World Championships Innsbruck 2018

Page 11 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Mar 19, 2009
9,892
1,790
20,680
Re:

Jancouver said:
Tactically, the only Colombian that has any chance is Sergio Henao. Tactics are important and perhaps even the reason why they never got on the podium.

... too many chiefs not enough indians
I'd say Uran and Chaves have proven their chops in the biggest one day races.
 
May 14, 2017
1,531
1,372
13,680
Re: Re:

Red Rick said:
Mayomaniac said:
Jancouver said:
Tactically, the only Colombian that has any chance is Sergio Henao. Tactics are important and perhaps even the reason why they never got on the podium.

... too many chiefs not enough indians
That could also become a problem fro France.
Ala will be the leader, but Bardet, Barguil and Pinot will all have their own ambitions.
It's gonna be a weird, weird worlds cause it's so tough nobody really has an idea what will happen.

I don't even know which race to compare it to.

The race is way to hard for Ala. Pinot and Bardet should be undisputed leaders of the team.
Ala really struggled on the harder/longer climbs in the last few days and he should be close to his peak form by now.
 
Jul 13, 2016
1,533
199
5,680
France should go for Bardet & Pinot, maybe Ala if he is in peak form.

The Spanish, Colombians, Dutch, French and Italians can all bring great teams to the RR with more than one card to play.
 
Jan 15, 2013
1,130
0
10,480
Re: Re:

Durden93 said:
I would have to think that either Uran or Chaves could contest a sprint with Nibali quite well.

Yep Uran can get the mechanic to jam it in 53x11 again!
 
Aug 23, 2014
82
18
8,710
Has anyone noticed the prices of the finish area tickets don't make much sense.

The dearest way to see all races is the 8 day ticket, then the separate Time Trial & Road Race one, and the cheapest is actually to buy the tickets for each even separately.

Seems rather odd and surely a mistake.
 
May 23, 2009
10,256
1,455
25,680
Re: Re:

skippo12 said:
Red Rick said:
Mayomaniac said:
Jancouver said:
Tactically, the only Colombian that has any chance is Sergio Henao. Tactics are important and perhaps even the reason why they never got on the podium.

... too many chiefs not enough indians
That could also become a problem fro France.
Ala will be the leader, but Bardet, Barguil and Pinot will all have their own ambitions.
It's gonna be a weird, weird worlds cause it's so tough nobody really has an idea what will happen.

I don't even know which race to compare it to.

The race is way to hard for Ala. Pinot and Bardet should be undisputed leaders of the team.
Ala really struggled on the harder/longer climbs in the last few days and he should be close to his peak form by now.
What about Barguil? If his form is similar to last year’s TDF, he’s a contender with a similar claim to leadership as Pinot
 
Aug 23, 2014
82
18
8,710
Re:

RedheadDane said:
Why do you need to buy tickets? Do they close off the entire area around the finish line?

Finish area is ticket only. You can go anywhere else on the course for free of course, but podium presentations, finish area etc are ticketed. Not horribly expensive either tbh for the tickets, just find it weird buying the one to cover all events comes out more expensive than each event separate.
 
May 23, 2009
10,256
1,455
25,680
Haig, O’Connor and Power are looking like obvious selections. Australia may not be embarrassed yet. Hopefully Morton gets himself sorted out and they can go for a team of young climbers.
 
Oct 14, 2017
12,196
3,232
23,180
Apparently yesterday/today the Spanish national team coach was taking a look at the World's route. Today he said that it's a very good finish for Valverde and a good finish for Landa. He also made a comment that Valverde will be the sole leader of the team, however the plan is that he fully intends on taking Landa and that Landa will be their option B.
 
May 17, 2013
7,559
2,414
20,680
Re:

Koronin said:
Apparently yesterday/today the Spanish national team coach was taking a look at the World's route. Today he said that it's a very good finish for Valverde and a good finish for Landa. He also made a comment that Valverde will be the sole leader of the team, however the plan is that he fully intends on taking Landa and that Landa will be their option B.
...not looking good, IMO...too many chiefs.

