WC Ponferrada 2014. Altimetry

[rgmerk]

Perhaps I'm a horribly parochial Aussie, but if we're throwing up early names for a hilly TT in 2014, how about Jack Bobridge?

He was fifth this year on a dead-flat course. He's still only 22, so he's still on the way up. And he's one of the lighter TTers out there - the claim is 69kg, though of course those numbers go up and down.

 

[El Pistolero]

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

You think the best cyclist is world champion on the road right now? Or the best one day racer? Is the road race completely useless as well now?

The best cyclist has won the World Tour, not the World championship. Cancellara lost a lot of long time trials in GTs during his reign, so who says he was the best?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Perhaps I'm a horribly parochial Aussie, but if we're throwing up early names for a hilly TT in 2014, how about Jack Bobridge?

He was fifth this year on a dead-flat course. He's still only 22, so he's still on the way up. And he's one of the lighter TTers out there - the claim is 69kg, though of course those numbers go up and down.

he was 5th on a dead flat course yes so he stands no chance on a climbing course

 

[sublimit]

The road race course looks underwhelming but might turn out OK - better than Copenhagen but thats not too difficult. Its OK for Hagen, Sagan, Gilbert.

The TT could be for Froome, Porte or Tony Martin.

 

[Ruudz0r]

D Martin for the road race!

 

[rantanplan]

Is it still ridiculous if noone does bike change?

Ask the bikes mades, sure they are getting ready their best bikes for the event.

 

[AntonioRossi]

Is it still ridiculous if noone does bike change?

I think it still is. What is the reason for this sudden, crazy change? TT courses over the last few years have been great imo, so I don't see the need to add such an hideous climb at the end

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I think it still is. What is the reason for this sudden, crazy change? TT courses over the last few years have been great imo, so I don't see the need to add such an hideous climb at the end

Alberto Contador

 

[janraaskalt]

Any news about the profile for the Team Time Trial?

 

[Kwibus]

The drama. I really don't get it why some people are so frustated about the climb at the end.

There are also Mountain time trials and they are never included in the Worlds. Is that fair? I don't think so. So they made a flat course that ends on a 4km climb. Awesome! I'm really looking forward to that one.

 

[spalco]

You think the best cyclist is world champion on the road right now?

Yes, in a way. Who won more races over the last couple years?

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, in a way. Who won more races over the last couple years?

Mehdi Sohrabi.

(Not sure if he won more than Cav, but he won a lot. Quantity over quality according to you.)

Rujano won a lot in South America, is he better than Contador now? Cav wins short flat easy races. Cancellara, Gilbert, Contador win hard races.
So now Cav is WC of the one day races. But he'll get dropped in every single classic that isn't called MSR(and probably there too). That's even more pathetic than Gilbert becoming WC TT.

 

[spalco]

Mehdi Sohrabi.

(Not sure if he won more than Cav, but he won a lot. Quantity over quality according to you.)

Rujano won a lot in South America, is he better than Contador now? Cav wins small flat easy races. Cancellara, Gilbert, Contador win hard races.
So now Cav is WC of the one day races. But he'll get dropped in every single classic that isn't called MSR. That's even more pathetic then Gilbert becoming WC TT.

Yeah, but there are a lot of those races. And regardless of what you say, many of them are very prestitious too. Most cyclist would bite of their own arm if it ensured winning a Tour de France stage.
Of course I'm not saying Cavendish is a better cyclist than Contador, but he's the best at what he does. And there are a lot of races around the year he's good at, so making the WC similar to some of those races is not too out-of-the-ordinary, even if it doesn't make the most exciting tv.

This TT could be a cool stage in a GT, but it's extremely unusual, very much unlike the Copenhagen races, which if anything were too "usual", and I don't like that, especially with the race director basically saying "we did it to let someone other than Cancellara or Martin win".

 

[El Pistolero]

Yeah, but there are a lot of those races. And regardless of what you say, many of them are very prestitious too. Most cyclist would bite of their own arm if it ensured winning a Tour de France stage.
Of course I'm not saying Cavendish is a better cyclist than Contador, but he's the best at what he does. And there are a lot of races around the year he's good at, so making the WC similar to some of those races is not too out-of-the-ordinary, even if it doesn't make the most exciting tv.

This TT could be a cool stage in a GT, but it's extremely unusual, very much unlike the Copenhagen races, which if anything were too "usual", and I don't like that, especially with the race director basically saying "we did it to let someone other than Cancellara or Martin win".

