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UCI World Championships 2010, Geelong: Early Thread

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Libertine Seguros said:
But it does omit one of the top names for a course like this - Giovanni Visconti.

Yeah, I don't know what to think about the Italian team, at least until it's named, and until we see who's racing the Vuelta (can't believe I didn't even think of Ballan initially!) They just have so many good threats. To be honest, I don't recall enough about Visconti's sprints against these kind of contenders to really think about how he'd rate. But many of the names people have been tossing around are good possibilities.

Also, seems like Boasson Hagen isn't in Sky's lineup for the Vuelta, which makes me skeptical about his potential for the worlds (also what makes me skeptical - his lacklustre season, and his general low ratio of 'proven wins on such length and terrain/potential'). Maybe if he cleans up in the 2 Canadian races or something I'll change my mind, but maybe he shouldn't be on the early list.

Also, I'd love to think the Dutch would have a shot... anyone got a tip? Bos and Boom both seem to have a good finish, but also don't seem to have been able to survive races of this length yet. Gesink has some good punch on the hills, but can't outsprint most guys and maybe needs a longer hill for a clean getaway.

yeesh, this is the danger of these threads coming so early - too much to speculate about without anything to go on. But I love the worlds, it's awesome to see the top guys go head to head on totally different team configurations than the year long trade teams. This year in particular, although I agree that Gilbert and Haussler should be early favourites, I like how wide open it is for so many countries.
 
skidmark said:
Also, seems like Boasson Hagen isn't in Sky's lineup for the Vuelta, which makes me skeptical about his potential for the worlds (also what makes me skeptical - his lacklustre season, and his general low ratio of 'proven wins on such length and terrain/potential'). Maybe if he cleans up in the 2 Canadian races or something I'll change my mind, but maybe he shouldn't be on the early list.

This year in particular, although I agree that Gilbert and Haussler should be early favourites, I like how wide open it is for so many countries.
Funny how you're sceptical about EBH's potential because he's not riding vuelta and has had a "lacklustre season", yet you mention Haussler as a favourite, who definitely has had a lacklustre season and is not riding the vuelta either :p I get your point though.
 
Aug 18, 2009
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Maybe prospects for the Dutch aren't so great. Would expect Gesink, Boom, Tepsttra to be on the team... Bos isn't going to be effective in a race of this length and difficulty (Boom would be doubtful too). How's 'crazy' Johnny Hoogerland's finish?
 
Nick777 said:
I have spent a fair bit of time down near the course, and if 50 get to the finish line together, I will be astonished.

Good assumption Nick777,I have also ridden numerous laps of this course and i agree the pure sprinters will not finish.After about 10 laps things will start to heat up and riders will be going backwards.Gilbert,Haussler and Davis are my favourites to podium and maybe Visconti.AN Australian will become world Champion on the road again..........
 
Nov 2, 2009
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heinkel12 said:
Don't forget the wind! Geelong can have some shockers at that time of year.

I just want to second this. The flat stretch from Melbourne to Geelong could involve very strong head and crosswinds.

"Shockers" is right.
 
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned Gilbert, Freire, Haussler, Cancellara, Evans, Vino and Visconti.

I still think it's too early to discount Freire and Haussler (if they get some form) but the less versatile sprinters like Cav and Petacchi are no chance.

Gilbert is the top favourite by a significant margin though.
 
Australian squad reduced to 15:

Baden Cooke, Allan Davis, Cadel Evans, Simon Gerrans, Matthew Goss, Adam Hansen, Heinrich Haussler, Mathew Hayman, Robbie Mcewen, Stuart O'Grady, Richie Porte, Mark Renshaw, Michael Rogers, Wesley Sulzberger and Chris Sutton

The question is, do you take Evans, Porte, Gerrans and Rogers or does one of them miss out?

I know who I would drop.

I've dropped the 4 token sprinters from the above list and you end up with an 11 man squad. However, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the tokens gets a start.
 
maltiv said:
Funny how you're sceptical about EBH's potential because he's not riding vuelta and has had a "lacklustre season", yet you mention Haussler as a favourite, who definitely has had a lacklustre season and is not riding the vuelta either :p I get your point though.

Ha, good point. Haussler isn't riding the Vuelta, eh? I hadn't heard. Seems like he should, really. Maybe it was the awesome showings last year in MSR, RvV and P-R (not to mention the Colmar stage of the Tour) that made me think more solidly of him than EBH, who I suppose you could also make the case for, having won GW (albeit in a sprint from a long break) and Eneco Tour last year. Or maybe it's just because I watched all of 'Beyond the Peloton' last week and got tricked by TV into being sympathetic to Haussler. Damn TV trickery.
 
How is Haussler's form after his knee operation, does anyone know? I would have thought a mid season knee op would be a significant setback to anyone with their eyes on a World Championship.
 
