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

[Danskebjerge]

I don’t see any coverage in the major U.S. daily news media (although since I cancelled my NY Times subscription perhaps they had something). On ESPN.com, you have to know to look in the drop-down list for Olympic Sports, and then find a subhead link for the article below the lead article about gymnastics.

It's a funny logic: If a "nation" is so proud of its best athletes, then why not be interested in the sport in general - if the interest is only based on patriotism, then how do people know how hard it is to become a world champion?

 

[Riek s]

Love to know what kind of watts and for how long MVP produced with his winning attack? Just read Wout’s comment that he was on MVP’s wheel when he attacked but couldn’t hold him.

Wout is a guy who has won sprint finishes against specialist sprinters. So I am thinking well over 1,000 watts for a minute or so? Then he has to clear lactate to be able solo away to the finish? Quite incredible.

Probably doesn't say a lot about VDP, but: (source hln.be)

Even Stuyven had a max of 1300W in the race and avg 322W and did a total of 3minutes 21s above 1000W.

Door het vele optrekken na al die bochten ging Stuyven voor een totale duur van maar liefst 3 minuten en 21 seconden boven de 1.000 watt

 

[King Boonen]

Lots of pissed off locals waking up to the remnants of their Strava leaderboards this morning.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Lots of pissed off locals waking up to the remnants of their Strava leaderboards this morning.

Your city looks ugly too.

 

[RedheadDane]

I know this might have been posted already, but a rather fitting image from yesterday:

 

[Unchained]

The integated schedule with para-cycling on the Track should become a permanent feature.

Couldn't agree more and as someone who accidentally watched lots of para events, the athletes are awe inspiring.. Seen racers with no limbs that give performances that renew my faith in the human condition. Saw some kilo efforts and people riding their bike full out for a kilometer is fantastic to watch.. Scratch race..same.. I absolutely loved everything I saw..the amount of heart displayed, talent, training and courage is the best.

 

[Unchained]

I don’t see any coverage in the major U.S. daily news media (although since I cancelled my NY Times subscription perhaps they had something). On ESPN.com, you have to know to look in the drop-down list for Olympic Sports, and then find a subhead link for the article below the lead article about gymnastics.

I know personally of 2 fantastic writers that work for WSJ and another for NY Times and if they don't have any pull, editors at the papers don't see a golden opportunity.. Then there probably is not any.. When you have passionate cyclists, bleed bike racing and there employers don't want to dedicate a few work days to cover grand tours or World Championship.. Yikes.. Lost hope. In the US we either suddenly follow bike racing because of the back story.. Cancer..gunshot victim.. or sports editors feel what Aaron Rodgers wore before and after practice to be more important.. Cycling no..Tom Brady date night yes..sad

 

[meat puppet]

Probably doesn't say a lot about VDP, but: (source hln.be)

Even Stuyven had a max of 1300W in the race and avg 322W and did a total of 3minutes 21s above 1000W.

Absolutely bonkers numbers, and he was not even at the pointy end. Already the 3min20 spent above 1000w is a lot, but how about spending 34min above 650w?! Or, 1h40min above threshold (450w)? Moreover, he raced well, ie. was effectively not pedaling for 50min, but still avg'd 322W for the 6h22min.

Strava users can access the ride here: https://www.strava.com/activities/9595087971/overview

Really makes one wonder about what the top four produced.

 

[Mayomaniac]

What's the disease ?

Ulverative colitis.

 

[Oldermanish]

Probably doesn't say a lot about VDP, but: (source hln.be)

Even Stuyven had a max of 1300W in the race and avg 322W and did a total of 3minutes 21s above 1000W.

At that point in the race the efforts are relative....But what amazed me was the Chris Auld photo of MvP crossing the line with his hands over his head. Clear definition of the effort and emotion necessary to accomplish what he did. Stellar photo!

 

[Red Rick]

Love to know what kind of watts and for how long MVP produced with his winning attack? Just read Wout’s comment that he was on MVP’s wheel when he attacked but couldn’t hold him.

