World Championships 2023: Junior and U23 Road Races (August 5 and 12)

[Peter von]

yeah, that wasn't exactly a tactical masterclass by Milesi, to say the least...

for a while there I figured he had signed for France for next season.

 

[Mayomaniac]

for a while there I figured he had signed for France for next season.

Maybe he hopes that Alpecin will get him out of his DSM contract...

 

[deneb]

Why people think Milesi who was in the breakaway since the start of the race should have pulled as much as the guys who joined the first group with 30km to go?

 

[Peter von]

Why people think Milesi who was in the breakaway since the start of the race should have pulled as much as the guys who joined the first group with 30km to go?

it’s more that he constantly got himself into second position and then refused to pull.
It really looked like he gad a team mate up the road.

 

[Volderke]

Why people think Milesi who was in the breakaway since the start of the race should have pulled as much as the guys who joined the first group with 30km to go?

He almost never pulled, and his actions were not different of a rider trying to protect his team mate in the attack (not pulling through while still in 2nd position, sometimes accelerating hard and once his attack is countered, immediately stopped riding).

On top or that he did a suicide pull in the end.

It made zero sense from either the goal of wanting to win the jersey or getting a medal, but his actions resulted in Laurence winning the race. Without Milesi, they would have had a better chance chasing Laurence.

What milesi did almost looked like sabotage. I can imagine his companions aren’t happy with his antics.

 

[deneb]

it’s more that he constantly got himself into second position and then refused to pull.
It really looked like he gad a team mate up the road.

Milesi was in second position because at some point was the only one doing some work with Svrcek (who did most of the work).

When the Svrcek group joined the Milesi group, Svrcek was on front, Morgado was second but he looked dead and created a little gap on a flat, so Milesi went from third to second and closed the gap. From that point on for a bit Milesi is helping with the pulls, Morgado and Kretschy stayed in the back. At that point the british guy (who was also in the morning break) was upfront chasing Laurance alone and when he was caught he never helped with the pulls.

 

[Volderke]

Milesi was in second position because at some point was the only one doing some work with Svrcek (who did most of the work).

When the Svrcek group joined the Milesi group, Svrcek was on front, Morgado was second but he looked dead and created a little gap on a flat, so Milesi went from third to second and closed the gap. From that point on for a bit Milesi is helping with the pulls, Morgado and Kretschy stayed in the back. At that point the british guy (who was also in the morning break) was upfront chasing Laurance alone and when he was caught he never helped with the pulls.

The British rider got 4th, so there was a reason he didn't help.
The German rider did an all-or-nothing, and it was nothing.

Morgado helped, and Svreck did the bulk of the work, and both got on the podium. Milesi hardly did any work, but did a monster pull in the end, proving he had enough energy left that he could have spend in an organized chase, giving himself a chance for the win or at least a podium.

In any way, all of the above (and Laurance especially) were, to stay in Scottish context, very brave. (if you argue Milesi shouldn't work, you forget that Laurance was in the original escape as well: it was clear that all riders in the front group were more or less the same level of freshness, so no excuse not to work).

The not-so-brave were e.g. the Belgians, like the 'favourite' (many Belgian favourites, few winners) Nys, who was frustrated that his team mates didn't control the race any better, said he had good legs, but clearly was too lazy to go and dare to race or take matter in his own hands. If he really had good legs, he could have just raced instead of waited, e.g. after Segaert thinned the group and Nys was temporarily with 4 other guys separated from the 'peloton', or attacked at any other time, even if just for the show in the last lap when all was lost and nothing could be won except honoring the race and not (like he did) freewheeling behind the group he was in, not even bothered to take UCI points.

Better be brave and stupid in the front (like Milesi) than not very brave, lazy and stupid in the back (like Nys).

 

[Bushman]

Because from what he has shown so far, from his build, and from the TT ability he displayed so far, I think he has more to lose in trying to go that way instead of the path he is right now.

He’s litterally a first year espoirs. Seems a little premature, no?

 

[SafeBet]

I think blaming Milesi is a little unfair, considering he'd been in the early break and worked a lot more than someone like Morgado for instance (who I suppose was cramping but still had enough to sprint to second).
Milesi is an explosive rider, which allowed him to try an attack in the final ramp, but the fact he couldn't keep the gap despite being hands down the best TTer in that front group tells me he was as exhausted as anyone.

Staying on Svrcek wheel and pulling every now and then was actually the most sensible tactic to win, since Svrcek was by far the strongest rider in that group and if he could open a gap he'd be gone for good. There was not much else Milesi could have done, also bearing in mind he had emptied the tank in the TT just a few days before so he was probably on the limit for a long time (he looked dead when Laurance went solo). If the others wanted a bigger chance to win they could have simply went to the front and pulled more often but they seldom passed Milesi, because likely they had nothing left as well.

 

[Volderke]

I think blaming Milesi is a little unfair, considering he'd been in the early break and worked a lot more than someone like Morgado for instance (who I suppose was cramping but still had enough to sprint to second).
Milesi is an explosive rider, which allowed him to try an attack in the final ramp, but the fact he couldn't keep the gap despite being hands down the best TTer in that front group tells me he was as exhausted as anyone.

Staying on Svrcek wheel and pulling every now and then was actually the most sensible tactic to win, since Svrcek was by far the strongest rider in that group and if he could open a gap he'd be gone for good. There was not much else Milesi could have done, also bearing in mind he had emptied the tank in the TT just a few days before so he was probably on the limit for a long time (he looked dead when Laurance went solo). If the others wanted a bigger chance to win they could have simply went to the front and pulled more often but they seldom passed Milesi, because likely they had nothing left as well.

They didn’t pass milesi because milesi, while in second and asked to take a turn, was always skipping his turn in a way that slowed down the group completely. Just pull through even if only for the show, and again his suicide pull in the end was the final proof it was a case of not willing to work. That Morgado got second was possible because of Milesi’s perfect leadout.
All riders in the front were spent, milesi had no reason to claim he was more spent than any other rider and it showed.

 

[SafeBet]

They didn’t pass milesi because milesi, while in second and asked to take a turn, was always skipping his turn in a way that slowed down the group completely

What stopped them from passing Milesi and go to pull? I don't get it. It's not like Milesi had a gun pointed at them.

They didn't pass him because they didn't want to work... they knew Svrcek was much stronger than them. Which is fair enough, riders try to maximise their chances to win (unless they're Belgians that is).

 

[Volderke]

What stopped them from passing Milesi and go to pull? I don't get it. It's not like Milesi had a gun pointed at them.

They didn't pass him because they didn't want to work... they knew Svrcek was much stronger than them. Which is fair enough, riders try to maximise their chances to win (unless they're Belgians that is).

Milesi was second strongest in that group and refused to pull.
He then did a monster pull just before the finish to close the gap from 15-18 seconds to 3-4 seconds, proving he had energy in the tank but denied himself a medal and even a possible rainbow jersey. If that’s not stupid i don’t know much about racing and I race myself.

 

[Nick2413]

My impression was Milesi just wasn’t thinking too clearly and thought he could bridge the gap solo with a final attack on Montrose and was waiting for that. He kept the powder too dry.

 

[IndianCyclist]

There appear to be a lot of Gerrans in the making. Other than the winner, nobody was happy

 

[tobydawq]

Move-over, Peter! There's a new Slovak in town.

BTW, why are practically all Slovaks named either 'Peter', or 'Martin'?

You may be on to something after all. Even today's finishing city in Tour of Slovakia is named Martin...