World Championships 2024: Men's Road Race (September 29)

[rallybanana]

Not surprising. What about the original 1960’s Heidi? Although a lot folks probably say they saw it, I really was watching the 4th quarter of the NY Jets game with my Dad when NBC abruptly cut off the broadcast to air that “Heidi” at it’s scheduled time.

Wow. Was it a good game? Hopefully the Jets won. I must have missed that Heidi. But it's on youtube so I'll have a watch.

 

[Sciatic]

Wow. Was it a good game? Hopefully the Jets won. I must have missed that Heidi. But it's on youtube so I'll have a watch.

It was a close game that was going down to the wire, which is why thousands of mostly Jets as well as other football fans called NBC in outrage. I wasn’t a Jets fan so it was mostly startling to be watching a tight game one moment and seemingly a moment later the Swiss (I assume) Alps are on the screen!

 

[Pantani_lives]

It's a demanding course, but not for the pure climbers. The first 6 km of the lap is the only chance to create a big gap uphill. It will be hard to control this race. A group of strong outsiders can anticipate, and lesser climbers can come back in the descent or with an organized chase.

It's somewhat comparable to Amstel and San Sebastian. It's probably too tough for Pedersen and Matthews, but feasible for a motivated MvdP. Obvious favorites are Pogacar and Evenepoel, but there are many other contenders, such as Hirschi, Alaphilippe, Jorgenson, Pidcock, Healy, Van Gils and twenty others.

 

[Berniece]

After seeing this U23 today, the question is can an organized chase catch Pogi? Christian aint no pogi. And MVP aint no Behrens.

Yes, might exactly go like U23, where Belgium keeps the gap small and Evenepoel makes the jump with others in his wheel

 

[red_flanders]

Wow. Was it a good game? Hopefully the Jets won. I must have missed that Heidi. But it's on youtube so I'll have a watch.

Raiders crushed them.

 

[Blanco]

Of course not. Pogacar is a monster in undulating terrain, probably the best engine in this type of terrain, only Vingegaard is close to him

Vingegaard is close to him, but in the high mountains. On this terrain, Remco in full strength is at least equal to Pogacar.

 

[topcat]

I'm finding it amusing that most of the forum think Pog is going to just rock up to the wrr and slam dunk the world championship. Of course he might win but if Remco is in top shape and Belgium ride smart it will be very difficult. I'm not ruling out MvdP either.
Also, Wellens will not ride for Pog and Slovenia will ride for Pog.

 

[topcat]

The triple crown is not a myth.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Tomorrow I have half marathon, some family are joning me and they wanted to go for a dinner to celebrate afterwards. So I thought, ok it's gonna be a perfect Sunday, do my run in the morning, watch the worlds in the afternoon and then eat

They booked the table for 14;00.! 2 in the afternoon!!!!! So I'm gonna miss again the men's worlds, 3rd time in a row I miss it due to training or social commitments , last one I got to sit down and watch was leuven. What a joke

I'm tempted to pull the old Bettiol illness trick

 

[RedheadDane]

They booked the table for 14;00.! 2 in the afternoon!!!!!

Do they think you're meeting up for LUNCH?

 

[YavorD]

Vingegaard is close to him, but in the high mountains. On this terrain, Remco in full strength is at least equal to Pogacar.

But a scenario where only Remco catches Pogacar still works in Pog's favour, no?
Remco will be bond to work with him and Pogacar has the advantage in a sprint.

 

[topcat]

Tomorrow I have half marathon, some family are joning me and they wanted to go for a dinner to celebrate afterwards. So I thought, ok it's gonna be a perfect Sunday, do my run in the morning, watch the worlds in the afternoon and then eat

They booked the table for 14;00.! 2 in the afternoon!!!!! So I'm gonna miss again the men's worlds, 3rd time in a row I miss it due to training or social commitments , last one I got to sit down and watch was leuven. What a joke

I'm tempted to pull the old Bettiol illness trick

Farmers have their dinner in the middle of the day.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Christmas Eve around the corner!

The only thing I can frown on is a route that is perhaps a little too hard, with the risk of it becoming a total dissapointment of a snoozefest. I don't know whether Martigný would have been that much better compared to Imola, it turned out to be a dull fest, with only Pogi getting away on the penultimate lap. Highly due to all favorites were afraid to expose themselves too early.

On the other hand, we have since witnessed that the new superstars are not afraid to expose themselves. And those who are least afraid are the two favourites in advance here.