Wout is a guy who has won sprint finishes against specialist sprinters. So I am thinking well over 1,000 watts for a minute or so? Then he has to clear lactate to be able solo away to the finish? Quite incredible.

1000W for 1 minute? That's not at all how it's gonna work.

The reason MvdP dropped everyone is not because his pure watts are better when everyone is fresh, he dropped everyone because they were all stone dead. So MvdPs race winning acceleration probably wasn't even his hardest acceleration that race.

 

[Riek s]

Absolutely bonkers numbers, and he was not even at the pointy end. Already the 3min20 spent above 1000w is a lot, but how about spending 34min above 650w?! Or, 1h40min above threshold (450w)? Moreover, he raced well, ie. was effectively not pedaling for 50min, but still avg'd 322W for the 6h22min.

Strava users can access the ride here: https://www.strava.com/activities/9595087971/overview

Really makes one wonder about what the top four produced.

Indeed. These high numbers have been build up by many small intervals at a extreme high load/power. considering his longest 650W interval was 1minute, that would mean he did at least 34 of those 1min intervals.

Imagine going on a training ride and do that many of those intervals..

Those riding the finale must have an absolute bonkers explosive power recovery. (also becomes very clear how absolutely dominant this parcour was in pure explosive power.)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Here in Australia I can’t find any mention of the race today. The media only wake up if an Australian does well. Checked a few rival sites and local news is filled with mention of women’s football World Cup, women’s netball, cricket, AFL and the Rugby codes. Nothing on cycling or MVDPs win ☹️

Be glad it wasn't "Young man who assaulted Australian girls wins big cycling race year after"

 

[Danskebjerge]

I still don't get why so many riders - even strong riders like Philipsen and Asgreen - bailed out even before the morning breakaway was caught. That's not normal, is it? There was only one noticeable rider in that break. And the weather conditions were no excuse (like it was in Yorkshire).

I know the speed was high when the peloton reached the circuit, but remember Neilands and the other guys kept a good gap for several rounds. So there is some "math" that doesn't quite make sense here.

The best explanation I can think of is that there were more riders out of shape than there usually are.

 

[Riek s]

I still don't get why so many riders - even strong riders like Philipsen and Asgreen - bailed out even before the morning breakaway was caught. That's not normal, is it? There was only one noticeable rider in that break. And the weather conditions were no excuse.

I know the speed was high when the peloton reached the circuit, but remember Neilands and the other guys kept a good gap for several rounds. So there is some "math" that doesn't quite make sense here.

The best explanation I can think of is that there were more riders out of shape than there usually are.

I think it has to do with how specific this race was. As mentionned before, this was a full out high load interval sprint fest. The moment your legs are full it is over. This isn't a long effort, or long duration intervals. This was a bursty 5s-1minute interval show.
Most riders are geared towards a long sustained effort with a few sprints. Some riders recuperate well from such intervals (or have a higher power interval power curve making it less taxing). For some riders it is like a full sprint to follow that group, one can do it twice or three times, but not more.

 

[tobydawq]

I still don't get why so many riders - even strong riders like Philipsen and Asgreen - bailed out even before the morning breakaway was caught. That's not normal, is it? There was only one noticeable rider in that break. And the weather conditions were no excuse (like it was in Yorkshire).

I know the speed was high when the peloton reached the circuit, but remember Neilands and the other guys kept a good gap for several rounds. So there is some "math" that doesn't quite make sense here.

The best explanation I can think of is that there were more riders out of shape than there usually are.

Yeah, so incredibly hard to grasp...

 

[Mayomaniac]

I still don't get why so many riders - even strong riders like Philipsen and Asgreen - bailed out even before the morning breakaway was caught. That's not normal, is it? There was only one noticeable rider in that break. And the weather conditions were no excuse (like it was in Yorkshire).

