World Championship 2025: Men’s ITT, September 21

[Red Rick]

Yeah that's his fault and definitely not the press...

Something something about two way streeets.

 

[Berniece]

Something something about two way streeets.

Something something he never mentioned it, and the media kept asking about it

 

[Berniece]

Can anyone ride this in under 50 minutes?

Doubt it

 

[Red Rick]

Can anyone ride this in under 50 minutes?

That would be 48.72 kph average.

Tokyo winning average speed was 48.16 kph average.

Kigali is 1000m higher altitude.

If it's dry and the road conditions are good I expect the winner will go under 50 minutes, unless I'm underestimating the effect of all the 180 turns.

 

[Berniece]

That would be 48.72 kph average.

Tokyo winning average speed was 48.16 kph average.

Kigali is 1000m higher altitude.

If it's dry and the road conditions are good I expect the winner will go under 50 minutes, unless I'm underestimating the effect of all the 180 turns.

Route was also much more technical in Tokyo. Maybe that cobbled hill will make a difference on time though. But I think you are correct, and my initial assumption that it wouldn't be possible is wrong.

 

[Red Rick]

Route was also much more technical in Tokyo. Maybe that cobbled hill will make a difference on time though. But I think you are correct, and my initial assumption that it wouldn't be possible is wrong.

I checked the Tokyo circuit, it wasn't that technical. The descent after T1 at least was very fast as the segment was over 60kph average with the final portion of the climb still in there.

But I expect faster than Tokyo mostly because riders and equipment should be better now than in 2021.

 

[Berniece]

I checked the Tokyo circuit, it wasn't that technical. The descent after T1 at least was very fast as the segment was over 60kph average with the final portion of the climb still in there.

But I expect faster than Tokyo mostly because riders and equipment should be better now than in 2021.

I only looked at the map. You are saying that most of the difficult corners were uphill? Because I can remember watching it live and texting my brother, but I can barely remember the course besides the race track

 

[Red Rick]

I only looked at the map. You are saying that most of the difficult corners were uphill? Because I can remember watching it live and texting my brother, but I can barely remember the course besides the race track

A large part was on the racing circuit which were super wide corners, and the downhill section was super fast, so it wasn't that technical.

 

[ruamruam]

It matters 0.4% less buddy.

So you are basically saying the heavier the bike the faster you will go

 

[proffate]

That would be 48.72 kph average.

Tokyo winning average speed was 48.16 kph average.

Kigali is 1000m higher altitude.

At these average speeds, the altitude will make them faster rather than slower, as it has a greater effect on aerodynamic resistance than power output.

 

[HashRouge]

In an interview with Evenepoel at the airport before he left for Rwanda he sounded quite confident about the ITT. He said he's happy Pogacar is also riding it, and knows Pogi will be ready for it, but hopes it won't be close. Evenepoel clearly still expects him to take the win.

I thought that too. Remco sounded very confident.
Pogacar is such a wild card with time trials. In grand tours he can push Remco and Ganna closer than you'd expect in flat time trials, but he's had some significant off days when time trialing too. He was dreadful at Glasgow in 2023 and obviously not good in the Dauphine this year either.

It's one of those where I won't be surprised if he wins comfortably, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he suffers a crushing defeat by Remco.

 

[andrew_s]

It matters 0.4% less buddy.

Which means a 6.3 kg race bike weighs approx 25g less in Kigali than it does in Aigle.

Is the weight limit specified in kg or Newtons?
If it's in kg, that's a unit of mass, so the comissaires would have to use a balance rather than spring or electronic scales, or allow for the 25g difference before declaring a bike under weight.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Which means a 6.3 kg race bike weighs approx 25g less in Kigali than it does in Aigle.

Is the weight limit specified in kg or Newtons?
If it's in kg, that's a unit of mass, so the comissaires would have to use a balance rather than spring or electronic scales, or allow for the 25g difference before declaring a bike under weight.

Its all too technical for me, but a 6.3 bike will fail UCI weight check anyway.

