Will the WCRR end in a bunch sprint?

[zapata]

Make them pick one gear at the start and make them stick to it all they way trough. Might not make enough of a difference?

Tony Martin would win on his 58x11.

 

[greenedge]

It will be reduced i think. I think there might even be at least 2 dudes on the climb before they get reeled in.

If Gilbert cannot attack earlier but does not want to wait till the last 150 metres i could envisage him blasting out of the last corner.

 

[jordan5000]

Any chance Cav takes this if he's in the bunch at the end?

 

[mewmewmew13]

unfortunately yes but i hope not.please let something happen,i hope they will race the first 2 hours and the last two at 50 km/h.at least the weak guys will be all shattered

this is exactly what Gilbert would love to see..

 

[42x16ss]

this is exactly what Gilbert would love to see..

This is what will have to happen, it's the only way they will shell out Cav with such a strong team.

My tip: Italy, Spain, Belgium, Holland and Australia to make the race a war of attrition....

 

[spanky wanderlust]

the women's race had 40+ riders all on the same time.

i predict the men will have the same.

cav will win easily.

would be awesome to see farrar up there but the us team is young and weak.

edvald or thor are obvious choices.

fabian and gilbert have outside shots.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

why do so many think cav will get shelled on a flat course with 8 strong teammates? is this just wishful thinking because you don't like the guy? or do you really think he is such a weakling?

 

[Eric8-A]

A bunch sprint for second and third after Cancellara wins solo

 

[auscyclefan94]

I have said this before, I will cry if Cavendish wins this. I will be super annoyed if a sprinter who sits in the peloton all day wins. That basically means I will be only happy if Gilbert or Cancellara wins.

 

[Ferminal]

I have said this before, I will cry if Cavendish wins this. I will be super annoyed if a sprinter who sits in the peloton all day wins. That basically means I will be only happy if Gilbert or Cancellara wins.

These days there are people who will be annoyed at Gilbert for the same reason, not me though. Cancellara would be class too.

I couldn't vote in the poll as there was no TGBM option

 

[blaxland]

I have said this before, I will cry if Cavendish wins this. I will be super annoyed if a sprinter who sits in the peloton all day wins. That basically means I will be only happy if Gilbert or Cancellara wins.

or Gerrans/Ogrady....But with this course its Cav's race to win.

 

[Eric8-A]

I have said this before, I will cry if Cavendish wins this. I will be super annoyed if a sprinter who sits in the peloton all day wins. That basically means I will be only happy if Gilbert or Cancellara wins.

I won't cry, but I would be ****ed the "F" off. And with the ego he has, he's only going to get worse if he wins the rainbow jersey.

 

[auscyclefan94]

or Gerrans/Ogrady....But with this course its Cav's race to win.

Meh, even though Stuart and Simon have some good form I don't see them really featuring or having any chance of getting away.

These days there are people who will be annoyed at Gilbert for the same reason, not me though. Cancellara would be class too.

I couldn't vote in the poll as there was no TGBM option

I don't see how people could think the same way regarding a Gilbert victory.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I have said this before, I will cry if Cavendish wins this. I will be super annoyed if a sprinter who sits in the peloton all day wins. That basically means I will be only happy if Gilbert or Cancellara wins.

cav is a one dimensional rider, I'd hate to see him wear the stripes. I don't mind a sprinter winning, just let them be versatile of some sort... not some guy who hits the wind for maybe 2-3km collectively a season.

 

[Gingerale]

i love polls.

it makes sense the way the course appears that it's all cavendish. the brits have a strong team too. but... i'm in denial about cav getting the jersey. voted 'no.'

really want gilbert or cancellara to win.

 

[jordan5000]

cav is a one dimensional rider, I'd hate to see him wear the stripes. I don't mind a sprinter winning, just let them be versatile of some sort... not some guy who hits the wind for maybe 2-3km collectively a season.

What about Oscar Freiere when he was champion for three years?

 

[online-rider]

What about Oscar Freiere when he was champion for three years?

yeah friere did fit that description too, winning bout once every 5 years.

 

[sublimit]

Maybe a herd of cows should be introduced to the course at the halfway mark, might spice the race up a bit.

And imagine a group of 190 riders with the same time as the winner though..
Still this race might prove to be a warning to future worlds races organisers and hopefully the last flat course ever.

 

[rghysens]

cav is a one dimensional rider...

So is Philippe Gilbert, or Fabian Cancellara.

 

[auscyclefan94]

So is Philippe Gilbert, or Fabian Cancellara.

I have never read so much crap in my life.

 

[movingtarget]

So is Philippe Gilbert, or Fabian Cancellara.

Pretty much. Cancellara depends on his time trialling ability to win and Gilbert depends on his hill climbing ability. Cavendish depends on his acceleration and speed. They are all specialists. Riders like Evans, Hushovd and Nibali are not specialists. They are more versatile than the other riders mentioned.

 

[rghysens]

I have never read so much crap in my life.

Cav needs his speed to win, Gilbert his explosive power to win, and Cancellara his TT abilities to win. The day Gilbert starts to contest TT's in the tour and can threathen Schlecklet and contador in hard mountain stages, I'll call him multidimensional. If Cancellara podiums the fleche wallone, LBL or AGR, i'll call him multidimensional. But that doesn't mean that Gilbert and Cancellara aren't more fun to watch than Cavendish.

Than which racers are multidimensional (at a high level)?
Contador, Evans, some more like the poster above said.

 

[mb2612]

Cav needs his speed to win, Gilbert his explosive power to win, and Cancellara his TT abilities to win. The day Gilbert starts to contest TT's in the tour and can threathen Schlecklet and contador in hard mountain stages, I'll call him multidimensional. If Cancellara podiums the fleche wallone, LBL or AGR, i'll call him multidimensional. But that doesn't mean that Gilbert and Cancellara aren't more fun to watch than Cavendish.

Than which racers are multidimensional (at a high level)?
Contador, Evans, some more like the poster above said.

Cance can win classics and TT's and has won sprint stages at the tour.

Gilbert is Belgian TT champion

Cav wins a lot of sprints

 

[LaFlorecita]

Cance can win classics and TT's and has won sprint stages at the tour.

Gilbert is Belgian TT champion

Cav wins a lot of sprints

Yeah, but he does so because of his TT abilities.

 

[El Pistolero]

Cav needs his speed to win, Gilbert his explosive power to win, and Cancellara his TT abilities to win. The day Gilbert starts to contest TT's in the tour and can threathen Schlecklet and contador in hard mountain stages, I'll call him multidimensional. If Cancellara podiums the fleche wallone, LBL or AGR, i'll call him multidimensional. But that doesn't mean that Gilbert and Cancellara aren't more fun to watch than Cavendish.

Than which racers are multidimensional (at a high level)?
Contador, Evans, some more like the poster above said.

Gilbert has won races in a solo effort, bunch sprints and from small groups. He has won flat cobbled races, hilly races, plain flat stages in stage races, he has won stage races, etc

He's a great descender, has a decent sprint on the flat, has a brain, is good in positioning him self in the peloton, good on the cobbles, can go a long way on real climbs especially in one day races, can do a decent time trial, etc