I know the speed was high when the peloton reached the circuit, but remember Neilands and the other guys kept a good gap for several rounds. So there is some "math" that doesn't quite make sense here.

The best explanation I can think of is that there were more riders out of shape than there usually are.

Bettiol suggested that the unexpected break because of the protestors ruined the legs of many riders.

 

[Lequack]

This is a nice moment and interview.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1687781553345003520

View: https://twitter.com/eurosport/status/1687781553345003520?s=20

And now meet the 80+ category winner in the ITT

https://twitter.com/x/status/1688575094174445569

View: https://twitter.com/GcnRacing/status/1688575094174445569

 

[Danskebjerge]

I think it has to do with how specific this race was. As mentionned before, this was a full out high load interval sprint fest. The moment your legs are full it is over. This isn't a long effort, or long duration intervals. This was a bursty 5s-1minute interval show.
Most riders are geared towards a long sustained effort with a few sprints. Some riders recuperate well from such intervals (or have a higher power interval power curve making it less taxing). For some riders it is like a full sprint to follow that group, one can do it twice or three times, but not more.

A good explanation as such - but the breakaway only had a gap of few minutes. If the peloton was at full gas from the moment it arrived at the circuit, that gap should have diminished rapidly - which it didn't.

It's easier to be in a small group in which no-one attacks on the climbs or after the turns, - definitely! But still, the riders pulling in the peloton were (at least on paper) so much stronger than the breakaway riders.

 

[Cookster15]

Be glad it wasn't "Young man who assaulted Australian girls wins big cycling race year after"

Good point. Our sports journalists are a lazy lot 🙄

 

[Cookster15]

1000W for 1 minute? That's not at all how it's gonna work.

The reason MvdP dropped everyone is not because his pure watts are better when everyone is fresh, he dropped everyone because they were all stone dead. So MvdPs race winning acceleration probably wasn't even his hardest acceleration that race.

Yeh, of course you are spot on. Pog’s post race comments also confirm that. MvDP really did race perfectly whilst the others were burning their matches.

 

[Andy262]

Yeh, of course you are spot on. Pog’s post race comments also confirm that. MvDP really did race perfectly whilst the others were burning their matches.

Yeah, Pog burnt so many matches chasing down attacks while Mathieu played it cooler. That bit Pog on the ass at the end, not that it necessarily changed the winner.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Yeh, of course you are spot on. Pog’s post race comments also confirm that. MvDP really did race perfectly whilst the others were burning their matches.

1000W for 1 minute? That's not at all how it's gonna work.

The reason MvdP dropped everyone is not because his pure watts are better when everyone is fresh, he dropped everyone because they were all stone dead. So MvdPs race winning acceleration probably wasn't even his hardest acceleration that race.

Actually, 1000 watt for 1 minute might be close to what happened. At Strade Bianche 2021, van der Poel did an average of 1004 watts in 20 seconds on the last climb. (318 watts in average for the whole race back then.)

The attack in Glasgow looked really strong, so I should think 8-900 for 1 minute would be plausible.

 

[peterfin]

A good explanation as such - but the breakaway only had a gap of few minutes. If the peloton was at full gas from the moment it arrived at the circuit, that gap should have diminished rapidly - which it didn't.

It's easier to be in a small group in which no-one attacks on the climbs or after the turns, - definitely! But still, the riders pulling in the peloton were (at least on paper) so much stronger than the breakaway riders.

I think the early formation of a leaders group and the difficulty of keeping a bigger peleton for both the chase and recuperation might have had a demoralizing impact of those who failed to make the group of mvdp/wva or where left behind due to an acceleration, crash or technical issue (such as Laporte). Add to that the fact that there are no earpieces for info, no way to get easily to the team car and no visibility on the group in front and you get a perfect setup for desperation. Everyone is fighting with himself, even Pogi was exhausted with 70km to go, but if you are struggling without confidence its easier to take that turn to the boxes.

 

[search]

are we going to use this thread for the (T)TTs as well?