Mar 19, 2009
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taiwan said:
Maybe prospects for the Dutch aren't so great. Would expect Gesink, Boom, Tepsttra to be on the team... Bos isn't going to be effective in a race of this length and difficulty (Boom would be doubtful too). How's 'crazy' Johnny Hoogerland's finish?

The race's profile suits Langeveld perfectly. If he's able to focus after a poor season, he should be Holland's leading man.
 
I've always been fascinated by the assumption that in order to perform at the Worlds, one needs to ride (train) at the Vuelta. This makes little sense on a few levels:

First, the odds of winning the Worlds are pretty slim. It's a one day road race (or TT), and one chance to win. You'll have a much, much better chance using the Vuelta to try to win something at the Vuelta itself. A stage, a jersey, or hold a jersey for a day or two. While winning the Worlds is an incredible achievement, the Vuelta is the third biggest race in the world, and prestigious in it's own right.

Second, if we look back over the last several years, very few riders have actually successfully trained at the Vuelta and gone on to win the Worlds. As I glance at the last decade, the only name that stands out is Óscar Freire. Far, far more riders head to the Vuelta hoping for results at the Worlds, but walk away empty handed at both, tossing away any chance of glory at the Vuelta.
 
Apr 21, 2010
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Alpe d'Huez said:
I've always been fascinated by the assumption that in order to perform at the Worlds, one needs to ride (train) at the Vuelta. This makes little sense on a few levels:

Second, if we look back over the last several years, very few riders have actually successfully trained at the Vuelta and gone on to win the Worlds. As I glance at the last decade, the only name that stands out is Óscar Freire. Far, far more riders head to the Vuelta hoping for results at the Worlds, but walk away empty handed at both, tossing away any chance of glory at the Vuelta.

Cadel Evans reigning world champion rode the Vuelta and said it was ideal preparation for Mendrisio
 
But Cadel finished on the podium, tried to win, held the leader's jersey for a day, and the points jersey for a few days. So it couldn't have been only for prep like some ride it.

It still makes little sense to me. Enter the Vuelta for little reason other than to train for the one remote chance of wining the World's, skipping all the prestige of the Vuelta? :confused:
 
Aug 6, 2009
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hughmoore said:
Porte is still young, plenty of time for him. Has he done many long events in 260Km range.

Hugh

I don't think he's done any, he's a neopro and I don't think he's rode in the spring classics, Clásica de San Sebastián is probably the closest thing at 227 k, though he did fairly well there.
 
Jun 16, 2009
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Alpe D huez, by going for the win could be seen as training as evans said at the start of last years vuelta that was his plan.


for the year oscar won the worlds, did he win anything at the vuelta as when riders go into la vuelta to train they usually look for results as well. That is apart of the training when they say that.
 
Alpe d'Huez said:
But Cadel finished on the podium, tried to win, held the leader's jersey for a day, and the points jersey for a few days. So it couldn't have been only for prep like some ride it.

It still makes little sense to me. Enter the Vuelta for little reason other than to train for the one remote chance of wining the World's, skipping all the prestige of the Vuelta? :confused:

Cadel came to the Vuelta saying he was training for the Worlds, then found himself in contention, and we all know what Cadel's like when he has a sniff of winning something.

Personally, I think a lot of the people aren't using the Vuelta for training at all; they may enter in less than peak form because of their hopes for the Worlds, but it seems like a lot of them use the "Worlds preparation" as an easy escape route for not performing at 100%. You can go to the Vuelta and have an easy reason to get out when the going gets really tough without people being annoyed at you, and if you do well (like Cunego last year, or Ballan in 2008), then brilliant! If you don't, it's an obvious and easy excuse for it.
 
Jun 16, 2009
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Polyarmour said:
How is Haussler's form after his knee operation, does anyone know? I would have thought a mid season knee op would be a significant setback to anyone with their eyes on a World Championship.
Haussler is our best chance but he will want to have strong form going into the worlds
Ferminal said:
Australian squad reduced to 15:

Baden Cooke, Allan Davis, Cadel Evans, Simon Gerrans, Matthew Goss, Adam Hansen, Heinrich Haussler, Mathew Hayman, Robbie Mcewen Stuart O'Grady, Richie Porte, Mark Renshaw, Michael Rogers, Wesley Sulzberger and Chris Sutton

The question is, do you take Evans, Porte, Gerrans and Rogers or does one of them miss out?

I know who I would drop.
I think Australia have a lot of options for leadership selection based as there are quite a few guys who can sprint and climb as well. Personally I would select
Evans
Haussler
Hayman
Rogers
Goss
Gerrans
Hansen
Davis
Sulzberger
redtreviso said:

Thanks for that. I am wondering were I should watch the race. It will be weird as the course will be on suburban streets just like in Melbourne for some of the course so it will have a different look and atmosphere than a worlds course in europe.