World Championships 2023: Men's Road Race (August 6)

[Red Rick]

fam what on earth were you smoking. Pogacar is simply less explosive. This isn't Kwaremont (2km long)

Not just about Kwaremont, but the general difference between 1-2 minute repetitions with longer flats inbetween than the crazy technical route of today with hundreds of over threshold accelerations.

And MvdP probably does benefit from not racing the TdF for GC.

 

[roundabout]

Ethan was 9th last year and 6th in the tt so he's got a big engine and great physiological profile, it's positioning in a big bunch for him that is the issue granted but the bunch wasn't that big after the first circuit.

Maybe I am wrong, but to me the inability to be well positioned would have been enough of a disadvantage in terms of energy spent to sufficiently diminish the chances.

 

[awavey]

Appalling. Imagine the team UK could have if they didn't live in the fantasy that the WCRR isn't an important race. And on home soil!

It's arguably worse in the womens race,though they've picked probably the best set of individual riders, but there's no team plan for it, no plan to win or podium, same as Yorkshire was, Pfeiffer Georgi was out doing recon laps of the circuit with the men's team as shes in the mixed relay ttt Tuesday, probably because they havent paid for accommodation to house the whole team all week,so some of them won't have arrived yet.

so they'll literally just put someone in a break and just see what happens whilst the Dutch,Belgians and Italians fight for the win and based on today's race, we might not even see any finishers.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Ethan was 9th last year and 6th in the tt so he's got a big engine and great physiological profile, it's positioning in a big bunch for him that is the issue granted but the bunch wasn't that big after the first circuit.

But he ain't fit enough, he has not raced since his crash on in the Dauphine.

 

[Andy schleck]

He is not the best one day racer in the world, he is not the best GT rider in the world, but he is the best TT er in the world, so he is going to win the world championship TT.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

It’s tied to funding in the UK. All about Olympic medals, and there’s far more available on the track where money still generally equals wins.

True but if I were Ineos i'd be annoyed that they forfeit a chance (albeit an outside one) to have the rainbow bands in the team. They pay the riders not British Cycling.
It'll be interesting to see the British media coverage on the world championships; I'd imagine some Brit winning some medal on the track will get way more coverage than MvdP winning the blue riband event.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

It's stupid. Nobody cares about mickey mouse track cycling. Bizarre that pidcock is not in attendance.

Except that's what pulls in the funding.....and that matters to BC

And Pidcock's best chance of winning a WC is in the XCO race....

 

[awavey]

True but if I were Ineos i'd be annoyed that they forfeit a chance (albeit an outside one) to have the rainbow bands in the team. They pay the riders not British Cycling.
It'll be interesting to see the British media coverage on the world championships; I'd imagine some Brit winning some medal on the track will get way more coverage than MvdP winning the blue riband event.

Then sign a Dutch or Belgie rider, more chance of winning I doubt Ineos care if the rider who wins the WC is a Brit.

And yes you only have to remember the track cyclists are more well known to the great british public than any solely road rider probably bar Cav.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Yes, he said he wanted revenge for last year in the interview.

He didn't, however, say that he wanted to get revenge on those kids, and nor did he in any way.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Oh here we go... what was the need for this comment.

Watch the point of the attack again. Im not saying Pog would have beaten MVDP, lol. I just think he might have been able to follow, if he would have been in the position Van Aert and Pedersen were at the point of the attack. Maybe he would have been dropped anyway, that is anyones guess. Either way, I dont think nobody beats MVDP today.

Pogacar sat down after 10s, at the same moment of Van Aert and Pedersen. Van der Poel kept standing on the pedals and really increased the gap on the top. Pogacar couldn't even if he was in the wheel, same thing would've happened as with Van Aert

 

[yaco]

Similar to the riders that ride the Vuelta when the Worlds is on in September. Matthews didn't ride the Tour and struggled with the last 50 kms.

I already posted that Bling crashed in one of his lead-up races and never recovered his form - Bling chose not to ride the TDF because of the unsuitable parcours.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Bettiol and Italy raced a great race, they took the initiative, were in multiple moves and then Bettiol took a big gamble and went solo. Sure, he might have gotten a better minor placing if he raced more conservative, but then people would ask why they didn't try something different. He raced to win and if you want to win a big one day race you must be willling to loose.

 

[Salvarani]

Pogacar sat down after 10s, at the same moment of Van Aert and Pedersen. Van der Poel kept standing on the pedals and really increased the gap on the top. Pogacar couldn't even if he was in the wheel, same thing would've happened as with Van Aert

MVDP was gone at that point. Pog had to accelerate to follow the others first... who was the first ones to be able to respond.

