Who will win the 2015 Road World Championship?

[jaylew]

Going to do this a bit differently and go by nations rather than individual riders. Sorry if your country didn't make the cut. Add your actual rider pick below.

France (Bouhanni, Alaphilippe, Gallopin, Démare)
Spain (Valverde, Lobato, LL Sanchez, Purito)
Italy (Felline, Nibali, Ulissi, Viviani, Trentin)
Norway (Kristoff, EBH)
Belgium (GVA, Gilbert, Boonen, Vanmarcke)
Netherlands (Terpstra, Dumoulin)
Australia (Matthews, Gerrans)
Germany (Degenkolb, Greipel)
Czech Rep. (Stybar)
Slovakia (Sagan)
Poland (Kwiatkowski)
UK (Yates, Swift)
USA (Phinney)
Colombia (Uran)
Portugal (Costa, Gonçalves)
Denmark (Breschel)

 

[Velolover2]

GVA, so Belgium.

 

[jaylew]

I'm going with Bling for this one.

 

[jsem94]

No clue.

 

[Velolover2]

Could Matthews do well in a race like Flanders? I've never seen him riding on the couples before.

 

[WheelofGear]

Stybar.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

Could Matthews do well in a race like Flanders? I've never seen him riding on the couples before.

He never races on the cobbles but these are nothing like the ones in Flanders/Roubaix.

 

[BigMac]

The most hyped riders and nations won't win. Hopefully an underdog takes it. Hopefully an emotive celebration. Hopefully not Kristoff, Matthews, Degenkolb, Bouhanni, Valverde. The only fast-man I wouldn't mind would be Greipel, as unlikely as a Greipel win is. Hopefully no soulless world-champion - if there's anything that gets on my nerves is an apathetic winner, as if winning was simple routine. Hopefully a good race.

Edit: 6 months ban for whoever dares put a Vino option in future polls.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

Edit: 6 months ban for whoever dares put a Vino option in future polls.

Been an option since before you were even around, BigMac. Some traditions must be respected.

 

[WheelofGear]

Those nations who help Germany and Norway do the chasing are the bad guys. I'm not an American, but I'd even hate the French just for chasing.

At least, with Cavendish out, I hope GB will not do any chasing. They have a better chance with having Stannard and Rowe in a breakaway than with a b-sprinter like Swift.

 

[sir fly]

I'll cheer for Belgium.
Boonen, Vanmarcke, Benoot (rather than GVA, personally).

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

Edit: 6 months ban for whoever dares put a Vino option in future polls.

Been an option since before you were even around, BigMac. Some traditions must be respected.

Hilarious that you wrote Sagan instead of Slovakia there.

 

[Red Rick]

I like Sagan as a country

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Edit: 6 months ban for whoever dares put a Vino option in future polls.

Been an option since before you were even around, BigMac. Some traditions must be respected.

Hilarious that you wrote Sagan instead of Slovakia there.

Juraj gonna boss this.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Could Matthews do well in a race like Flanders? I've never seen him riding on the couples before.

He never races on the cobbles but these are nothing like the ones in Flanders/Roubaix.

He certainly hasn't done the cobbled races in recent years but he was 2nd at Junior RVV in 2010.

 

[Pippo_San]

Once again it's gonna be Italy Va Belgium for the win. Norway won't control. Kristoff will fail. Degenkolb won't contest. Sagan will be the joker.

 

[Jspear]

Sagan for the win!! He'll go on to win Flanders and PR in the rainbow jersey. It will be epic.

 

[Fernandez]

I just wish sagan wont take the rainbow. He is already enough arrogant without it.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I just wish sagan wont take the rainbow. He is already enough arrogant without it.

Sure he's got charisma, but I personally wouldn't call it arrogance. He seems like a pretty nice chap to me, based on his interviews and behind the scenes type vids. He just loves to have fun riding his bike...he's definitely a jokester.

 

[Tigerion]

Voted with heart and went with Australia as I think we probably have the best chance since Cav edged out Goss.
Both Italy and Belgium have a good squad but without a clear leader who knows how they will ride

 

[jens_attacks]

Vincenzo nibali will win this bike race.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Kristoff

 

[The Barb]

Kristoff.

Peerless in a sprint at the end of a long race.

 

[KyoGrey]

I would love a Sagan or Valverde...but probably Degenkolb/Kristoff.

 

[Jagartrott]

Tiesj Benoot, and I'm only half-joking. He can do the distance, he has good racing instincts and he has a decent sprint.
Anyway, I hope it will be raced agressively and I hope for a breakaway to stay away.