Why are you so sure Thomas would join Van Avermaet and Fuglsang? You talk like it's a sure thing, I don't think so...samhocking said:Yes, Thomas crashed on the last corner descending with the Avermaet & Fuglsang group who then bridged to Majka dropping Rodriguez & Aru etc.Mr.White said:Thomas?samhocking said:It's not the descent itself as much as the effects it had on shaping the final podium more than even the last climb and run-in to the finish did I don't really like. Without the Nibali & Henao crash, Majka would not have been found racing alone up front and Thomas, Avermaet & Fuglsang would probably have joined him, especially given how he looked cooked in final sprint with Avermaet. At the very least we would have had Nibali, Henao & Majka vs Thomas, Avermaet & Fuglsang all the way to the finish and that would have been a more valid way for any of those riders to win the race. It was still a great race, but the descent had too much influence on the podium in hindsight.Kwibus said:Also I read multiple comments on this forum complaining that the descent was too much. I don't understand this at all.
The riders explored the climb then raced it 3 times so they all knew every corner of the descent.
When G.Thomson crashed, he was in GVA group.Mr.White said:Why are you so sure Thomas would join Van Avermaet and Fuglsang? You talk like it's a sure thing, I don't think so...samhocking said:Yes, Thomas crashed on the last corner descending with the Avermaet & Fuglsang group who then bridged to Majka dropping Rodriguez & Aru etc.Mr.White said:Thomas?samhocking said:It's not the descent itself as much as the effects it had on shaping the final podium more than even the last climb and run-in to the finish did I don't really like. Without the Nibali & Henao crash, Majka would not have been found racing alone up front and Thomas, Avermaet & Fuglsang would probably have joined him, especially given how he looked cooked in final sprint with Avermaet. At the very least we would have had Nibali, Henao & Majka vs Thomas, Avermaet & Fuglsang all the way to the finish and that would have been a more valid way for any of those riders to win the race. It was still a great race, but the descent had too much influence on the podium in hindsight.Kwibus said:Also I read multiple comments on this forum complaining that the descent was too much. I don't understand this at all.
The riders explored the climb then raced it 3 times so they all knew every corner of the descent.
Kwibus said:Also I read multiple comments on this forum complaining that the descent was too much. I don't understand this at all.
The riders explored the climb then raced it 3 times so they all knew every corner of the descent.
But.... This are the olympics and with a dangerous descent as an added deciding factor on who would win riders will take extreme risks to win gold. I love it when riders give it all and take all risks, but maybe we shouldn't want that on a road with a high curb and trees next to the road. Maybe if they add this to a race like this more safety precautions have to be taken. The net possibly safed Portes life as he was caught in it, but maybe something had to be done about the curbs as well.Angliru said:Kwibus said:Also I read multiple comments on this forum complaining that the descent was too much. I don't understand this at all.
The riders explored the climb then raced it 3 times so they all knew every corner of the descent.
I'm in total agreement.
What do you mean 'join'? Thomas was already with Avermaet & Fuglsang, they were all together over the summit of last climb and Rodriguez & Aru etc had bridged back up maybe 0.5km before they started the descent all together.Mr.White said:Why are you so sure Thomas would join Van Avermaet and Fuglsang? You talk like it's a sure thing, I don't think so...samhocking said:Yes, Thomas crashed on the last corner descending with the Avermaet & Fuglsang group who then bridged to Majka dropping Rodriguez & Aru etc.Mr.White said:Thomas?samhocking said:It's not the descent itself as much as the effects it had on shaping the final podium more than even the last climb and run-in to the finish did I don't really like. Without the Nibali & Henao crash, Majka would not have been found racing alone up front and Thomas, Avermaet & Fuglsang would probably have joined him, especially given how he looked cooked in final sprint with Avermaet. At the very least we would have had Nibali, Henao & Majka vs Thomas, Avermaet & Fuglsang all the way to the finish and that would have been a more valid way for any of those riders to win the race. It was still a great race, but the descent had too much influence on the podium in hindsight.Kwibus said:Also I read multiple comments on this forum complaining that the descent was too much. I don't understand this at all.
The riders explored the climb then raced it 3 times so they all knew every corner of the descent.
2014 course, finishing in Bergamo.Asero831 said:Do we already have the profile for Lombardia?
We'll never know. When Alaphilippe gets out the saddle from the back and sprints past everyone to the front of the group to start the descent first wheel, it's only Thomas who immediatly follows and is straight onto his wheel. He looked more than comfortable to me. Anyway, my point was never about Thomas getting a medal, I just called the Avermaet, Thomas & Fugslang group the Thomas group, because I watched the race on BBC and so that's what they called it obviously.Brullnux said:GVA and Fugslang attacked on the flat, or did you miss that bit? Are you sure that Thomas would've followed them, because to me he looked pretty spent.
The finish is the same, at least the city, but the exact course is as of now unknown. On the gazzetta 'speciali' website, the official Il Lombardia one, it says 'Coming Soon'.Cannibal72 said:2014 course, finishing in Bergamo.Asero831 said:Do we already have the profile for Lombardia?
