World Championships 2023: Womens Elite Road Race. Loch Lomond - Glasgow 154km

[Red Rick]

Becuase I feel obliged to add some cultural stuff because that's what people who make quality race threads do here's Loch Lomond

Funnily enough the music in the first part of this video is also by Loch Lomond

 

[Red Rick]

Startlist

 

[Monte Serra]

Is the start in honour of Captain Haddock? And thus by extension Hergé? If so, that bodes well for the Belgian chances.

 

[DNP-Old]

Weather reports are still sure of rain all day. If ever an appropriate time for saying this will be carnage holds truth, it is right here. I do not hope for it to be true, but this will be a bloodbath, and maybe in the literal sense of the word.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Let's pray for no severe crashes and an exciting race. Question is whether or not the Dutch can screw it up for themselves, and whether Kopecky is strong enough to match them.

The U23 winner is difficult to predict, but I hope Shackley will take the gold on home roads.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The question should not be whether the Dutch can screw themselves - we know they can. We just need to know whether they will.

 

[postmanhat]

This circuit has produced great racing so far so hoping the elite women can continue the trend..

Just noticed Brand isn't in the Dutch team. Is she injured? Apart from their obvious favourites and Kopecky, Persico and Van Anrooij could go well here with their CX experience. Shirin would be my outside bet for the win here, depending on the team tactics. Could see her being sent to neutralise an attack by Reusser etc, then riding away on a course like this.

 

[Sciatic]

Worried that this will be a Vollering or Van Lleuten going off the front early and that’s the race. Nothing against them, I just would like the women’s race be dynamic on this circuit, just the way the Men’s and U23 race today had.

 

[awavey]

Worried that this will be a Vollering or Van Lleuten going off the front early and that’s the race. Nothing against them, I just would like the women’s race be dynamic on this circuit, just the way the Men’s and U23 race today had.

I think, though likely to be proved wrong, so ignore me , the circuit is too awkward for any rider to do that, it's too point and squirt as they might say, which favours the stronger puncheur riders who can cope with attritional repetitive riding and sharp climbs both Vollering and Van Vleueten are good at powering through and away solo, I don't think you can do that on this course, so I think Kopecky is favourite.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

I thought Marlen Reusser might be taking a break after her interview the other day, but it seems she's s on the start list.

 

[jaylew]

Hoping for a non-Vollering/Kopecky/Reusser win but I wouldn't make that bet.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Finally some cycling on TV!

In the men's race it was the top 4 of the Tour of Flanders in a different order, so Kopecky should do well here. However she might be tired after her track campaign, where she won two golds and one bronze. This might be a clash between her and the Dutch team. So the question is if Vollering prefers SD Worx to win or the Netherlands. Or both at the same time.

Outsiders are Niewiadoma, Reusser, Uttrup, Balsamo, Brown, Dygert and Deignan, but they might once again have to settle for a place of honor.

 

[meat puppet]

If Kopecky beats the Dutchies, cannot be too disappointed. But I have my doubts that for once they pull their tactics together. Weird, I know.

Mainly rooting for aggressive racing and, of course, against ms ultra extreme MAGA though.

 

[IndianCyclist]

AVV to attack long. Dutch to chase for Vollering since there is no love lost between them? and then Kopecky or outsider to win hopefully and then the Dutch blame game should start. Dygert should be on the podium

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Niewiadoma not starting - has an upper respiratory tract infection and the national team doctor has advised her to withdraw.

 

[Red Rick]

I honestly think the Dutch team is overrated here.

I think it's way too technical and explosive for AvV, too hard overall for Wiebes, and maybe even Vos, and it doesn't suit Vollering that well either IMO.

I also don't think perfect team tactics help that much because you're not gonna win if you're 10th best here.

 

[theyoungest]

The U23 men's race has shown that a tactical win is possible on this course, so far it was always just simply the strongest rider. So that should offer opportunities for the Dutch, because Kopecky will likely be by far the strongest rider today.

