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

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I think Bettiol can be dangerous today as well. He was very strong in San Sebastian, managed to follow Evenepoel for a long time. This course should suit him better.

I'm also curious what kind of Pogacar we are going to see today. If all the top guys are feeling good we could get one hell of a race.

Doesn't happen too often when we get the likes of Pogacar, Evenepoel, MVDP, WVA all duking it out.

The English must be pretty disappointed to see their best rider decided to pass on a course that suits him perfectly. All those twists and corners and a couple of uphill intervals... It was practically built for him.
 
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.
That's because they are juniors (as in: the ones that are fully grown have an advantage, because they also tend to be more developed in their muscles etc).
But maybe I'm comparing the pros too much with juniors, and it will probably be no problem at all for 'heavy' guys like Pedersen and WvA.
 
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That's because they are juniors (as in: the ones that are fully grown have an advantage, because they also tend to be more developed in their muscles etc).
But maybe I'm comparing the pros too much with juniors, and it will probably be no problem at all for 'heavy' guys like Pedersen and WvA.
What makes you think this route doesn't suit Pedersen or WVA that well? There aren't that many guys I can think of who would be better suited to this course.

The rider that probably likes this course the most would be MVDP, who is also a heavy guy. He's probably the best at these short intervals.
 
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.
Ah yes, one of the first of that series of races where the women didn't get to do the only interesting part of the race.

And that one still nearly gave us Tom Leezer, World Champion. If only we could have had it, we would have had the World Champion that the Doha championships deserved (not to insult Leezer, but he was very much a rank outsider and would have stood out as a 'who?' on the list of World Champions over the years).
 
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What makes you think this route doesn't suit Pedersen or WVA that well? There aren't that many guys I can think of who would be better suited to this course.

The rider that probably likes this course the most would be MVDP, who is also a heavy guy. He's probably the best at these short intervals.
From own racing experience: every kg you have to take up a hill at max intensity, wears you down very much. Being explosive is an advantage, but being explosive and light is an even bigger advantage on this course. Mvdp is a bit lighter than Wva as well.
 
From own racing experience: every kg you have to take up a hill at max intensity, wears you down very much. Being explosive is an advantage, but being explosive and light is an even bigger advantage on this course. Mvdp is a bit lighter than Wva as well.
That would even more point to Pogacar, who's name i don't hear very often. (while being the most versatile rider in the peleton, or at least that is what we assume). This guy is probably the most explosive/weight racer out on the field.
 
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Ah yes, one of the first of that series of races where the women didn't get to do the only interesting part of the race.

And that one still nearly gave us Tom Leezer, World Champion. If only we could have had it, we would have had the World Champion that the Doha championships deserved (not to insult Leezer, but he was very much a rank outsider and would have stood out as a 'who?' on the list of World Champions over the years).
Tom Leezer was the World Champion Doha deserved.

But Belgium had to use their 84 guys in a 15 man group to let Boonen sprint against Sagan and Cavendish.
 
From own racing experience: every kg you have to take up a hill at max intensity, wears you down very much. Being explosive is an advantage, but being explosive and light is an even bigger advantage on this course. Mvdp is a bit lighter than Wva as well.
Mvdp is only 3 kgs lighter and is also a bit shorter so it's a tiny difference in that regard. I can follow your logic but if you see how Wva is able to climb it doesn't really seem to apply.

Other than Pogacar,Pidcock and Alaphilippe I don't see anyone fitting that description though. I suppose you could say it fits them even better but that doesn't mean it doesn't suit Wva or Mvdp that well.
 
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