 

[Cookster15]

But I expect faster than Tokyo mostly because riders and equipment should be better now than in 2021.

I don't think equipment has advanced that much since 2021 - helmets? If the courses are comparable I think the difference due to equipment since 2021 would be immaterial - swamped by other factors such as wind.

IMO the bigger difference between Tokyo and Kigali will be due to the riders, conditions (+ or -) and the altitude (very slightly lower drag). Although Kigali at ~1,500metres isn't as high as Mexico City or Colombia.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Which means a 6.3 kg race bike weighs approx 25g less in Kigali than it does in Aigle.

Is the weight limit specified in kg or Newtons?
If it's in kg, that's a unit of mass, so the comissaires would have to use a balance rather than spring or electronic scales, or allow for the 25g difference before declaring a bike under weight.

It's in kilos but I think standard measurements methods use Newtons actually. In case of limit problems they should add some gadgets to bikes (i.e. an electric motor )

 

[HashRouge]

I'm looking forward to this quite a lot, and I don't normally like TTs. If both are on form, this could be quite an exciting battle between Pogacar and Remco (and Vine?).

 

[dazaau]

How does the order work, I would like Remco and pogi to start around the same time, for fairness as well as making watching easier (not to mention saving someone from sitting in the hot seat all day lol)

 

[Red Rick]

How does the order work, I would like Remco and pogi to start around the same time, for fairness as well as making watching easier (not to mention saving someone from sitting in the hot seat all day lol)

IIRC they're sort of put into different brackets based and then randomly sorted within those, but Evenepoel will start last as he's the defending champion.

 

[Berniece]

IIRC they're sort of put into different brackets based and then randomly sorted within those, but Evenepoel will start last as he's the defending champion.

It was pure coincidence that last year Ganna started right before Evenepoel as well as finishing second in WC ITT 2023?

 

[Berniece]

Image of the starting arena. It can fit 10K people, doubt so many will actually be in the arena though. Although that would be very cool

 

[CyclistAbi]

V Kigaliju boljše ceste kot pri nas, a SP velik logistični zalogaj

Prvo svetovno prvenstvo v cestnem kolesarstvu v Afriki je sprožilo številna vprašanja in dvome ter prineslo praktične izzive. "UCI je to želel in za vse reprezentance je enako," poudarja slovenska zveza, ki ji je na pomoč priskočila Slovenka iz Ruande.

www.rtvslo.si

There is a video posted and TT actually doesn't look that hard in terms of climbing.

 

[Cycling111]

There's a video of the complete ITT route on this website. It was filmed in 55 minutes.

V Kigaliju boljše ceste kot pri nas, a SP velik logistični zalogaj

Prvo svetovno prvenstvo v cestnem kolesarstvu v Afriki je sprožilo številna vprašanja in dvome ter prineslo praktične izzive. "UCI je to želel in za vse reprezentance je enako," poudarja slovenska zveza, ki ji je na pomoč priskočila Slovenka iz Ruande.

www.rtvslo.si

 

[Berniece]

V Kigaliju boljše ceste kot pri nas, a SP velik logistični zalogaj

Prvo svetovno prvenstvo v cestnem kolesarstvu v Afriki je sprožilo številna vprašanja in dvome ter prineslo praktične izzive. "UCI je to želel in za vse reprezentance je enako," poudarja slovenska zveza, ki ji je na pomoč priskočila Slovenka iz Ruande.

www.rtvslo.si

There is a video posted and TT actually doesn't look that hard in terms of climbing.

The cobbled climb looked quite hard to me

 

[CyclistAbi]

The cobbled climb looked quite hard to me

I mean it's still hard(er) than a flat TT in terms of climbing but i feel Tokyo route was harder in that regard.

 

[Berniece]

I mean it's still hard(er) than a flat TT in terms of climbing but i feel Tokyo route was harder in that regard.

Could be.

It's a shame we have a time check before Cote de Peage instead of on top. Now it's nicely divided in 4 sections almost equally as long, but a time check on top of cote de peage would've been more interesting information.