World Championship 2025: Men’s RR, September 28

[Berniece]

Neither are great to predict how he goes on a cobbled climb 17 times in a 265 5000m desnivel race tbh.

In a TT he's gonna do everything relatively better because he adapts to the TT bike better and he's better at such an effort.

Jay Vine was by far the fastest on the cobbles and I don't think anyone is saying he's a favorite for Sunday now.

I'm not saying Vine or Evenepoel are the favourite for Sunday. I'm saying Evenepoel isn't at a major disadvantage because of those cobbled climbs. There is no reason to believe he has any issues with uphill cobble sections.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Jay Vine was by far the fastest on the cobbles and I don't think anyone is saying he's a favorite for Sunday now.

Well, I do.

 

[Red Rick]

Well, I do.

Well if he does win you get to laugh at me, and I won't even be mad

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Well if he does win you get to laugh at me, and I won't even be mad

I will laugh if you post something funny.....

 

[Red Rick]

I will laugh if you post something funny.....

I've made over 50000 posts and gotten a dozen laughs, the chances are definitely there.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

There are only two possible scenarios after Sunday:
1) Fatco all over the place
2) Pogi is washed up and retiring soon

 

[Peyroteo94]

I'm the only one to think Remco and Pogacar will attack together and collaborate until Pogacar drops Remco in the end?

 

[topcat]

Thanks for your tips. Fixed the most obvious spelling errors. Never seen JA spelled that way, even in a hurry

Moderators won't allow even a typo these days.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Don't understand why Ciccone is not listed in the poll, after winning San Sebastián, finishing second at Liège to Pogacar and third at Lombardia to Pogacar and Evenepoel in the past twelve months he has to be considered the third-best rider in the world on this sort of terrain.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Don't understand why Ciccone is not listed in the poll, after winning San Sebastián, finishing second at Liège to Pogacar and third at Lombardia to Pogacar and Evenepoel in the past twelve months he has to be considered the third-best rider in the world on this sort of terrain.

Completely agree mate, he also has a very strong team.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I'm the only one to think Remco and Pogacar will attack together and collaborate until Pogacar drops Remco in the end?

I think it's possible they will collaborate for some time. Evenepoel is feeling more confident right now and won't just wheelsuck Pogacar. Belgium will also take more responsibility for the race after what happened on Sunday (which can be advantageous to Pogacar).

 

[Red Rick]

I think it's possible they will collaborate for some time. Evenepoel is feeling more confident right now and won't just wheelsuck Pogacar. Belgium will also take more responsibility for the race after what happened on Sunday (which can be advantageous to Pogacar).

The angry hand gestures at Roglic when he doesn't give him a turn with Pogacar 2 minutes up the road will be generational.

 

[Berniece]

I'm the only one to think Remco and Pogacar will attack together and collaborate until Pogacar drops Remco in the end?

Would be nice, but I think it'll end up in a sprint then. Pogacar will be too cooked sitting in that wheel.

 

[SafeBet]

Don't understand why Ciccone is not listed in the poll, after winning San Sebastián, finishing second at Liège to Pogacar and third at Lombardia to Pogacar and Evenepoel in the past twelve months he has to be considered the third-best rider in the world on this sort of terrain.

He should be listed of course but bear in mind he had a saddle sore AND some sort of virus during the Vuelta so no guarantee he's even close to San Sebastian shape.

 

[Red Rick]

He should be listed of course but bear in mind he had a saddle sore AND some sort of virus during the Vuelta so no guarantee he's even close to San Sebastian shape.

His ride on Bola del Mundo makes me pretty optimistic that he came out of the Vuelta well enough.

 

[Berniece]

Don't understand why Ciccone is not listed in the poll, after winning San Sebastián, finishing second at Liège to Pogacar and third at Lombardia to Pogacar and Evenepoel in the past twelve months he has to be considered the third-best rider in the world on this sort of terrain.

I had him in my list, but betting sites don't agree. I would've wanted to add way more than 10 options. Roglic, Ciccone, Onley and Alaphilippe are all missing. They all deserve a spot on that list. Del Toro is on it and I don't know why. I agree with @Red Rick that he has never shown to be able to be good in this field of competitors at such a length.

 

[Cycling111]

If it finish in a sprint, Skjelmose wins.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I'm looking forward to seeing the Christen brothers attacking the hell out of each other while Hirschi is up the road.

