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

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1687923932991782912

View: https://twitter.com/UCI_cycling/status/1687923932991782912

 

[jaylew]

Am I crazy for thinking this isn't a good course for Remco?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Am I crazy for thinking this isn't a good course for Remco?

With those many twists and turns it's better suited for MvdP, WVA and Pedersen. However with his current shape and team he'd have a chance on any course.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Am I crazy for thinking this isn't a good course for Remco?

This definitely is a route where he's highly unlikely to win a mano a mano battle, however he has the best shot out of anyone to avoid that mano a mano battle on almost any route and it's also a good route for early moves. So a bad route for him in some aspects but a good one in others.

 

[dobrien]

Am I crazy for thinking this isn't a good course for Remco?

I'm thinking the same thing in spite of the shape he's probably in at the moment. All the turns, steep little ramps, not the kind of terrain that will allow him to get into his super aero position and just diesel. I'm thinking more MVDP, Pedersen, or an unknown on a magical day. Of course, if anyone is going to prove me wrong here it would be Remco...

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

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How insulting. The UCI thinks I am too old to ride more than 87 km.

 

[Boehmand]

Am I crazy for thinking this isn't a good course for Remco?

No, but he may just be so strong that it doesn't matter.

Everyone knows there are better bike handlers out there, and guys who are better at the fight for position, like Van Aert, MvdP, Pedersen and Laporte, and on the face of it the route suits them much better.

But if he get's a gap of 100 meters and keeps from making technical mistakes for a few minutes, he will be very difficult to bring back.

If I was Denmark and France I'd put Cort and Coquard in the morning break, so that when Evenepoel goes they can latch on to his wheel when he reaches their group.

 

[dazaau]

Hopefully those girls from Wollongong don't bother Van der Poel at his hotel again.

We Aussies like to travel....

 

[the delgados]

If this was a betting forum, I'd bet my home that no more than 50 riders finish the race of attrition. The laps resemble a cyclo-cross race.
The first couple laps of the circuit containing a long line of riders will probably look amazing on camera, though.
Then there will be the crashes and abandons, combined with the forlorn looks of riders who end up watching the race from the feed zone.
Three-up sprint at most, for 100 bux (which is the value of my home)

 

[hfer07]

For some crazy reason, today I have a vision of Oscarito Freire when thinking about Spain & other teams that won't have any chance to dispute the WRR title. I truly miss those characters that used to dazzle the World with their ways of winning races

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

After watching the junior race today, I really don't think that we will have even a reduced bunch sprint. We are going to have either a rider winning solo like today or a sprint in a small group. Can't really understand why a rider like Pidcock is not riding this. He is British, the circuit is hard enough for him to be in contention and would still have a few days to recover before the XCO race.

As for the candidates, Belgium has the strongest team. Remco and Van Aert are two of the biggest favourites and even a rider like Philipsen or Benoot could possibly win on a great day. Regarding the criticism from people like Boonen for bringing three leaders, I think its legitimate but Remco and Van Aert had to be on the team and Philipsen was dominant in the Tour sprints where he was climbing better than any other sprinter and got second in Roubaix so it would be harsh not to bring him even though I think the circuit could is ultimately a bit too hard for him.

Van der Poel should be the favourite, especially if its raining, but will he be able to stay with Remco if he attacks? I think he can and beat him in a sprint but he will need to be right on his wheel when he attacks. Pogačar would have a good chance, if he was on the shape as in the De Ronde but I don't think he will be and not having a rider like Mohorič at his side will also make things more difficult. The Danish team is also looking really good and they should be very motivated after today. If Alaphilippe was in the same shape as two years ago he would be one of top favourites but right now Laporte seems to be their best bet and a really good one.

I will go with Van der Poel for the win. Remco to come second and Pedersen to complete the podium beating Van Aert and Laporte in a reduced sprint. As for surprises watch out for Lutsenko and Kooij.

I think Kooij as a dark horse as well.

 

[red_flanders]

Of course he isn't but such a video really doesn't tell anything.

Of course not, and of course I wasn’t trying to make it like it did. Just impressive to see those guys roaring up that hill. And he’s a beast.

 

[DNP-Old]

My early morning visions tell me that #1 will be 1 again.

 

[Aimar16]

So the brits really won't let half the Eritrean team race!? That's really *** up.

 

[Berflamand]

Any chance for wind/echelon action before they enter the circuit?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Any chance for wind/echelon action before they enter the circuit?

I don't expect much important to happen in the early phase. As soon as they've entered the local circuit the big teams will probably start attacking.

Crashes and mechanicals can play a major role. Imagine if you have a mechanical in the first local lap. You might never see the front of the race again.

 

[wirral]

Will Remco honour the unspoken deal from last year with Wout?

