UCI World Championships 2010, Geelong: Early Thread

[Spare Tyre]

Link says the humidity is 59%. Lovely, all the Aussie team needs now is an additional 10 degrees. 26 or 27C with 60% humidity will sap most other teams down leaving less workers and more struggle for their designated leader. Common mother nature!

I'm afraid you'll have to put your dream of warm & humid weather to bed, Galic. Spring, especially early spring, in Victoria is very different to NSW. And yes, after 10 years plus of drought we have just had a "traditional" cool-cold wettish winter and are now experiencing a cool, wet early spring.

 

[davis_123]

Schedule is:

Course Familiarisation
Tuesday 28th September
Time Trial
Wednesday 29th September Under 23 Men
Wednesday 29th September Elite Women
Thursday 30th September Elite Men
Road Race
Friday 1st October Under 23 Men
Saturday 2nd October Elite Women
Sunday 3rd October Elite Men

I'll update it day by day, looks like it could be wet for the preride day.

*edit* Nil / Slight is only the frost risk, it won't be warm or wet by the looks it will be a pretty boring below 20C day

 

[momomomo]

With the current forecast, it could not be better for Thor Hushovd. Keeping Farrar as favourite though, second best sprinter with best team.

 

[El Pistolero]

I really really hope Hushovd doesn't win.

 

[theyoungest]

I really really hope Hushovd doesn't win.

Because he's not Belgian?

 

[El Pistolero]

Because he's not Belgian?

No, he's just boring.

 

[Johnalex13]

fellas.

What is my best bet for watching this live? Is Universal carrying it this year?

If not is steephill my only choice?

Also, If I have done my math correct it will start Oct 2nd at 2pm EST?

 

[maltiv]

No, he's just boring.

He is probably the least boring sprinter though, and he seems to be developing into a more exciting rider. Next year he probably won't even be a sprinter anymore.

 

[DAOTEC]

We have a UCI entry List

.

Provisional UCI Starter-List: http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTI1NDk&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NjQyNzg&LangId=1


This is what the country's have entered. Not of what we know by now, but it gives a lot of info of who, where, when

 

[Parrulo]

question: since can portugal put 7 guys on the road race? iirc we could only put like 3 guys =/

 

[Damiano]

The ITT route looks a bit tricky. It has a lot of hills, and it almost never gives the rider a chance to get into the rhythm. The ITT has two parts with challenging and steep hills which suits the climber type.

The profile: http://www.melbourne2010.com.au/site/_content/image/00000183-fullsize.jpg

My favourites:
Fabian Cancellara and Tony Martin with an outsider named Gustav Erik Larsson. I think the route gives Tony Martin a chance to challenge Fabian because there are a lot of hills.

Who is your favorites, who do you think will surprise, and what do you think of the route?

 

[The Hitch]

The ITT route looks a bit tricky. It has a lot of hills, and it almost never gives the rider a chance to get into the rhythm. The ITT has two parts with challenging and steep hills which suits the climber type.

The profile: http://www.melbourne2010.com.au/site/_content/image/00000183-fullsize.jpg

My favourites:
Fabian Cancellara and Tony Martin with an outsider named Gustav Erik Larsson. I think the route gives Tony Martin a chance to challenge Fabian because there are a lot of hills.

Who is your favorites, who do you think will surprise, and what do you think of the route?

This would probably be one of Contadors best chances to become a world champion. He tried in Beijing. He hasnt done anything since Paris. I think he should have given it a go.

 

[royalpig180]

fellas.

What is my best bet for watching this live? Is Universal carrying it this year?

If not is steephill my only choice?

Also, If I have done my math correct it will start Oct 2nd at 2pm EST?

Yup! Universal will be showing it. Check back next week on their website for the exact time.

As for TT predictions, I'm calling the upset: Tony Martin over Cancellara because the course is hilly enough to suit Martin a little better and Cancellara's form is questionable (we don't really know) while I imagine Martin's been focusing on this one race for months...

 

[Tugboat]

*edit* Nil / Slight is only the frost risk, it won't be warm or wet by the looks it will be a pretty boring below 20C day

That's colder than it is here in Wellington at the moment... I'll make sure I pack a jacket!!

 

[meandmygitane]

Yup! Universal will be showing it. Check back next week on their website for the exact time.

As for TT predictions, I'm calling the upset: Tony Martin over Cancellara because the course is hilly enough to suit Martin a little better and Cancellara's form is questionable (we don't really know) while I imagine Martin's been focusing on this one race for months...

I think Gustav Larsson could have a slight chance for the win since it is so hilly.
Remember that the final ITT in Giro d'Italia this year was up and down the Torricelle and that he won, he is a decent (non-specialist) climber. Suits him better than Cancellara and Tony Martin at least.

Spartacus, Panzerwagen, Larsson will probably make the podium, but which permutation - who knows?

 

[stefrees]

Without scrolling through every page, I'm going to stick my neck out with grega bole, Slovenia have a seven man team, with some strong riders- bozic, koren etc so you never know

 

[royalpig180]

I think Gustav Larsson could have a slight chance for the win since it is so hilly.
Remember that the final ITT in Giro d'Italia this year was up and down the Torricelle and that he won, he is a decent (non-specialist) climber. Suits him better than Cancellara and Tony Martin at least.

