.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Not upset seeing Mohoric in the lead however. He's an amazing rider.

 

[Rackham]

Van Aert actually making up time on the front. Not that it matters ofcourse, he's 9 minutes behind. But he's passing riders left and right (went from pos. 100 to 25). Would've been a good battle with Mohoric probably without the mech/crash

There's still time for a silver medal.

He needs to believe.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

With Swift's explosion, right now, Swenson has some chance to get a podium.

 

[Kubackjeee]

Again, let them come to Unbound (this is the real Gravel World Championship in reality), and see. So far, some WT pros have come and left with no wins. Unbound is not a road ride with some gravel paths used by people to commute to work. It is a completely different monster. Many of the other races are at altitude, and again are held on courses that are much more rugged than what we are seeing today. Leadville and SBT woud humble any of these guys. Sure, they might do well, but to think they would show up and mail it in, is just stupid. (not saying you said that...aimed at others who seem to think they know what they're talking about)

With proper prep they would still win Unbound. Keegan is the only one who would stand a chance against WT pros. As for the course it is not bike paths course, so stop talkin ***. It is not unbound, more a BWR. Still extremely hard according to all that finished. My friend who was 14th at woman 40-44 told me it was the hardest ride of her life.