But then comes the problem... the Dutch can't race tactically. Marianne Vos can, but she's not good enough anymore. The others are used to winning because they're simply the strongest, not by outsmarting the competition. And I feel that will be necessary, Vollering is the only one who could maybe challenge Kopecky when it really becomes a 1v1 fight, but there's some doubt regarding her form and her fitness. Another Van Vleuten miracle seems unlikely.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Any chance of a miracolo italiano?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I honestly think the Dutch team is overrated here.

I think it's way too technical and explosive for AvV, too hard overall for Wiebes, and maybe even Vos, and it doesn't suit Vollering that well either IMO.

I also don't think perfect team tactics help that much because you're not gonna win if you're 10th best here.

I'm not sure it's too hard for Wiebes. However it's not unlikely she'll crash out of the race.

Logic says the Italians will get at least a medal.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm not sure it's too hard for Wiebes. However it's not unlikely she'll crash out of the race.

Logic says the Italians will get at least a medal.

Wiebes was sick for the TTT relay, but yes, in the form we've seen her earlier this year this course may be just within her possibilities.

 

[Izzyeviel]

I was going to post last night that Kasia & chloe would podium. But after mocking others predictions, I didn't want to jinx them.

That went well. It's all up to you Lizzie.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Does anyone have an updated startlist?

I assume the Americans, Poles and Swedes are all starting with fewer riders.

 

[yaco]

I'm not sure it's too hard for Wiebes. However it's not unlikely she'll crash out of the race.

Logic says the Italians will get at least a medal.

You nailed it with Wiebes - She's a big chance if she gets around as is Dygert.

 

[RedheadDane]

Danish journalist, Rasmus Staghøj, when asked if it was gonna stay dry: "Not a clue!"

Well... guess that's one way to predict the weather...

---

For those interested, here's a list of U23 riders:

Spoiler: Length

Netherlands:
Shirin Van Anrooij

Italy:
Eleonora Camilla Gasparini

Belgium:
Julie De Wilde
Marthe Goossens

France:
Cédrine Kerbaol

Switzerland:
Noemi Rüegg
Noëlle Rüetschi
Linda Zanetti

Great Britain:
Anna Shackley

Germany:
Antonia Niedermaier
Linda Riedmann

Poland:
Dominika Wlodarczyk

Denmark:
Solbjørk Minke Anderson

USA:
Megan Jastrab

Canada:
Sarah Van Dam

New Zealand:
Kim Cadzow
Ally Wollaston

South Africa:
Frances Janse van Rensburg

Austria:
Leila Gschwenter
Elisa Winter

Sweden:
Julia Borgström

Uzbekistan:
Sofiya Karimova
Yanina Kuskova
Margarita Misyurina

Czech Republic:
Kristyna Burlova
Eliska Kvasnickova

Luxembourg:
Nina Berton
Marie Schreiber

Finland:
Anniina Ahtosalo

Rwanda:
Diane Ingabire
Djazilla Umwamikazi
Xaverine Nirere

Thailand:
Kamonrada Khaoplot

China:
Xin Tang

Chile:
Catalina Soto Campos

Portugal:
Daniela Campos

Hungary:
Blanka Vas
Petra Zsanko

Namibia:
Monique Du Plessis

Slovakia:
Nora Jencusova

Israel:
Nofar Maoz

UAE:
Safia Al Sayegh

Hong Kong:
Sze Wing Lee

Ireland:
Lara Gillespie

Japan:
Akari Kobayashi

Nigeria:
Sunday Mary Samel

Morocco:
Raja Chakir

Mexico:
Yareli Acevedo Mendoza

"Afghanistan" (pretty sure they ride as the Refugee Team):
Fariba Hashimi
Zahra Rezayee

Burundi:
Bucumi Beolyne
Emmanuella Rukundo

Uganda:
Florence Nakagwa

Laos:
Fanny Cauchois

 

[Samu Cuenca]

You nailed it with Wiebes - She's a big chance if she gets around as is Dygert.

Dygert is too sick to start, so she definitely won't be around

Danish journalist, Rasmus Staghøj, when asked if it was gonna stay dry: "Not a clue!"

Well... guess that's one way to predict the weather...

Well he isn't exactly a meteorologist.