For the French Team, if all are in good form, Alaf, Pinot, and Bardet all stand a chance. Too many chiefs there too. A team with a clearly designated leader will be at an advantage...

It's going to be a brutal race. Nibali will attack. He's my pick.
 
Mar 4, 2011
3,346
451
14,580
If the Colombians turn up with a Quick Step-like attitude of 'it doesn't matter which one of us wins' they could cause chaos. Uran, Bernal, Chaves, Quintana, Henao, Pantano, Lopez, Betancur, firing up the road one after another. Terrifying. And I've not even included Atapuma and Anacona. And they still have Sosa spare for the under 23s.
 
Oct 14, 2017
12,196
3,232
23,180
Re: Re:

Tonton said:
Koronin said:
Apparently yesterday/today the Spanish national team coach was taking a look at the World's route. Today he said that it's a very good finish for Valverde and a good finish for Landa. He also made a comment that Valverde will be the sole leader of the team, however the plan is that he fully intends on taking Landa and that Landa will be their option B.
...not looking good, IMO...too many chiefs.

For the French Team, if all are in good form, Alaf, Pinot, and Bardet all stand a chance. Too many chiefs there too. A team with a clearly designated leader will be at an advantage...

It's going to be a brutal race. Nibali will attack. He's my pick.


The way the Spanish national coach said it, he did say Alejandro is sole leader and Landa will be required to work for him. However, he will also be option B. So I'd say not too many chiefs as there is a definite order. He also made mention that he's closely watching the Ardennes to ensure that Landa is willing to work for Alejandro as he said he would do and so far has done.
 
Sep 6, 2016
584
0
0
Re: Re:

Tonton said:
Koronin said:
Apparently yesterday/today the Spanish national team coach was taking a look at the World's route. Today he said that it's a very good finish for Valverde and a good finish for Landa. He also made a comment that Valverde will be the sole leader of the team, however the plan is that he fully intends on taking Landa and that Landa will be their option B.
...not looking good, IMO...too many chiefs.

For the French Team, if all are in good form, Alaf, Pinot, and Bardet all stand a chance. Too many chiefs there too. A team with a clearly designated leader will be at an advantage...

It's going to be a brutal race. Nibali will attack. He's my pick.

The whole leader-teammates dynamic matters a lot on flat or hilly routes but I’m not convinced it will have a significant impact on this course. The effect of drafting is significantly reduced on the climbs, and it will be essentially non-existent on the murito at the end of the race. I think where the impact of having many strong riders will limit teams with many leaders is if a rider(s) has a lead on the flat before the climb then teams may not chase hard in order to save both riders for the finale.
 
May 23, 2009
10,256
1,455
25,680
Re:

Parker said:
If the Colombians turn up with a Quick Step-like attitude of 'it doesn't matter which one of us wins' they could cause chaos. Uran, Bernal, Chaves, Quintana, Henao, Pantano, Lopez, Betancur, firing up the road one after another. Terrifying. And I've not even included Atapuma and Anacona. And they still have Sosa spare for the under 23s.
The Colombian’s approach to this race will dictate just about everything, even if only half the riders you mentioned turn up. With this course no rouleurs are needed, just drill the climbs and let the massacre happen by itself.
 
May 17, 2013
7,559
2,414
20,680
Re: Re:

Koronin said:
Tonton said:
Koronin said:
Apparently yesterday/today the Spanish national team coach was taking a look at the World's route. Today he said that it's a very good finish for Valverde and a good finish for Landa. He also made a comment that Valverde will be the sole leader of the team, however the plan is that he fully intends on taking Landa and that Landa will be their option B.
...not looking good, IMO...too many chiefs.