 

[Davesta]

If this was a betting forum, I'd bet my home that no more than 50 riders finish the race of attrition. The laps resemble a cyclo-cross race.
The first couple laps of the circuit containing a long line of riders will probably look amazing on camera, though.
Then there will be the crashes and abandons, combined with the forlorn looks of riders who end up watching the race from the feed zone.
Three-up sprint at most, for 100 bux (which is the value of my home)

Yes, very much like cyclocross…I expect MvdP to get a gap running up the stairs, but all riders will have to watch out for the ruts on the muddy section of the course…

 

[Netserk]

I don't expect much important to happen in the early phase. As soon as they've entered the local circuit the big teams will probably start attacking.

Crashes and mechanicals can play a major role. Imagine if you have a mechanical in the first local lap. You might never see the front of the race again.

I expect Crow Road to be raced at a solid pace (Slovenia should drill it with the little manpower they have, maybe France will as well) and the fight for position to start after that climb (only 10 km then to reach the circuit). Teams will want to enter the circuit near the front.

 

[search]

So the brits really won't let half the Eritrean team race!? That's really *** up.

Girmay and Tesfation had a visa, but both are out with injuries. But yeah, sounds like Kudus and Ghebreigzabhier couldn't make the trip.

 

[Volderke]

I found a picture of the place where MvdP was sleeping!

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joking aside,

Am I crazy for thinking this isn't a good course for Remco?

I think this is a very good course for Evenepoel, but only IF (he will be marked like no one else) he get's away early.
The curves are not his best friends, and the explosive short hills neither, but if (that's a big if) he can get away, he can take curves without anyone near him impeding his lines, and it is so much better for him to diesel up the climbs, so he can just pace himself, instead of positioning in the peloton and all those high intensity short intervals on the climbs that will overheat his diesel.

I actually think WvA should also go up the road and don't rely on waiting until the last 1-2 laps. If he does that, MvdP will almost always beat him. (ofcourse, it's easier said than done: if WvA goes, MvdP will mark him anyway).

I do expect Belgium to drill it before the parcours, just to get rid of some riders when they hit the parcours, or to get a long line of riders when riding into Glasgow, in order to avoid being held up by crashes.

It's hard (for me as well) to see other riders besides Pogacar, MvdP and the Belgians as favourites.

The Belgian media doesn't help: they chauvinistically put 2 Belgians (WvA, Evenepoel) as favourites with 3 stars, ahead of MvdP... Oh dear, I hope this won't backfire!

I honestly think this parcours is making it harder for a heavier rider, so I don't think Pedersen (and to a lesser extent, even WvA) will feel great on this circuit. I see some of the ligher guys (Evenepoel is not heavy), but also guys like e.g. Lutsenko or (if he's good) Healy, Gee, Neilands, Denz, Madouas, Kwiatkowski, Philipsen (could be a dark horse) ... play a role, be it in a break, or just holding for long, and one of those may even finish higher than e.g. Pedersen or WvA if one or some of those favourites go all or nothing and get nothing.

In the end, I just wish it will be an exciting race, may the best win, and may it be a bit less boring like it was last year

 

[OlavEH]

If this was a betting forum, I'd bet my home that no more than 50 riders finish the race of attrition. The laps resemble a cyclo-cross race.
The first couple laps of the circuit containing a long line of riders will probably look amazing on camera, though.
Then there will be the crashes and abandons, combined with the forlorn looks of riders who end up watching the race from the feed zone.

I like the route. Gives som variety compared to the more common worlds courses. And of course much more interesting than for example Copenhagen, Doha, etc.

 

[Netserk]

I honestly think this parcours is making it harder for a heavier rider, so I don't think Pedersen (and to a lesser extent, even WvA) will feel great on this circuit. I see some of the ligher guys (Evenepoel is not heavy), but also guys like e.g. Lutsenko or (if he's good) Healy, Gee, Neilands, Denz, Madouas, Kwiatkowski, Philipsen (could be a dark horse) ... play a role, be it in a break, or just holding for long, and one of those may even finish higher than e.g. Pedersen or WvA if one or some of those favourites go all or nothing and get nothing.

In the end, I just wish it will be an exciting race, may the best win, and may it be a bit less boring like it was last year

Pedersen is lighter than Van der Poel.

How much speed you can carry out of the corners counts for more than weight.

 

[Riek s]

2 guys in the top 3 of the juniors were above 1m82 (the third one i don't see a height listed on PCS). So it seems heavier/bigger guys do not have a disadvantage here at least.

 

[Volderke]

I like the route. Gives som variety compared to the more common worlds courses. And of course much more interesting than for example Copenhagen, Doha, etc.

Copenhagen was a predicted failure (as for knowing beforehand it would be a sprint, and no rider would be able to go up the road and finish it off).
Doha was awesome, at least this part: https://www.strava.com/activities/751229180/analysis/7337/8251
That was one of the most amazing 15 minutes of bike racing I ever saw. A shame the Belgians didn't race more inventive on the local circuit, so the inevitable sprint had an inevitable Cavendish or Sagan as a winner. Belgians seemed to be OK just to race for bronze, something I will never understand.