Who will win the 2015 Road World Championship?

[jaylew]

I don't know why because I don't even really like Ulissi but a win by him would be cool

No. He's like, so dull. No charisma whatsoever, the Quintana of the Hills. So many nicer Italians you could pick.

Really? Do you mean in interviews or on the bike? Can't put my finger on exactly why but I've always liked the guy. I feel like he's been a bit of an underachiever though and I'm just worried he'll go the way of Visconti.

 

[Tragic]

As I noted in another thread - Australia are trumpeting Matthews, makes me think Gerrans is quietly feeling good

 

[Pantani_lives]

I voted Germany. Degenkolb is hard to overlook. He has a sprint, he's good on cobbles and has a strong team. I just wonder what the role of Greipel will be. Will he work for John or do they keep him as an extra trump card?

 

[doperhopper]

Could some four excellent TTers from one country (AUS?) do a crazy long-range attack? If it's a relatively quiet race, most of the teams just protecting their sprinters, people can be relatively fresh for the last 25-30 km. Pick the right moment and with some luck get the gap... something like that Ullrich's trick in Sydney (yes, I know it's different today...)

 

[sir fly]

Re:

I voted Germany. Degenkolb is hard to overlook. He has a sprint, he's good on cobbles and has a strong team. I just wonder what the role of Greipel will be. Will he work for John or do they keep him as an extra trump card?

I'd say Greipel will be protected rider, too.
Degenkolb is their man for the more selective, the classics type, outcome, and Greipel for the bunch sprint option.
As a matter of fact, Greipel will have more relaxed role than Degenkolb. While Degenkolb will have to be very cautious and vigil to pick the right move and not to miss one, Greipel should only make sure to stay in the bunch.
Anyway, Germany is a serious contender.

 

[Finn84]

Re:

Could some four excellent TTers from one country (AUS?) do a crazy long-range attack? If it's a relatively quiet race, most of the teams just protecting their sprinters, people can be relatively fresh for the last 25-30 km. Pick the right moment and with some luck get the gap... something like that Ullrich's trick in Sydney (yes, I know it's different today...)

I don't think so, but I could see two riders going from multiple countries, with one of them being good time trialist and one good classic rider.

 

[Oliver]

Sagan or Matthews would be nice!

 

[Velolover2]

Did we get smarter after watching the U23 race?

I really doubt a rider like Griepel can win.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Sagan or Matthews would be nice!

Why Matthews? He is one of the most boring riders in the peloton. Even Gerrans has showed more aggression..

 

[Brullnux]

The U23 race looked very promising. Now to the Women's race to have confirmation on how the Men's race will pan out. Usually they are pretty good indications.

Although it is disrespectful to the women's race, which is often more entertaining than the men's, to say it is mainly used to predict Sunday. Who will win the women's?

 

[Velolover2]

I have another question. Could the fact that the U23 teams have less riders made the race less predictable? I don't like that some nations can have 9 riders in the elite race.

 

[Brullnux]

Maybe, although I think the extra 2 men from most teams will be used up earlier in the race to:
a) Create a harder race
b) Bring back break/keep at reasonable distance.

 

[Jancouver]

Re:

The U23 race looked very promising. Now to the Women's race to have confirmation on how the Men's race will pan out. Usually they are pretty good indications.

Although it is disrespectful to the women's race, which is often more entertaining than the men's, to say it is mainly used to predict Sunday. Who will win the women's?

Promising?

Sorry mate, but there was half of the peloton with a 5km to go and if there was not for the few drops of rain it would be a very boring race.

We can only hope for a very rainy day on Sunday to avoid 50 rider group to sprint for the finish line.

Boonen for the win ...

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Maybe, although I think the extra 2 men from most teams will be used up earlier in the race to:
a) Create a harder race
b) Bring back break/keep at reasonable distance.

Yeah. Some nations might be able to send 2 or 3 men in a break. So it will be harder for the peloton to keep things together.

 

[sir fly]

After I've seen the circuit in the racing situation I'm even less sure how the elite race will unfold.
If I'd have to decide about the tactics, I'd throw away multiple options. The teams will need lots of fresh legs to control the final kilometres.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

After I've seen the circuit in the racing situation I'm even less sure how the elite race will unfold.
If I'd have to decide about the tactics, I'd throw away multiple options. The teams will need lots of fresh legs to control the final kilometres.

I also don't really believe in a bunch sprint anymore. Sagan, Kristoff and Degenkolb still have a chance because they can also win classics which don't end in bunch sprints, but at least the race wouldnt be boring. Lets just hope for rain

 

[SigurdJ]

The norwegians say they want a bunch sprint. I hope they dont go all in for that to happen.