There are a lot of hilly time trials and prologues as well where guys like Contador rule in. And ask any cyclist what they'd rather win: a mountain stage on a mythical MTF or 1-3 flat stages? You'd be surprised how many would take the MTF stage.

Tell me a tt specialist besides Cancellara and Martin who have won more time trials than Contador in the past 5 years?

Ps: Andre Greipel won more past few years I think

 

[jens_attacks]

it's a nice itt but it's way too short.there should have been 40 km of flat and after,all the morredero climb up to the ski station,not just to san cristobal.
the road race it's so disappointing
ponferrada routes,hugely overrated and a big failure from my point of view

 

[spalco]

There are a lot of hilly time trials and prologues as well where guys like Contador rule in. And ask any cyclist what they'd rather win: a mountain stage on a mythical MTF or 1-3 flat stages? You'd be surprised how many would take the MTF stage.

Tell me a tt specialist besides Cancellara and Martin who have won more time trials than Contador in the past 5 years?

Ps: Andre Greipel won more past few years I think

I don't understand what point you're trying to make. That Contador would be a worthy winner if he wins? Sure, probably. We'll see how it goes then. This isn't a "hilly" stage though.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't understand what point you're trying to make. That Contador would be a worthy winner if he wins? Sure, probably. We'll see how it goes then. This isn't a "hilly" stage though.

Yes. You can also replace Contador with Bradley Wiggins if you want. He's a favorite in my eyes(don't know how old he is though) and was second this year on a super flat course. He'd be worthy as well. It's not hilly, but the favorites for 2014 are extremely good at hilly time trials and they will show off the rainbow jersey with honor in such time trials. And also in any GT time trial where they'd probably finish in front of Cancellara.

 

[Angliru]

Yes, in a way. Who won more races over the last couple years?

Using that criteria, who won more races last year? It wasn't Cavendish.

 

[Kvinto]

For a sprinter quantity is definitely the issue while for the others quality is more important.

I wouldn't like to use a phrase "the best in the World" in the case of the sport in which a different body build equals different skills/specializations. You may laugh all the way undervaluing sprinter's wins but Contador's chances to win against Cav in a "small flat easy race" is not any bigger than for Cav to win Alp d'Huez.

 

[The Hitch]

Any news about the profile for the Team Time Trial?

Would be jokes if it was the same lol.

 

[ferryman]

For a sprinter quantity is definitely the issue while for the others quality is more important.

I wouldn't like to use a phrase "the best in the World" in the case of the sport in which a different body build equals different skills/specializations. You may laugh all the way undervaluing sprinter's wins but Contador's chances to win against Cav in a "small flat easy race" is not any bigger than for Cav to win Alp d'Huez.

The analogy just about works if they were both one trick ponies. But as Contador is so not it doesn't.

 

[Woody22]

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

He has stated in the past that if he is suspended then that would be unacceptable and that he would consider walking away from cycling.

That being said, I would be suprised if he wasn't there. But 2014 is a long, long way off.

 

[Kvinto]

The analogy just about works if they were both one trick ponies. But as Contador is so not it doesn't.

Being a one trick pony is inevitable for a top sprinter, look at Hushovd, the more he turns an all rounder the less top sprinter he becomes. A powerful sprinter can be good also on cobbles and even in tt, but in the end the more you dominate sprints, the more one trick pony you are. Contador is able to do two things - climb (he is the best climber in the world) and tt (he is the best tter among GT riders) It's just one ability more than Cavendish, but as these abilities are crucial for winning the most prestigious race in the world, the likes of You despise sprinters, treating them like an absolute evil of cycling, which i can't agree.

 

[Tank Engine]

I like the idea of a TT course with a climb at the end. Obviously it give the Spaniards a better chance than in a flatter TT, but hey the Olympic road race course design obviously gives Cav a good chance. However, I think there will be quite a few contenders. It's certainly not too hard for Martin, but will suit Bertie, Froome and Wiggins. Still nearly three years away though.

 

[El Pistolero]

Being a one trick pony is inevitable for a top sprinter, look at Hushovd, the more he turns an all rounder the less top sprinter he becomes. A powerful sprinter can be good also on cobbles and even in tt, but in the end the more you dominate sprints, the more one trick pony you are. Contador is able to do two things - climb (he is the best climber in the world) and tt (he is the best tter among GT riders) It's just one ability more than Cavendish, but as these abilities are crucial for winning the most prestigious race in the world, the likes of You despise sprinters, treating them like an absolute evil of cycling, which i can't agree.

Ever heard of a thing called recuperation? It's also a part of cycling. Hills, uphill sprints, etc are all also part in cycling.