What was the best Men's Road Race World Championship in past 10 years?

[La Pandera]

Because everyone else is picking Mendrisio, I will vote Salzburg, Bettini's first win. He made several attacks on the final lap, getting away with different riders every time, only to be brought back. Millar, in his first season back, ended up appearing to be the last guy off the front and was brought back, only for the Spanish to pull a number on the entire peloton through a corner in the last kilometre. Only the experienced Zabel and a resurgent Bettini can follow.

Sanchez puts in a huge leadout, and the sprint comes down to a Battle Royal between Valverde Zabel and Bettini - the most consistent bunch sprinter around and the two punchiest classics riders in the world. Valverde goes too early and fades, Zabel looks to be the one, but Bettini nabs him on the line to get his first Worlds. 30 seconds later he is surrounded by Journalists and Italian support staff, holding his bike over his head like a trophy.

I wanted Zabel to get it - but Bettini did ride a great race. A testament if there ever was one to never staying far from the front, and not giving up either! Can't remember how they managed to peel off the front like that, think it was McEwen that led the bunch in about 5 seconds later so it was packed with sprinters. I think following that move came down to reaction times and intuition more than legs - Sanchez is a great rider but he's no Cancellara on the flat. Hardly a surprise it was two of the biggest veterans of the sport who got on the wheel in time.

Great description! Makes me want to go youtube and review it!

 

[cineteq]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/iconic-images-uci-worlds-road-race

Perhaps this year....

 

[Andre.J]

That question shouldn't even be asked: it was Boonen in Madrid.

Andre

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

whatever was the best, no doubt tomorrow will surpass them all

 

[El Pistolero]

whatever was the best, no doubt tomorrow will surpass them all

Tomorrow will be the worst since Zolder.

And to think Belgium has to wait at least till 2016 for a chance to host the Worlds. You can make a good race in Leuven though. People that make courses like this should be shot. At a paintball contest.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Tomorrow will be the worst since Zolder.

And to think Belgium has to wait at least till 2016 for a chance to host the Worlds. You can make a good race in Leuven though. People that make courses like this should be shot. At a paintball contest.

I'm not even looking forward to the race.

The nature of the course is ridden too hard, so the idea of attacks and such is gone.

Please o Please don't let cav win

 

[El Pistolero]

I'm not even looking forward to the race.

The nature of the course is ridden too hard, so the idea of attacks and such is gone.

Please o Please don't let cav win

I'm looking forward to it, but only because I'm curious as to what Cancellara will do.

And Phil has a shot in the sprint I guess. Must suck for the Dutch with their climbers team though

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I'm looking forward to it, but only because I'm curious as to what Cancellara will do.

And Phil has a shot in the sprint I guess. Must suck for the Dutch with their climbers team though

maybe we get an earth-quake and a landscape re-model overnight

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I've come to the realisation that I probably actually don't care about the race tomorrow. The course is awful, the racing will be dire, and we'll be left with a winner I don't much care for and have no interest in ever seeing race.

 

[dlwssonic]

Im wondering if it would be good for BMC to have a world champion in their team.

 

[Havetts]

I've come to the realisation that I probably actually don't care about the race tomorrow. The course is awful, the racing will be dire, and we'll be left with a winner I don't much care for and have no interest in ever seeing race.

I wouldnt mind if EBH would be the winner, fan of EBH after I saw him destroy everyone on the Collet d'Allevard tbh .

 

[auscyclefan94]

Im wondering if it would be good for BMC to have a world champion in their team.

it wouldn't hurt

 

[dlwssonic]

it wouldn't hurt

There could be some conflict with all their leaders.

 

[auscyclefan94]

There could be some conflict with all their leaders.

how so??????? thor & gilbert have their own races they want to win. a wc jersey won't change that.

 

[dlwssonic]

how so??????? thor & gilbert have their own races they want to win. a wc jersey won't change that.

Just wondering. But I think Im gonna support Cancellera! GVA might have a small shot if there is a sprint of a small group. Wouldnt mind Gilbert too. Anyone but sprinters! Even Niki Terpstra

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Just wondering. But I think Im gonna support Cancellera! GVA might have a small shot if there is a sprint of a small group. Wouldnt mind Gilbert too. Anyone but sprinters! Even Niki Terpstra

GVA wont be a facctor, sorry. It will be al for gilbert, he will go in the lasts km or two I'm sure. If not wait for the end.

 

[dlwssonic]

GVA wont be a facctor, sorry. It will be al for gilbert, he will go in the lasts km or two I'm sure. If not wait for the end.

If he goes and it doesnt work he will be too tired to sprint. It will be like last year again. GVA will be given a chance to sprint. But he might have to work his *** off for gilbert first.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

If he goes and it doesnt work he will be too tired to sprint. It will be like last year again. GVA will be given a chance to sprint. But he might have to work his *** off for gilbert first.

he wont go until the end tho. It would be idiotic to do so. what do you think, gva will have a chance to regroup after the end and then go himself? Unlike last year there is no climb 10km before the end where gilbert could launch. Phil will wait for the end also, it's his best chance.

Anyway GVA even if he got a chance to sprint at the end wouldn't win, too much good opposition would be left at the end,

 

[jens_attacks]

although vino was crushed in the final,yeah i think mendrisio was da bomb.
i also enjoyed astarloa and ballan surprise attacks.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

maybe we get an earth-quake and a landscape re-model overnight

Now, that would be just wonderful

 

[El Pistolero]

GVA wont be a facctor, sorry. It will be al for gilbert, he will go in the lasts km or two I'm sure. If not wait for the end.

If GVA wins Peter van de Veire will ride his bike all the way to Copenhagen. We can only hope.

 

[greenedge]

The only way GVA can be a threat is if all the sprinters are out. And that will mean he will have done the work to get rid of them. I wish Boonen could have been here then Gilbert would be given a massive chance to attack and then Boonen could have won. Now Gilbert has to attack to reduce the field then also try in the sprint.

I think Boom could go well for the Dutchies, he's my dark horse who is in good form. He needs to get in a break though.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

boom is even more unlikely then gva

 

[Escarabajo]

None.

Ok, maybe the one won by Cadel.

Judging by the quality of the winners, they need to improve the courses.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

None.

Ok, maybe the one won by Cadel.

Judging by the quality of the winners, they need to improve the courses.

boonen, bettini, cipo, cadel, thor, oscar. quality of winners? what?

were you being sarcastic?