However, still the risk of pure snooze party if it turns out to be a two man battle, the one reading soft spots in his competitors defense and rapidly get it done with a few punches and, hence, a race that is decided long before the finish line.

That's exactly why I like well-thought-out route designs - which give the chance to both classic riders, GC riders, sprinters, puncheurs, etc. And then sometimes with a weather that delivers an extra unknown compared to again other types with higher stamina under severe conditions.

In fact, if I have to be a bit harsh, I actually think much better of Harrogate's and Leuven's route designs, which in my world have given us some of the best WC RRs in history.

But basically. It's my Christmas Eve.
And the same thing has happened throughout all +40 years, I get completely electric all the way out in the chair, whether it's an early morning break where absolutely nothing happens. And especially when watching a TV broadcast where there is no chatter of indifferences constantly (which just punctures the balloon, less is more) but rather little heist stories, while nothing really happens.

Either way, I can feel what's happening to me right now into my bones and nerves just reading the OP's rundown here. Full thrills.

I'm ready. Game on!

I love your Christmas Eve enthusiasm, it's infectious!

(I also managed to misread your post as saying you'll be sitting in an electric chair, which is ever so perturbing of an image.)

 

[topt]

I'm finding it amusing that most of the forum think Pog is going to just rock up to the wrr and slam dunk the world championship. Of course he might win but if Remco is in top shape and Belgium ride smart it will be very difficult. I'm not ruling out MvdP either.
Also, Wellens will not ride for Pog and Slovenia will ride for Pog.

only this forum ? betting odds pog 8/11; remco 5/1, MVDP 8/1

 

[topt]

Vingegaard is close to him, but in the high mountains. On this terrain, Remco in full strength is at least equal to Pogacar.

just no, not even close, perhaps 23 Pogacar but not this version

 

[topt]

Tomorrow I have half marathon, some family are joning me and they wanted to go for a dinner to celebrate afterwards. So I thought, ok it's gonna be a perfect Sunday, do my run in the morning, watch the worlds in the afternoon and then eat

They booked the table for 14;00.! 2 in the afternoon!!!!! So I'm gonna miss again the men's worlds, 3rd time in a row I miss it due to training or social commitments , last one I got to sit down and watch was leuven. What a joke

I'm tempted to pull the old Bettiol illness trick

avoid news and watch replay, thats what i always do ;-)); you can also skip commercials so even better

 

[RedheadDane]

avoid news and watch replay, thats what i always do ;-)); you can also skip commercials so even better

What is the terrible broadcaster you're being saddled with that still has commercials?

 

[Berniece]

Tomorrow I have half marathon, some family are joning me and they wanted to go for a dinner to celebrate afterwards. So I thought, ok it's gonna be a perfect Sunday, do my run in the morning, watch the worlds in the afternoon and then eat

They booked the table for 14;00.! 2 in the afternoon!!!!! So I'm gonna miss again the men's worlds, 3rd time in a row I miss it due to training or social commitments , last one I got to sit down and watch was leuven. What a joke

I'm tempted to pull the old Bettiol illness trick

It’s my godchild’s birthday tomorrow. This week I suddenly realised that I’ll probably have a hard time watching ANY WC the next 15 years

 

[RedheadDane]

It’s my godchild’s birthday tomorrow. This week I suddenly realised that I’ll probably have a hard time watching ANY WC the next 15 years

They won't always be on the same date.

 

[Berniece]

They won't always be on the same date.

The end of September except when UCI wants to do the mega WC once every 4 years?

 

[gregrowlerson]

only this forum ? betting odds pog 8/11; remco 5/1, MVDP 8/1

I think Remco should be closer to Pogacar in the markets, though admittedly I am not a very successful punter.

 

[Nick2413]

I think Remco and the field add up to at least 50% odds of winning. Pog slightly overstated for this given team strength and parcours not necessarily an automatic win for him.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Will we see similar scenes to today's race? Will Teddy try to drop Rogla at all costs?

 

[ice&fire]

Will we see similar scenes to today's race? Will Teddy try to drop Rogla at all costs?

The circuit isn't selective enough, so maybe yes, but no attack will stick, and at the end we'll see a group sprint with the likes of Pedersen and Mathews in it.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The circuit isn't selective enough, so maybe yes, but no attack will stick, and at the end we'll see a group sprint with the likes of Pedersen and Mathews in it.

It's a known fact that Teddy doesn't enjoy sprinting against MVP (he can even finish 4th in a 2-man sprint). If he fails to drop him for good we may see similar scenes to Vollering today.