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

[topcat]

Pogačar can take the lead pretending to work for Roglič

Roche can work for Kelly and then take a flyer and become world champion.
I'm hoping against hope that Alaphilippe can recapture his Leuven magic. I think Remco is going to win and protect Roche's legacy as the only triple crown winner apart from Merckx. The triple crown is not just about tradition, it's about winning the three most important races of the year.

 

[search]

That’s a bit unfair to Tim Wellens. He merely said that if Pogacar attacks he can’t do much about that because he’s much stronger. Evenepoel needs to follow that attack

I was more thinking about the general sound of it, like bringing up that Pogacar would potentially be more willing to let him win (if he ends up ahead) than Evenepoel. And when asked about his goals, he only said that he aims to contribute to who becomes World Championship, instead of specifically saying that he aims to contribute to Evenepoel's World Championship.

Or what is this about?

Wanneer is Tim Wellens zondagavond een tevreden man?

“Goed punt. Als ik een beslissende rol speel in wie wereldkampioen wordt.”

En dan bedoel je?

“Mag ik dan nu mijn joker inzetten? (lacht)”

Don't get me wrong, I think he will do his job for the Belgian team, of course, but it doesn't really feel like an all-determined mindset. More like that he wouldn't mind Pogacar to win. And some other UAE/Monaco mates probably think the same.

 

[RedheadDane]

And when asked about his goals, he only said that he aims to contribute to who becomes World Championship, instead of specifically saying that he aims to contribute to Evenepoel's World Championship.

Maybe he wants to becoming World Champion? Winning himself would definitely be contributing to who becomes World Champion.

 

[Berniece]

I was more thinking about the general sound of it, like bringing up that Pogacar would potentially be more willing to let him win (if he ends up ahead) than Evenepoel. And when asked about his goals, he only said that he aims to contribute to who becomes World Championship, instead of specifically saying that he aims to contribute to Evenepoel's World Championship.

Or what is this about?

Wanneer is Tim Wellens zondagavond een tevreden man?

“Goed punt. Als ik een beslissende rol speel in wie wereldkampioen wordt.”

En dan bedoel je?

“Mag ik dan nu mijn joker inzetten? (lacht)”

Don't get me wrong, I think he will do his job for the Belgian team, of course, but it doesn't really feel like an all-determined mindset. More like that he wouldn't mind Pogacar to win. And some other UAE/Monaco mates probably think the same.

I agree, what a ridiculous thing to say. Would make sure he has no role to play in the last 50km's, or already drop him for a backup.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Unpopular oppinion: The term triple crown for the combination of Giro, Tour & WC is ***. I mean how in the hell is it a combination of 2 out of 3 grand tours and the world champs. A real triple crown would be winning all 3 GT's

There was something on here a few days ago about the phrase not being used at all when Merckx did it, but coming into the jargon soon after Roche did. At a guess, it was a case of "Roche has equalled Merckx's great combination of three wins, his ( pause for a moment to think of a momentous phrase) 'triple crown' "; the phrase would come easily to Irish/UK commentators and journalists from rugby. I get the impression it stuck quickly.

Given the unlikelihood of the three GTs being won in a season, and if it is accepted that the Worlds outranks the monuments (I know many would say otherwise), then it probably is the highest ranked feasible trio of wins.

But just as someone pointed out that none of Merckx's WC wins could have been WC/Olympic doubles, as they were not in Olympic years (even if there had been professional cycling at the OG in those days), then some Giros and TdFs could never be part of a triple crown. No GT winner was ever going to become WC in venues like Copenhagen or Doha.

 

[RedheadDane]

What about an "Inverse Triple"?
If someone won the Worlds, and then the following year won the Giro and Tour.
Or would the gap between winning rainbows and winning Giro be too long?

 

[Blanco]

Is Nibali better than Froome or Contador? Of course not so no one can ever claim Remco is better than Vingegaard.

It's debatable if Nibali is better than Froome or Contador, but Remco is certainly better than Vingegaard.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So Teddy Merckx is fighting for the triple crown while Bullet Man for the double double. A lot at stake!

 

[topcat]

So Teddy Merckx is fighting for the triple crown while Bullet Man for the double double. A lot at stake!

Change your avatar to Remco if he wins. I've already changed mine to the total cycling fan's favourite.

 

[Savant12]

There may be some strong breakaway that needs to be chased down. If it includes guys from other strong teams then Slovenia will have to take responsibility for the chase and they will need horsepower. Mohoric's withdrawal is a huge loss - he would work for Pog without any hesitation. Rogla will have a free role and won't pull for Pogacar (I will only believe it when I see it) so the team is weaker than it looked on paper just a few days back. This could be a problem for Pog.

