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

[Eyeballs Out]

I think Skujins was first rider to finish who did not do the Tour and only a couple of others (Schmid and Doull) finished in the top 20. When the Worlds is really hard it's tough to compete without a GT in the legs

 

[LookProGoSlow]

Remco said that the accelerations killed him. He couldn't do repeatedly 1000w on the hills so he lost a lot of places every time. So he knew rapidly that it wouldn't be his day. He did try to make the race hard and once he thought he could make a gap but Pogacar reacted.

Is what I said and immediately got attacked. So yes I removed my comment because straight after I posted it he was on the attack and I actually thought I was wrong for a minute. Not much later though he was out the backdoor.

 

[Sciatic]

I think Skujins was first rider to finish who did not do the Tour and only a couple of others (Schmid and Doull) finished in the top 20. When the Worlds is really hard it's tough to compete without a GT in the legs

Of course, MVDP didn’t “do” the Tour the way that the others did — he did it as training with his eyes on this race the whole time.

 

[Oldermanish]

It's basically a lot like the Krylatskoye Ring, but more technical cos it's not purpose built like that was. There were no major climbs, it was just relentless, with corners all over the place and short ups and downs and never letting the settle into a rhythm for a sustained period of time at any point. It was always going to be selective and you couldn't truly figure out what type of rider it best suited until they either survived or didn't. I wasn't sure about it after the Commonwealths, but with the deeper field of a World Championships and the full distance that that entails, the strengths of the circuit really came to the fore.

It sounds like a CXer's dream course and the two best showed it.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Who is that egghead who's instant reaction to the route reveal was that it would be a boring sprinters race? Mad Rick, Sad Rick or something?

Bah humbug Rick?

 

[King Boonen]

Who is that egghead who's instant reaction to the route reveal was that it would be a boring sprinters race? Mad Rick, Sad Rick or something?

Glasgow forgives you.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

The fact that quite a few of the top 25 are from the early break shows how hard was the race. Its how a world championships should be, its role to determine the best road racer in the world and this year its Van der poel.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's only really cos of the length and lack of organisation in the teams. Turn that into a 200-210k one day with 7/8 man trade teams I reckon you get a sprint from a 40 man peleton.

Which is why I say I wasn't really sure about it from the previous races there (although I highlighted the Commonwealths RR which had a mixed level field). However, thankfully, the Worlds are up in the 260km+ range, which brings the attrition of those constant digs into it.

Would a legacy one-day race on this course work? Probably better than the legacy London Olympic RR course one did, but expecting the same action you got from 260km+ on the course with several fewer laps would be foolish unless the quality of field suffered for it.

 

[magliaroz]

Of course, MVDP didn’t “do” the Tour the way that the others did — he did it as training with his eyes on this race the whole time.

Mads also had days when he could rest and Wout retired. Only one who did the whole Tour full gas is Pogi.

 

[Oldermanish]

so people still believe WVA can match MVDP power outputs?

Even after leaving the Tour early it looked like MvP had the best training for this effort. He had a bomb to throw in the last 20km that was amazing.

 

[Lequack]

MVDP said he wanted to take revenge on the teenagers from the hotel last year, and he delivered.

 

[movingtarget]

I think Skujins was first rider to finish who did not do the Tour and only a couple of others (Schmid and Doull) finished in the top 20. When the Worlds is really hard it's tough to compete without a GT in the legs

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.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Who is that egghead who's instant reaction to the route reveal was that it would be a boring sprinters race? Mad Rick, Sad Rick or something?

And people mentioning Mørkøv probably doing a leadout for Pedersen on the home stretch.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Our best rider 18th in a home WCRR and to make matters worse we've got Pidcock doing a YouTube highlights race and Thomas doing a TT he probably won't top 5.

I thought Ethan Hayter wasn't doing it because he's injured but low and behold I turn on the TV and he's doing the *checks notes*... Men's Omnium?

 

[skippo12]

so people still believe WVA can match MVDP power outputs?

Define power output. MVP is the best in the world when it comes to explosive stuff like todays. Mostly flat with a couple of 10-20s ramps. Very technical. Terrible for traditional rouleur. Basically no stretch where a big engine would be able to push a steady pace. Corner. Acceleration. Corner. Acceleration...
In hindsight one has to question why MVP wasn´t the heavy favorit. I don´t think it is possible to design a better course for him.

 

[tobydawq]

MVDP said he wanted to take revenge on the teenagers from the hotel last year, and he delivered.

Did he?

 

[tobydawq]

Our best rider 18th in a home WCRR and to make matters worse we've got Pidcock doing a YouTube highlights race and Thomas doing a TT he probably won't top 5.

I thought Ethan Hayter wasn't doing it because he's injured but low and behold I turn on the TV and he's doing the *checks notes*... Men's Omnium?

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!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I thought Ethan Hayter wasn't doing it because he's injured but low and behold I turn on the TV and he's doing the *checks notes*... Men's Omnium?

It's Oliver Wood who's riding the Omnium.

 

[King Boonen]

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!

Track or bust for BC I’m afraid.

 

[OlavEH]

Best Worlds I have seen. A 10/10 race. And also the most convincing winner in the 20 years I'v seen the race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Of course, MVDP didn’t “do” the Tour the way that the others did — he did it as training with his eyes on this race the whole time.

bro, he wanted to do more but the man got sick in the 2nd week. He basically had to handbrake himself because of that

 

[Blanco]

Power podium. Great win by VDP. Just as dominant as Remco last year.

Not exactly. Remco sneaked into the winning group, leaving all the favorites behind, while Van Der Poel dropped all the big guns fair and square.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Track or bust for BC I’m afraid.

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

 

[awavey]

Looks like he wanted to come over the line alone, so it looks like he won

We've all done it at sportives 😀

 

[Blanco]

You know and if you followed cycling you know why and why he shouldnt have been a fav. At least he let mads and Pog spend some energy. Wouldn't have mattered for the win, but maybe it gave Wva more chances to become 2nd

Vdp was the big fav on this parcour and finished it amazingly.

What a great world champ again this year. Love to see him in the classics with the rainbow.

Pog a co fav still made the podium. Fantastic podium for a fantastic race als battlefield

Yet bookies made him a no.1 favorite, and many from the cycling world considered him one of the main favorites.