 

[YavorD]

You may end up right Pog doesn't win but not for this reason. As for the weakess of Slovenia, they have Primož Roglič, Doman Novak and Matej Mohorič in their team. Not too shabby?

For Carapaz using your logic it would mean Ecuador is to be stronger than Slovenia? If Pogacar goes in a dangerous move who can stay with him? That is how the other you need to think. Perhaps a more likely outsider would be Alaphilippe (France) ? JA just won in Québec.

Well, Roglic isn't the most reliable team mate, is he? And someone said he may even join moves.
As for Novak and Mohoric, they've been questionable all season long.

As for Carapaz, why would you use the same logic?
Pogacar is the maaassive favourite. His team will have to control, Carapaz isn't. Ecuador doesn't need to do anything.
And since I expect the other teams to attack with their B and C options, I can totally see Carapaz joining such a move.
And yes If noone stays with Pogacar, he probably wins. But if someone (Alaphilippe, Pidcock, Evenepoel....) stays with him after his initial attack, and they have a team mate up front, would they work with for Pogacar? No, I don't think so. That group simply doesn't cooperate, and I don't see how Pogacar would just ride with all these riders on his wheel not taking turns.

 

[YavorD]

Form bias?

So exactly recency bias then? A rider snows good form in races that suit him or preparational races and people pick him for the type of races he has zero results in (a bit like Ciccone before the Vuelta).

As far as the form goes, is Pidcock not in shape, did he underperform in the Vuelta?
And he, Pidcock, has much better one day results than Vine.

 

[ChasingPotatoes]

You clearly didn't see Brabantse Pijl and the WC ITT this year

If Remco wins / gets a gap, it will be despite that climb, and for sure in another place on the parcours. That climb is ideal to bridge a gap to Remco, it's ideal to make a gap by Pog, it's bad for Remco's ability to retain the lead while doing a solo. It's maybe not detrimental, but it's for sure not in his favour (steep, slow, powerclimb on cobbles).

Be assured I'm not here to talk Remco's chances down. I just think the climb isn't his thing. What I disagree with that others have mentioned, is that Remco couldn't get a gap. The main talent of Remco is that he can attack at any point in the race, preferably not on the steep sections where some other riders are probably as good or better, but on the flatter / slightly uphill or downhill sections (those places where no one can create any gap but Remco). That's his main talent and this course is great for that, if he has the legs.

 

[Red Rick]

If Remco wins / gets a gap, it will be despite that climb, and for sure in another place on the parcours. That climb is ideal to bridge a gap to Remco, it's ideal to make a gap by Pog, it's bad for Remco's ability to retain the lead while doing a solo. It's maybe not detrimental, but it's for sure not in his favour (steep, slow, powerclimb on cobbles).

Be assured I'm not here to talk Remco's chances down. I just think the climb isn't his thing. What I disagree with that others have mentioned, is that Remco couldn't get a gap. The main talent of Remco is that he can attack at any point in the race, preferably not on the steep sections where some other riders are probably as good or better, but on the flatter / slightly uphill or downhill sections (those places where no one can create any gap but Remco). That's his main talent and this course is great for that, if he has the legs.

Exactly. Evenepoel thrives on routes that are hard enough to disturb a chase but not so hard it's all about the climbing and the rouleur sections still dominate the climbing. That's why he wins the Olympics. That's why he wins the WC in 2022 ahead of a bunch sprint for 2nd. That's why he comes back in Amstel after the only few hard hills. It's also why I think he should try to race RVV

This route, is not that at all. To me it's like if you look at how dead everyone is on the final Oude Kwaremont in RVV, and now we get that at altitude, with a steeper climb, with much more desnivel.

 

[tobydawq]

If it finish in a sprint, Skjelmose wins.

There's no chance it finishes in a sprint...

 

[Red Rick]

There's no chance it finishes in a sprint...

You're not ready for the 20m nanostomp and postman celebration.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

* * * * * - Wonderboy
* * * * -
* * * - Rogla, Evenepoel
* * - Simmons, Pidcock, Healy, Carapaz, Del Toro
* - Ciccone, Skjelmose, Sivakov, Gregoire, Alaphilippe, Barré

Your ranking is very different to mine. Even despite your bias, I am surprised you rank roglic so highly. Can we really consider him more of a favourite in such a long, punchy race than piddock, Ciccone or Heally, for instance?