It's not their sole responsibility to chase.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

What about an "Inverse Triple"?
If someone won the Worlds, and then the following year won the Giro and Tour.
Or would the gap between winning rainbows and winning Giro be too long?

I don't think that would be recognised any more than Froome (and Coppi, Merckx and Hinault before him) winning all three GTs in 12 months. An achievement noted at the time, but not a landmark event. It is the three in the same season that is key.

 

[pastronef]

I hope in a strong breakaway and disrupted chase behind
Vine, Gall, Van Gils, Skjelmose, Bilbao, Sivakov, Storer, Brenner, Williams, Healy, Tiberi, Skuijns, Leknessund, Simmons...

 

[rallybanana]

So Teddy Merckx is fighting for the triple crown while Bullet Man for the double double. A lot at stake!

We need a unique name for Remco's double double.

I'm thinking "quadrennial quadruple" as it can only be done once every 4 years.

Or maybe the "rainbolympic slam".

 

[tobydawq]

We need a unique name for Remco's double double.

I'm thinking "quadrennial quadruple" as it can only be done once every 4 years.

Or maybe the "rainbolympic slam".

A little weak that nobody has won the calendar golden slam: All Grand Tours, monuments, Worlds and Olympics TT and RR in a calendar year.

That said, I fully support both names.

 

[Didinho]

We need a unique name for Remco's double double.

I'm thinking "quadrennial quadruple" as it can only be done once every 4 years.

Or maybe the "rainbolympic slam".

Or just name it after the rider? Remcuple or something.

 

[RedheadDane]

A little weak that nobody has won the calendar golden slam: All Grand Tours, monuments, Worlds and Olympics TT and RR in a calendar year.

For some reason, I read that as "Grand Slams", and I was thinking that's a bit much to expect...

 

[dobrien]

Or just name it after the rider? Remcuple or something.

Remcolympbow! The 'p' is silent of course! I know I'm reaching now but it does roll off the tongue rather nicely, at least IMHO!

 

[pastronef]

For some reason, I read that as "Grand Slams", and I was thinking that's a bit much to expect...

especially as Roland-Garros clashes with the Giro, US-Open clashes with the Vuelta, and Wimbledon clashes with the Tour

 

[RedheadDane]

especially as Roland-Garros clashes with the Giro, US-Open clashes with the Vuelta, and Wimbledon clashes with the Tour

That wouldn't be a problem in that sense, since I thought it was Grand Slams insteadt of Grand Tours.

It was more the whole expecting a pro cyclist to suddenly also play tennis really well thing that seemed a bit much.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Giro/Tour/WC, or the 'ciciban triple' as they're calling it in knowledgeable circles nowadays. The real one with the Vuelta could be physiologically impossible given how good you have to be in the tour to win nowadays, even Pogacar said his body shut down.

 

[jmdirt]

Unpopular oppinion: The term triple crown for the combination of Giro, Tour & WC is ***. I mean how in the hell is it a combination of 2 out of 3 grand tours and the world champs. A real triple crown would be winning all 3 GT's
(okay I get it, the Vuelta has an inferior status. But also in Golf or Tennis not all slams are equal and still a grand slam is not a combination of Wimbledon, French Open and the ATP finals)

Or there could be a phrase for winning all 5 monuments and the world champs as ultimate one day race season. But just mixing up "random" events? Come on. Otherwise I think we could just make the combo of winning giro, vuelta and LBL the "Treble".

I made this assertion after the TdF. It just seems like a strange thing, two GTs and a one day race to make a triple crown.

 

[jmdirt]

Very true, it's just fabricated nonsense. I don't know if it's this forum specifically or cycling in general, but we're shifting towards the Americanization of discussion where fairytale stories have to be created, everything and everyone needs to be ranked and goats. So dumb.

Just look at the Velo d'Or. Genuinely, I had never heard of this prize until two or three years ago, and now people are discussing it like it's the equivalent of NBA MVP. It won't be long before revisionists starts giving someone the Steve Nash vs. Shaquille O'Neal treatment, and it's terrible.

Sorry for the venture off topic here, but how is that "Americanization"?

 

[Lequack]

So apparently weather is going to be dry on Sunday for the men's race, but wet on Saturday for the women's.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Sorry for the venture off topic here, but how is that "Americanization"?

What does event X mean for the legacy of athlete Y. First Take, Undisputed levels of discussion that seemed nonexistent in Europe until recently.

 

[scribers]

@mou has been extremely active on twitter. He has said multiple times pogi is going to 50k solo