We will never know if he would or wouldnt, if in another position.

Pog was going well shortly after in the hills. Where Pedersen and Van Aert looked to be on the limit. I think Pog blew himself there though, but legs might have good to follow that attack from MVDP if he wasnt on the front moving to the side when the attack happened. He might have been dropped later in the race though by MVDP. Since MVDP looked like he just had a super-day. Like I said, I dont think nobody beats him today.

 

[hender-retour]

Entertaining race. Chapeau to MVP!!

The Danes can't be happy. Really poor tactics.

Well done Bettiol, only went 20-30 k to early but I guess he would not be able to go later. ..

Belgium all over the place, but their strongest guy was to defensive.

 

[jaylew]

Bettiol and Italy raced a great race, they took the initiative, were in multiple moves and then Bettiol took a big gamble and went solo. Sure, he might have gotten a better minor placing if he raced more conservative, but then people would ask why they didn't try something different. He raced to win and if you want to win a big one day race you must be willling to loose.

Bettiol was great today. Wish he'd have gotten a medal. In my mind there were 5 guys who deserved a podium today.

 

[awavey]

Pog said in an interview afterwards he realised MvP was too strong today, and was saving his energy to fight for podium spot, hence not committed to chasing MvP. But the climbs were too short for him and also realised his ride companions were stronger as he couldn't gap them

He also said its the hardest race he's been in and was actually reported to be ill,feeling dizzy, after the podium ceremony

 

[Breezy1985]

Except that's what pulls in the funding.....and that matters to BC

And Pidcock's best chance of winning a WC is in the XCO race....

Olympic medals are worth way more in that regard to a non cycling nation and you can Hoover up loads in track cycling to get the numbers up.

 

[Wyndbrook]

It's arguably worse in the womens race,though they've picked probably the best set of individual riders, but there's no team plan for it, no plan to win or podium, same as Yorkshire was, Pfeiffer Georgi was out doing recon laps of the circuit with the men's team as shes in the mixed relay ttt Tuesday, probably because they havent paid for accommodation to house the whole team all week,so some of them won't have arrived yet.

so they'll literally just put someone in a break and just see what happens whilst the Dutch,Belgians and Italians fight for the win and based on today's race, we might not even see any finishers.

criky, where did that tirade come from?
What's it based on, have you a gripe with team selection, someone you know not selected or something.

 

[Potomac]

Do you like it?…

I was rather disappointed… The course is long, but looks pretty easy to me.

But on the other hand, this could enable an outsider to win it. I hope someone wins who doesn’t win that often.

Yes. I really liked it.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

MVDP was gone at that point. Pog had to accelerate to follow the others first... who was the first ones to be able to respond.

We will never know if he would or wouldnt, if in another position.

Pog was going well shortly after in the hills. Where Pedersen and Van Aert looked to be on the limit. I think Pog blew himself there though, but legs might have good to follow that attack from MVDP if he wasnt on the front moving to the side when the attack happened. He might have been dropped later in the race though by MVDP. Since MVDP looked like he just had a super-day. Like I said, I dont think nobody beats him today.

yes we would've known. Pogi tried his own acceleration on the next climb straight after the first one. And he only lost time to VDP there.

Stop living in a dream.

 

[Salvarani]

yes we would've known. Pogi tried his own acceleration on the next climb straight after the first one. And he only lost time to VDP there.

Stop living in a dream.

Cool.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Bettiol was great today. Wish he'd have gotten a medal. In my mind there were 5 guys who deserved a podium today.

Same here. A shame about the fact that he has a chronic disease, because when he's on he's clearly a top class rider.

 

[postmanhat]

Except that's what pulls in the funding.....and that matters to BC

And Pidcock's best chance of winning a WC is in the XCO race....

Yes, and Pidcock not riding has nothing to do with BC. Missing out on MTB Worlds was his biggest disappointment of last season and he wants to get that monkey off his back. And winning gold next Saturday will generate far more home publicity for him than a possible top ten in the road race.

Regarding the GB team, last year I would have put Turner, and maybe Wright amongst the top 2nd tier favourites, but both have had very mediocre seasons, and the FDJ lads haven't really progressed. Not much BC can do about any of that?

 

[KenFiamingo]

Great race, shite course, deserved winner.

 

[Red Rick]

Honestly, Van Aert is too eager to do work early in the race, especially when it's taking turns on the front or reacting to people. Belgiums tactics were off the mark today. They were controlling when they should've done what Denmark did and create as much havoc as possible. Also, bringing Philipsen was just a blunder.

I do think the gap at the end blows up because the 3 aren't cooperating.