UCI World Championships 2010, Geelong: Early Thread

[auscyclefan94]

Yep

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.

I kind of agree. Cadel will have to clean up the crumbs for team Aus. I personally think Porte would of been a good option with Cadel for the victory. I don't see the others being up there.

My early podium prediction
1.Pozzato
2.Van Avermaet
3.Evans

I have a feeling that gilbert maybe a bit too good too early. i could be wrong though.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Pozzato, Gilbert and Friere are my favorites.
My darkhorse is martens.

 

[van nelle]

Pozzato, Gilbert and Friere are my favorites.
My darkhorse is martens.

Yup exactly my trio + darkhorse Kolobnev and maybe just maybe Sagan (who knows what he can do, he suprises me almost every race he's doing so...??)

 

[Tuarts]

I kind of agree. Cadel will have to clean up the crumbs for team Aus. I personally think Porte would HAVE been a good option with Cadel for the victory. I don't see the others being up there.

My early podium prediction
1.Pozzato
2.Van Avermaet
3.Evans

I have a feeling that gilbert maybe a bit too good too early. i could be wrong though.

Well done living up to the Collywobble stereotype.

 

[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

Update has it being colder for the practice day. 17 and no rain for the ITT day, pretty boring forecast if you ask me.

 

[khardung la]

1-Freire
2-Sagan
3-Gilbert

Maybe not in that particular order.

The recent doubts of Cancellara about going or not going makes me doubt on him. I don't know if the Italians have a leader, which is a problem in a race like this. Have the Australians decided to support any particular guy? Would that be Evans?

 

[taiwan]

At this stage I'd go maybe:

1. Gilbert
2. Hushovd
3. Martens

Other favourites haven't shown so well recently.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It's hard to predict anything when you don't get a clear view of what the course is like during a race.
I'd wait predicting anything until I have seen the U23 road race

 

[El Pistolero]

It's hard to predict anything when you don't get a clear view of what the course is like during a race.
I'd wait predicting anything until I have seen the U23 road race

The finish line is slightly uphill. Gilbert has "ridden" the course in April already on rollers with a special program that uses data from google earth and data collected by Bomans.

The course seems to have some climbs that resemble some of the Flemish climbs and the temperature will be practically the same as in Belgium during the spring season.

I think the guys that shine during the classics in the spring season will shine here. That includes Cancellara, Gilbert, Hushovd, etc

And of course the likes of Oscar Freire will always be dangerous.

 

[sublimit]

Pozzato, Gilbert and Friere are my favorites.
My darkhorse is martens.

I've been backing Pozzato for some time now and I still go with it, Gilbert does look the form rider though and he must have a great chance, and Hagen for a podium position.

Dark horse- Tyler Farrar,

 

[joy118118]

Italian team came back from the reconnaissance. They said the course is difficult.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The finish line is slightly uphill. Gilbert has "ridden" the course in April already on rollers with a special program that uses data from google earth and data collected by Bomans.

The course seems to have some climbs that resemble some of the Flemish climbs and the temperature will be practically the same as in Belgium during the spring season.

I think the guys that shine during the classics in the spring season will shine here. That includes Cancellara, Gilbert, Hushovd, etc

And of course the likes of Oscar Freire will always be dangerous.

Hey you don't have to lecture me on the stories, I already know them
But it's still different than the actual race. We still don't know anything for sure once you have seen cyclists go over it in a race.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Nah, my prediction was an "early prediction", will be interesting to see U23 to make a better judgement.

 

[theyoungest]

It's hard to predict anything when you don't get a clear view of what the course is like during a race.
I'd wait predicting anything until I have seen the U23 road race

Then again, the U23 has a tendency to be more of a carnage than the pro counterpart. I certainly don't expect a bunch sprint in the U23 race, for the pros I'm not so sure.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I know that, but you can deduct a lot from the U23 race

 

[Tuarts]

Gilbert or one of the Italians are my tips atm.

 

[Ferminal]

It's easier to say who will not win... Cavendish, Hushovd, Farrar, Greipel, EBH, Sagan (no team).

Gilbert is the clear "favourite" (in that of anyone he's most likely to win, but no one is a "big" favourite), the rest is a free for all between a whole range of riders Cancellara, Pozzato, Visconti, Freire, Breschel, Evans, Kolobnev, Big Schleck, Sanchez x 2.

 

[Tuarts]

If you discount Sagan because of no team then surely Schleck falls into the same category?

 

[Ferminal]

If you discount Sagan because of no team then surely Schleck falls into the same category?

Completely different riders... Sagan can only win from a small bunch finish, he needs help to reel in attacks in the final laps, I don't think the Velits can last that long (or do the job forever). Schleck can make a selection and attack.

 

[joy118118]

Completely different riders... Sagan can only win from a small bunch finish, he needs help to reel in attacks in the final laps, I don't think the Velits can last that long (or do the job forever). Schleck can make a selection and attack.

Also Sagan has still not proved he is able to win in a 250+ course

Velits was in top 10 in MSR. He can last that long.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Broadcasting schedule for Sporza (CET):

woensdag 29 september

7u tot 8u (uitgesteld relais) tijdrit voor beloften

8u tot 9u10 (live) tijdrit voor vrouwen elite


donderdag 30 september

7u tot 9u40 (live) tijdrit voor mannen elite


vrijdag 1 oktober

7u-9u30 (live) wegrit voor beloften


zaterdag 2 oktober

7u-9u (live) wegrit voor vrouwen elite


zondag 3 oktober

0u45-8u10 wegrit voor mannen elite


Great. Just great.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

British Eurosport don't seem to have any live coverage at all

 

[Spare Tyre]

Broadcasting schedule for Sporza (CET):

<snipped>

Great. Just great.

Time zone difference awkward for you?

 

[Jeriko]

British Eurosport don't seem to have any live coverage at all

BBC on the Red Button to the rescue: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/6155366.stm

 

[theyoungest]

Completely different riders... Sagan can only win from a small bunch finish, he needs help to reel in attacks in the final laps, I don't think the Velits can last that long (or do the job forever). Schleck can make a selection and attack.

Sagan can do both, I think (wait for the sprint or make a selection). Don't know if he's able to do it after 260 kms, but he's no Freire or something. He can actually attack.