WC Ponferrada 2014. Altimetry

[ferryman]

Evans, Leipheimer, Menchov, even Wiggins could all do well on this TT course.
Contador isn't a given.

In 3 years time against that ageing bunch, Contador who will only be 31 (and possibly just back after a 2 yr holiday) is a shoe in.

 

[roundabout]

pfft, Leipheimer. Why not Horner or Buenahora....

 

[Escarabajo]

pfft, Leipheimer. Why not Horner or Buenahora....

Buenahora, Horner and Hincapie for the win.

 

[karlboss]

I am puzzled as to the type of bikes that the riders will use.

I think they will be aerodynamic TT bikes but those bikes have to hurt the riders on the climb.

What do people think about it?

I doubt there will be a bike swap. The trick will be positioning, how do you where 33km or so where aerodynamics is more important than climbing position, but time to be lost in 3km solid climbs. If it where me, I'd go TT bike, deep dish, no disc, and make sure the bars and saddle allow a shift in position. I don't think it's worth going modified road bike as the TT position would be too high.

 

[karlboss]

Maybe it's easier to compare Martin and Contador when they were actually racing against each other, in the Tour? Contador's form was far from optimal there, yet he was only 1 minute down on a relatively fresh Tony M. in the closing 42 km hilly TT (and that was one day after the Alpe d'Huez stage, where he'd been on the attack all day)


The road race is not insanely hard, no? I'd say it's actually too easy for Contador, maybe even for Valverde.

Martin doesn't handle 3 weeks like Contador does so fresh doesn't come into it. I think you'll agree Martin's form at the worlds was something else also.

Tour time trial 42.5 km, Martin wins by 1:06, 2 climbs each going through about 200m at about 2%, and descending, either way any variation from flat should advantage the climber. Hence, out of 38km I see only 4 km significantly different to Grenoble, and so Martin's advantage should be about 52 seconds, which Contador needs to take back in 4km, still not a done deal.

 

[The Hitch]

Martin doesn't handle 3 weeks like Contador does so fresh doesn't come into it. I think you'll agree Martin's form at the worlds was something else also.

Tour time trial 42.5 km, Martin wins by 1:06, 2 climbs each going through about 200m at about 2%, and descending, either way any variation from flat should advantage the climber. Hence, out of 38km I see only 4 km significantly different to Grenoble, and so Martin's advantage should be about 52 seconds, which Contador needs to take back in 4km, still not a done deal.

Martin did the same tt in pretty much the same time after just 3 days of racing in Dauphine though.

 

[Greenflame]

Martin doesn't handle 3 weeks like Contador does so fresh doesn't come into it. I think you'll agree Martin's form at the worlds was something else also.

Tour time trial 42.5 km, Martin wins by 1:06, 2 climbs each going through about 200m at about 2%, and descending, either way any variation from flat should advantage the climber. Hence, out of 38km I see only 4 km significantly different to Grenoble, and so Martin's advantage should be about 52 seconds, which Contador needs to take back in 4km, still not a done deal.

And don't forget that Martin is 26, there is room for improvement in 3 years time, especially in the climbing department.

 

[Mambo95]

If I had to bet on the 2014 winner on that course right now, I'd pick Boasson Hagen.

 

[Ferminal]

I'd go Goss or Sagan.

 

[gustienordic]

Hmm, I'm going to go with Gesink (I'm kidding) but more likely will be someone like Sagan who has the power and can TT. Or maybe Phinney.

 

[The Hitch]

I think Phil has a good chance to better Bettini and do 3 in a row.

 

[AntonioRossi]

I think that course is ridiculous. A bike change before the foot of the climb? Comon, that may be exciting and all, but that just seems plain stupid to me.

 

[karlboss]

I think that course is ridiculous. A bike change before the foot of the climb? Comon, that may be exciting and all, but that just seems plain stupid to me.

Is it still ridiculous if noone does bike change?

 

[spalco]

It's about time for a non-flat tt, now we at least won't know who will win unlike other years.

Which means, the best TTer won't win, which also makes this race completely worthless as a World Championship.