Spartacus, Panzerwagen, Larsson will probably make the podium, but which permutation - who knows?

I agree that the course does suit Larsson well, but you must remember that based on pretty much all results this year in longer ITTs, Cancellara and Martin are a mile above the rest. Sure Larsson will gain a little time in the hills, but not enough to make up for the minutes he'll (along with everyone else) lose on the downhill and flat portions. And because Martin is a better climber than Cancellara and can nearly match him on the rest of the course, i'd give him the nod.

 

[meandmygitane]

..And because Martin is a better climber than Cancellara and can nearly match him on the rest of the course, i'd give him the nod.

Yeah, I partly agree, but I would have Cancellara as favourite with Martin as outsider no 1 and Larsson outsider no 2, with falling chances of winning of course. But all chances are far from non-zero.

But I have a small thought about Cancellara:

2009: He was going for the double, but was arguably the most "watched" rider in the road race.
2010: Could he be "faking" a uncertain form to avoid being so watched in the RR?
I would say that the RR is more compatible with his riding style than it was the last year. The total opposite of Gilbert if it was so.

Anybody have any thoughts about it? (And that was my reason why I tip Cancellara to win the ITT, hiding his true form)

 

[royalpig180]

I have a small thought about Cancellara:

2009: He was going for the double, but was arguably the most "watched" rider in the road race.
2010: Could he be "faking" a uncertain form to avoid being so watched in the RR?I would say that the RR is more compatible with his riding style than it was the last year. The total opposite of Gilbert if it was so.

Anybody have any thoughts about it? (And that was my reason why I tip Cancellara to win the ITT, hiding his true form)

It's possible, but remember that the ITT comes 3 days before the road race. If he wins the TT, he will instantly be a marked man in the road race because 9 times out of 10 when he wins a non TT event, he uses his TT skills to either get in front of the sprinters, go in a solo break, or get accross to a break.

TBH, he'll be a marked man in the RR regardless of how he does in the TT just because of his reputation, and let's face it, that's reason enough to watch him.

Also, just wondering, is there this much speculation about what type of rider the world's course suits every year? We've had so many different opinions from oh yeah it'll be a bunch sprint with Cav etc. to it'll be a breakaway or it'll be a very select group...

 

[auscyclefan94]

I was reading this article by mike Tomalaris and thought it was an interesting read for people amongst the forum.
Where is the media love?

It is about the media publicity of the worlds and the scheduling of the event. Unfortunately the event is scheduled on the same time as NRL grand Final and a week after the AFL Grand Final so it won't get a big go in the media which is a shame.

 

[blaxland]

I was reading this article by mike Tomalaris and thought it was an interesting read for people amongst the forum.
Where is the media love?

It is about the media publicity of the worlds and the scheduling of the event. Unfortunately the event is scheduled on the same time as NRL grand Final and a week after the AFL Grand Final so it won't get a big go in the media which is a shame.

+1 agree Aus its a shame....But i will be watching with one eye the Nrl Grand Final while still cheering the Aussies and Danes at the World RoadRace Championships.....Collingwood,Sydney Roosters Double?

 

[Galic Ho]

I'm afraid you'll have to put your dream of warm & humid weather to bed, Galic. Spring, especially early spring, in Victoria is very different to NSW. And yes, after 10 years plus of drought we have just had a "traditional" cool-cold wettish winter and are now experiencing a cool, wet early spring.

Yeah, damn that Mexican weather.

I'm going with the favourites for the wins. Gilbert or Kolobnev. I think the Spanish will choke this year. I think Freire just doesn't have it so they'll be wasting their time.

Italians...might put up a fight with Pozzatto.

Spartacus will rear his big head and do some damage in both races. He is different to Freire. Oscar has shown next to no form, Fabian doesn't need to. The F-Bomb always delivers. He'll win the TT over Martin and Larsson in that order.

I think the Aussie team will put someone in the top 5, possibly 3rd. But we won't win the road race. U23 is a different story. But I'm not sure what is going on there...I thought most of those guys who did well last year are heading to India instead.

If I cannot get warm weather, then I'll take rain and lots of it. Not like I'll be on the roads cheering. Wetter is better. I know my aliteration is sad so don't remind me.

 

[Hotbrakes]

+1 agree Aus its a shame....But i will be watching with one eye the Nrl Grand Final while still cheering the Aussies and Danes at the World RoadRace Championships.....Collingwood,Sydney Roosters Double?

Would love to see the Roosters win, but they need to get there first.

Watched last years AFL grand final in Saigon with some ST Kilda fans. So for them I hope the Saints win.

You can't trust Geelong weather. The RR will start with 15 degree temps, then rain, then clear up to 36 plus degrees, then snow.

 

[blaxland]

Would love to see the Roosters win, but they need to get there first.

Watched last years AFL grand final in Saigon with some ST Kilda fans. So for them I hope the Saints win.

You can't trust Geelong weather. The RR will start with 15 degree temps, then rain, then clear up to 36 plus degrees, then snow.

Yes your right Hotbrakes but the roosters will smash the Titans this weekend....and i wont forget my umbrella for Geelong....

 

[Hotbrakes]

Yes your right Hotbrakes but the roosters will smash the Titans this weekend....and i wont forget my umbrella for Geelong....

And sunscreen.