WCRR 2014 Ponferrada number of spots for each nation

[del1962]

GB just managed to qualify for 9 riders, scraping 10th in World Tour, and 14th in EuT thanks to Adam Blythe in ride London

 

[del1962]

Is their a profile of the Worlds Mens Road Race course anywhere?

 

[Luigi_Max]

Is their a profile of the Worlds Mens Road Race course anywhere?

Yes, I found one the other day. Cannot remember where but if you search for it you should find it.

 

[Netserk]

Is their a profile of the Worlds Mens Road Race course anywhere?

http://www.mundialciclismoponferrada.com

 

[Cult Classics]

Is their a profile of the Worlds Mens Road Race course anywhere?

Sort of a cross between San Remo and Amstel, I reckon. Similar number of climbs to Amstel, but more resembling the San Remo climbs in gradient/being a bit of a drag rather than steep. Chances are the champion is someone who does well at that those races, probably more a 2010 type race than that seen in Florence last year.

 

[Luigi_Max]

Sort of a cross between San Remo and Amstel, I reckon. Similar number of climbs to Amstel, but more resembling the San Remo climbs in gradient/being a bit of a drag rather than steep. Chances are the champion is someone who does well at that those races, probably more a 2010 type race than that seen in Florence last year.

A bit like AGR but finishing at the bottom of Cauberg.

So Sagan, Degenkolb, Gerrans, Kristoff and Gilbert among the favorites. So not for pure sprinters or for climbers either.

 

[Cult Classics]

A bit like AGR but finishing at the bottom of Cauberg.

So Sagan, Degenkolb, Gerrans, Kristoff and Gilbert among the favorites. So not for pure sprinters or for climbers either.

Yeah I'd agree entirely with that list, plus a few like Cancellara and EBH (silver on the Valkenburg 2012 course) too. I'm not surprised Team GB are leaning towards working for Swift.

 

[Luigi_Max]

Yeah I'd agree entirely with that list, plus a few like Cancellara and EBH (silver on the Valkenburg 2012 course) too. I'm not surprised Team GB are leaning towards working for Swift.

2010 was Hushovd from Breschel, Davis, Pozzatto and Van Avermaet. However there is less flat between the last climb and the finish this time around. Gilbert was away for quite a while in 2010. Also the climbs are harder than 2010 as well, certainly much longer although maybe not as steep on average.

I am doubtful Swift will get there, also Degenkolb and Kristoff, but they might. There is only 2km flat at the end for them to come back if they are dropped on the last climb compared to 6+km in 2010 for Hushovd etc. 2010 was also very windy which did not help Gilbert.

 

[Cult Classics]

I think it's a race that suits Gerrans. But I really hope we don't get a race like this year's Liege, which was absolutely dreadful.

 

[May0maniac]

I think it's a race that suits Gerrans. But I really hope we don't get a race like this year's Liege, which was absolutely dreadful.

OMG, Gerrans in the rainbow jersey would make this forum implode
After that he'll win a boring Lombardia and then he'll focus on P-R and RVV to become the greatest classics rider of our century

 

[del1962]

http://www.mundialciclismoponferrada.com

Thanks

10 char

 

[BigMac]

Wow 6 riders for Portugal!... Costa, Machado and Cardoso are probably certain. Then perhaps Manuel Cardoso, Bruno Pires. I would like to see Antonio Carvalho in there as well because the route suits him. Edgar Pinto, Ricardo Vilela, Joni Brandao or Amaro Antunes could be good picks too.

The spots will be filled with the riders from the international scene. I don't think there's room for anyone riding in a Portuguese team. It should be Costa, Machado, Cardoso, Oliveira, Paulinho and Mendes mainly due to race days so they can be in form by then. Costa and Oliveira will do Plouay and then Québec et Montréal; Cardoso will be of great importance for the Vuelta and should have a good preparation, Paulinho too; Machado and Mendes will do USAPC and perhaps a couple of one-days. Meanwhile, the names you mentioned will be training near their homes.

Costa leading, Oliveira giving direct protection in the first half of the race, Paulinho and Mendes take after, and Cardoso and Machado the last guys standing near Rui. Overall it's a very nice team which should work in great harmoy.

 

[Netserk]

Confirmation that the calculations in the OP are correct.

 

[BigMac]

Voeckler, broken collarbone, won't be in Ponferrada.