 

[meat puppet]

^ decision time. it was okay to serve sprinters the copenhagen RR course, cos otherwise "the same 10 all rounders will dominate everything". the implication being that all rounders and "best riders" are used interchangably here, yet nonetheless sprinters ought to be given a chance.

but fast forward a couple months and now an alternative profile for a TT is suddenly a bad thing?

i just dont get it. is variation and giving different types of riders a chance fresh and good, or is it not? i for one dont see the TT a done deal.

 

[spalco]

i just dont get it. is variation and giving different types of riders a chance fresh and good, or is it not? i for one dont see the TT a done deal.

My first instinct would be that Tony Martin is still the favourite from today's point of view.

But still, the difference is, that imo the WC course should be somewhat representative of the racing throughout the season. In the road race that can be a wide variety of things, but I've never seen a TT course like this, it's completely novel and clearly aimed at one specific rider in particular. I think that's cheap.

 

[meat puppet]

My first instinct would be that Tony Martin is still the favourite from today's point of view.

I agree with this. Also I think the flat section will be long enough to put Contador on the ropes. I for one hope that he does not win.

And I also agree about your other point that yes, the course could have been designed better - ie not that much contador-esque. However, it is the principle that I think is good: bring about variation so that either the Worlds RR or TT are not always designated playgrounds for a few riders. Because if the worlds course is reflective of racing all year round, it pretty much will be. 9/10 times it can be just that and I have no trouble with it.

Also, ideally that kind of course might provide a nice spectacle in the form of a clash of TT powerhouses against mountain goats that can TT on a course where we dont know the outcome beforehand. On the flats we do.

If favouring a particular (type of) rider brings us good racing, I dont really care about who gets the title. Copenhagen worlds IMO did not.

 

[Eric8-A]

This year, Andrew Talasnky said he'd like to see a course in the TT Worlds with some climbing in it. He's already a fairly good TT'er and climber. Not to mention he's still young. I'm not saying he can win it, but possibly podium if he can improve on his TT'ing.

I can also see LL Sanchez as a good guy for this.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

RR: Eddy Boss or Sagan (why hasn't he got some really cool nickname!?)
TT: Contador (Talansky is actually a nice suggestion for a good showing)

 

[Ferminal]

Sagan's nickname is also Eddy.

 

[Woody22]

Well the Spanish have done all they can to get Contador a rainbow.
He should win it, but a lot of things we don't expect will happen between now and then, so who is to say that he will even be competing.

 

[spalco]

Also, ideally that kind of course might provide a nice spectacle in the form of a clash of TT powerhouses against mountain goats that can TT on a course where we dont know the outcome beforehand. On the flats we do.

If favouring a particular (type of) rider brings us good racing, I dont really care about who gets the title. Copenhagen worlds IMO did not.

Yeah, it's cool that it'll be a spectacle for the fans, I'm sure it will be an exciting race. I just don't agree with the argument, that designing a course in such a way that it makes it more difficult for the undeniably best cyclists in one discipline to win is good in itself.

And I thought the Copenhagen World Championship was alright, but I understand why I'm in the minority about that.

 

[just some guy]

Yeah, it's cool that it'll be a spectacle for the fans, I'm sure it will be an exciting race. I just don't agree with the argument, that designing a course in such a way that it makes it more difficult for the undeniably best cyclists in one discipline to win is good in itself.

And I thought the Copenhagen World Championship was alright, but I understand why I'm in the minority about that.

Or making a course and saying that they have designed the course so the winner is not known before the race is run and listing Tony and Fabian etc, when most can see the course should be perfect for a smaller man who can produce great watts on a flat course and climb very well who happens to from Spain and called Alberto.

As for a different ITT I don´t mind but the reasons seem obvious to me

From the front page

Villanueva added by explaining that he wants to break the routine of rouleurs like Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) and all-rounder Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad), 2011 time trial World Champion, from dominating the time trial event.

"Usually it's possible to say who will be on the podium three or four years before. Here I think it's totally unpredictable."

The course will likely be given a test run ahead of the world championship event, with Spanish national championship organisers considering the use of the course in 2013 or 2014.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

right now I'd say roadrace for sagan if he proves he can do the distance.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Well the Spanish have done all they can to get Contador a rainbow.
He should win it, but a lot of things we don't expect will happen between now and then, so who is to say that he will even be competing.

of course he will be competing. you don't believe he will be suspended until 2014 right? LOL