EBH needs to be at the front on the last lap to follow attacks. If he can do that, Norway has a very good chanse of getting rainbow jersey. EBH won't help since he has Kristoff in the bunch and Norway won't chase since we have EBH in the break.

EBH seems like he is in great shape, so if they let an attack go and leads out Kristoff to win the bunch sprint for second....Then they are losers. I fear thats exactly what will happen. :-/

The biggest favourites IMO is Germany, Australia and Norway in that order.
Germany has Degenkolb for select group and Greipel for sprint. AUS has Gerrans and Matthews for the two scenarios.

 

[damian13ster]

So which teams do not want sprint (and are strong enough to make a difference)?

Spain? Poland? To some extent Belgium and Italy?
I am not very optimistic before sunday

 

[Velolover2]

So which teams do not want sprint (and are strong enough to make a difference)?

Spain? Poland? To some extent Belgium and Italy?
I am not very optimistic before sunday

Holland, Belgium, Columbia, Poland, the Czech, Portugal, USA and hopefully Italy/Spain/England.

 

[Velolover2]

Who are the best and worst riders in heavy rain? It's another important issue.

Any of the big favorites who doesn't like the rain?

 

[Naico]

Re:

Who are the best and worst riders in heavy rain? It's another important issue.

Any of the big favorites who doesn't like the rain?

More than anything, rain is a big factor when the weather is a little colder. In that case riders such as Boonen, Sagan and Kwiatkowski tend to underperform. When it's warm, it doesn't have a big effect on the body. Rain could benefit riders like Stybar and Sagan in that case actually.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

The norwegians say they want a bunch sprint. I hope they dont go all in for that to happen.

EBH needs to be at the front on the last lap to follow attacks. If he can do that, Norway has a very good chanse of getting rainbow jersey. EBH won't help since he has Kristoff in the bunch and Norway won't chase since we have EBH in the break.

EBH seems like he is in great shape, so if they let an attack go and leads out Kristoff to win the bunch sprint for second....Then they are losers. I fear thats exactly what will happen. :-/

The biggest favourites IMO is Germany, Australia and Norway in that order.
Germany has Degenkolb for select group and Greipel for sprint. AUS has Gerrans and Matthews for the two scenarios.

I'm note sure EBH is really much of a threat tbh.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re: Re:

Who are the best and worst riders in heavy rain? It's another important issue.

Any of the big favorites who doesn't like the rain?

More than anything, rain is a big factor when the weather is a little colder. In that case riders such as Boonen, Sagan and Kwiatkowski tend to underperform. When it's warm, it doesn't have a big effect on the body. Rain could benefit riders like Stybar and Sagan in that case actually.

It is hard to understand this post. So is the rain good for Sagan and Kwiatko or not? Do they underperform or not? What I remember from Ponferrada is that Kwiatko is pretty good in rainy day.
For Sagan I really don´t know. In MSR 2013 he loved the rain and snow the year after not so much. Both in Florence and Ponferrada the rainy weather was not too good for Sagan. (or it was just too hilly for him in that stage of season)
The rainy race is definitely good for Styby .

However Sagan is almost one month in USA preparing just for this race. This going to be real test whether he can compete in > 250 km races as most targged man. He underperformed in each of those races last two years.

I have the feeling this WC will have the same scenario like the most of ths Sagan late races. Bunch of cowards, pissed off Sagan and the winner with big balls who knows when to attack.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

Who are the best and worst riders in heavy rain? It's another important issue.

Any of the big favorites who doesn't like the rain?

More than anything, rain is a big factor when the weather is a little colder. In that case riders such as Boonen, Sagan and Kwiatkowski tend to underperform. When it's warm, it doesn't have a big effect on the body. Rain could benefit riders like Stybar and Sagan in that case actually.

It is hard to understand this post. So is the rain good for Sagan and Kwiatko or not? Do they underperform or not? What I remember from Ponferrada is that Kwiatko is pretty good in rainy day.
For Sagan I really don´t know. In MSR 2013 he loved the rain and snow the year after not so much. Both in Florence and Ponferrada the rainy weather was not too good for Sagan. (or it was just too hilly for him in that stage of season)
The rainy race is definitely good for Styby .

However Sagan is almost one month in USA preparing just for this race. This going to be real test whether he can compete in > 250 km races as most tagged man. He underperformed in each of those races last two years.

I have the feeling this WC will have the same scenario like the most of ths Sagan late races. Bunch of cowards, pissed off Sagan and the winner with big balls who knows when to attack.

Terpstra

 

[Poursuivant]

I think it will be a surprise winner.