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?loc=&id=74373

 

[Luigi_Max]

So who are going to be the team leaders for each of the nations.

Easiest ones to pick are surely Gilbert for Belgium, Sagan for Slovakia, Cancellara for Swiss and Gerrans for Australia.

Others with 9 riders
Italy - Nibali although I doubt it is hard enough for him to get away solo and win.
Spain - Valverde
Great Britain - Swift apparently
Netherlands - ??
France - Gallopin
Germany - Degenkolb
Poland - ??
Colombia - ??

 

[damian13ster]

Kwiatkowski for Poland

And I would think that Uran Uran for Colombia (not sure about that though)

 

[Netserk]

So who are going to be the team leaders for each of the nations.

Easiest ones to pick are surely Gilbert for Belgium, Sagan for Slovakia, Cancellara for Swiss and Gerrans for Australia.

Others with 9 riders
Italy - Nibali although I doubt it is hard enough for him to get away solo and win.
Spain - Valverde
Great Britain - Swift apparently
Netherlands - ??
France - Gallopin
Germany - Degenkolb
Poland - ??
Colombia - ??

Boonen for Belgium. He will be co-captain at the bare minimum.

 

[BigMac]

Portugal - Costa
Poland - Kwiatkowski
Colombia - Urán
Netherlands - Kelderman/Mollema (Slagter/Gesink(?))
Ireland - Dan Martin
Norway - Kristoff

 

[Cult Classics]

Gesink is a good shout if he can gain form. These routes aren't that dissimilar to the Canadian races that he often does well in.

Will Meersman get a look in, or crowded out? There's also GVA but you can't have everybody being a leader, someone has to do some work.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Will Meersman get a look in, or crowded out? There's also GVA but you can't have everybody being a leader, someone has to do some work.

GVA seems the best bet for a win with his form compared to other Belgians' form.

 

[trevim]

The spots will be filled with the riders from the international scene. I don't think there's room for anyone riding in a Portuguese team. It should be Costa, Machado, Cardoso, Oliveira, Paulinho and Mendes mainly due to race days so they can be in form by then. Costa and Oliveira will do Plouay and then Québec et Montréal; Cardoso will be of great importance for the Vuelta and should have a good preparation, Paulinho too; Machado and Mendes will do USAPC and perhaps a couple of one-days. Meanwhile, the names you mentioned will be training near their homes.

Costa leading, Oliveira giving direct protection in the first half of the race, Paulinho and Mendes take after, and Cardoso and Machado the last guys standing near Rui. Overall it's a very nice team which should work in great harmoy.

Cardoso did quite well in the Worlds while riding in Portugal so there's room to choose someone from the portuguese scene. I haven't seen anything of note from Pires, Mendes or Paulinho lately so it annoys me a bit if they get selected just because they ride for international teams.

 

[BigMac]

Cardoso did quite well in the Worlds while riding in Portugal so there's room to choose someone from the portuguese scene. I haven't seen anything of note from Pires, Mendes or Paulinho lately so it annoys me a bit if they get selected just because they ride for international teams.

But who in the current Portuguese scene resembles a Cardoso? Also, I don't think Pires will be in the team. I'm certain he won't. But Mendes and Paulinho, I bet they will. Even though I agree with you in that they have not shown anything recently, only they, from the rest, are capable of being in decent form for the Worlds. There is not a decent race calendar for the Portuguese riding in Portugal to build up. I too would like to see António Carvalho and Edgar Pinto there but that's not realistic, I think. Nor reasonable. Costa; Machado; Cardoso; Oliveira; Mendes; Paulinho is my bet. It would already be a very good team just with the first four.

 

[Ricco']

José Gonçalves for Paulinho was my pick. The guy is strong and can do some good races with La Pomme until the Worlds and can use the race to mature to the future. I'm afraid Paulinho won't be motivated after the Vuelta. After all, we all know he only cares riding for Alberto and it will not be the first time that he declines a presence in the Worlds due to fatigue.

 

[Shardi]

GVA seems the best bet for a win with his form compared to other Belgians' form.

That will likely change during the course of the vuelta. Gilbert is rested, under-raced and was ill prior to the eneco tour. He will improve quite some. Worlds RR isnt until the 28th of september, a long time to maintain form for tired tour riders or tour+vuelta riders.

 

[rantanplan]

USA just 6?