Cav brought this up in an interview, when you've been climbing and your suffering, you're not always thinking as sharply on a descent. It's just slightly easier to make a minor mistake which can have great consequences. Of course the cyclist could still be at fault...this is just one other aspect.Kwibus said:But.... This are the olympics and with a dangerous descent as an added deciding factor on who would win riders will take extreme risks to win gold. I love it when riders give it all and take all risks, but maybe we shouldn't want that on a road with a high curb and trees next to the road. Maybe if they add this to a race like this more safety precautions have to be taken. The net possibly safed Portes life as he was caught in it, but maybe something had to be done about the curbs as well.Angliru said:Kwibus said:Also I read multiple comments on this forum complaining that the descent was too much. I don't understand this at all.
The riders explored the climb then raced it 3 times so they all knew every corner of the descent.
I'm in total agreement.
Surely that will cost a lot, but after seeing v. Vleuten laying motionless head down on a curb I must admit I changed my mind a bit. That's maybe a risk too much, surely the riders know the descent, but the reward is an olympic gold medal aka everlasting fame so riders will go over the edge for that.
Crashing is part of the game. Nothing to do with good or bad luck, I've always said it. If I had descended slowly, nothing would have happened, I wouldn't have crashed, but they would have caught us from behind. I was risking it all. I was feeling really well, I tried to go for the win. I was getting a small gap. I didn't want a second or a third place, no, I was there for gold!. And I wanted to get to the finish line alone. Not in a sprint, that was not my idea of race. I went into the corner, I had a nice line. I knew that descent very well, the lap before in that same spot I had got back to Fabio. My front wheel slipped a bit, like skidding in MotoGP. I managed to keep the bike upright, but that meant a wider line. And wider meant I ended up into gutter. With the right pedal I touched the wall and I flew over. The gutter was slippery, but we had trained many times on that corner.Le cadute fanno parte del gioco. Non c'entra la fortuna o la sfortuna, l'ho sempre detto. Se scendevo piano, non succedeva niente, non cadevo, ma rientravano da dietro. Mi stavo giocando tutto. Stavo veramente bene, ho provato a vincere. Stavo allungando. Non volevo il secondo o il terzo posto, no, io ero lì per l'oro. E volevo arrivare al traguardo da solo. Non in volata, non era quella la mia idea di corsa. Sono entrato in curva, ho fatto una bella traiettoria. La conoscevo bene la discesa, al giro prima proprio qui ero rientrato in discesa su Fabio (Aru, che in cima aveva fatto la selezione decisiva, ndr). Mi è partita leggermente la ruota anteriore, un po' in derapata, come nella MotoGP (la voce di Vincenzo si infiamma, ndr). L'ho tenuta su la bici, però quando la tiri su, ti allarghi di traiettoria, ti allarghi, e così con la bici in piedi sono finito nella canalina di raccolta dell'acqua a bordo strada. E con il pedale destro ho toccato il muretto e mi sono catapultato in avanti. La canalina di scolo era scivolosa, ma questa curva l'avevamo provata tante volte in allenamento".
Thanks. Spoken like the Champion he is. Going for the Gold....it's why he is one of my favshuge said:Crashing is part of the game. Nothing to do with good or bad luck, I've always said it. If I had descended slowly, nothing would have happened, I wouldn't have crashed, but they would have caught us from behind. I was risking it all. I was feeling really well, I tried to go for the win. I was getting a small gap. I didn't want a second or a third place, no, I was there for gold!. And I wanted to get to the finish line alone. Not in a sprint, that was not my idea of race. I went into the corner, I had a nice line. I knew that descent very well, the lap before in that same spot I had got back to Fabio. My front wheel slipped a bit, like skidding in MotoGP. I managed to keep the bike upright, but that meant a wider line. And wider meant I ended up into gutter. With the right pedal I touched the wall and I flew over. The gutter was slippery, but we had trained many times on that corner.Le cadute fanno parte del gioco. Non c'entra la fortuna o la sfortuna, l'ho sempre detto. Se scendevo piano, non succedeva niente, non cadevo, ma rientravano da dietro. Mi stavo giocando tutto. Stavo veramente bene, ho provato a vincere. Stavo allungando. Non volevo il secondo o il terzo posto, no, io ero lì per l'oro. E volevo arrivare al traguardo da solo. Non in volata, non era quella la mia idea di corsa. Sono entrato in curva, ho fatto una bella traiettoria. La conoscevo bene la discesa, al giro prima proprio qui ero rientrato in discesa su Fabio (Aru, che in cima aveva fatto la selezione decisiva, ndr). Mi è partita leggermente la ruota anteriore, un po' in derapata, come nella MotoGP (la voce di Vincenzo si infiamma, ndr). L'ho tenuta su la bici, però quando la tiri su, ti allarghi di traiettoria, ti allarghi, e così con la bici in piedi sono finito nella canalina di raccolta dell'acqua a bordo strada. E con il pedale destro ho toccato il muretto e mi sono catapultato in avanti. La canalina di scolo era scivolosa, ma questa curva l'avevamo provata tante volte in allenamento".
Shouldn't Aru do the Italian fall classics as team leader?SafeBet said:It's still unclear wether Nibali will ride Lombardia or not.
I'd love to see him in Lombardia. The route to Bergamo doesn't suit him as well as last years but he will surely try if he is back in good shape.Carols said:Nibali back on the rollers after collarbone surgery. He is hoping to ride again prior to season end.
He said that he is unlikely to be in good form for Il Lombardia. Not enough time as he cannot train properly yet.Gigs_98 said:I'd love to see him in Lombardia. The route to Bergamo doesn't suit him as well as last years but he will surely try if he is back in good shape.Carols said:Nibali back on the rollers after collarbone surgery. He is hoping to ride again prior to season end.