For the French Team, if all are in good form, Alaf, Pinot, and Bardet all stand a chance. Too many chiefs there too. A team with a clearly designated leader will be at an advantage...

It's going to be a brutal race. Nibali will attack. He's my pick.


The way the Spanish national coach said it, he did say Alejandro is sole leader and Landa will be required to work for him. However, he will also be option B. So I'd say not too many chiefs as there is a definite order. He also made mention that he's closely watching the Ardennes to ensure that Landa is willing to work for Alejandro as he said he would do and so far has done.
Maybe I misread you. What happens when Landa is up the road? Or makes a move? We have seen this before.
 
Oct 14, 2017
12,196
3,232
23,180
Re: Re:

Tonton said:
Koronin said:
Tonton said:
Koronin said:
Apparently yesterday/today the Spanish national team coach was taking a look at the World's route. Today he said that it's a very good finish for Valverde and a good finish for Landa. He also made a comment that Valverde will be the sole leader of the team, however the plan is that he fully intends on taking Landa and that Landa will be their option B.
...not looking good, IMO...too many chiefs.

For the French Team, if all are in good form, Alaf, Pinot, and Bardet all stand a chance. Too many chiefs there too. A team with a clearly designated leader will be at an advantage...

It's going to be a brutal race. Nibali will attack. He's my pick.


The way the Spanish national coach said it, he did say Alejandro is sole leader and Landa will be required to work for him. However, he will also be option B. So I'd say not too many chiefs as there is a definite order. He also made mention that he's closely watching the Ardennes to ensure that Landa is willing to work for Alejandro as he said he would do and so far has done.
Maybe I misread you. What happens when Landa is up the road? Or makes a move? We have seen this before.

Hence the reason the coach said he wanted to see if Landa would keep his word to race for Valverde in the Ardennes. So far he has. Landa actually made a comment yesterday that would lead you to believe Valverde may be the one rider he won't break his word to when he says he'll work for him. He said something along the lines of I gave everything I had and he repaid us with a podium. Then said and he thanked us and publicly thank us. He makes sure we all know how much he appreciates what we've done for him. This how you are supposed to be a leader. There are several leaders in this peloton who should be taking lessons. Found that last comment to be interesting and I'm not entirely which one or how many of the team leaders he's raced for he was referring to.
 
Dec 30, 2009
3,801
1
13,485
Re: Re:

Tonton said:
Koronin said:
Tonton said:
Koronin said:
Apparently yesterday/today the Spanish national team coach was taking a look at the World's route. Today he said that it's a very good finish for Valverde and a good finish for Landa. He also made a comment that Valverde will be the sole leader of the team, however the plan is that he fully intends on taking Landa and that Landa will be their option B.
...not looking good, IMO...too many chiefs.

For the French Team, if all are in good form, Alaf, Pinot, and Bardet all stand a chance. Too many chiefs there too. A team with a clearly designated leader will be at an advantage...

It's going to be a brutal race. Nibali will attack. He's my pick.


The way the Spanish national coach said it, he did say Alejandro is sole leader and Landa will be required to work for him. However, he will also be option B. So I'd say not too many chiefs as there is a definite order. He also made mention that he's closely watching the Ardennes to ensure that Landa is willing to work for Alejandro as he said he would do and so far has done.
Maybe I misread you. What happens when Landa is up the road? Or makes a move? We have seen this before.

Replying in peace, but I may be misreading you also. Either scenario could be Landa playing a card for Valverde and of course, either could be Landa looking after himself!! Calling it from this distance out is impossible, will a depend who has got the best legs on this climb fest :)
 
May 17, 2013
7,559
2,414
20,680
True. Having said that, the last time I saw a Spanish team be a team (feel free to disagree - I missed a few), was Indurain chocking Pantani in Duitama and Olano won. Valverde wants this so bad, he won't be BigMig. Maybe I'm wrong.
 
Oct 14, 2017
12,196
3,232
23,180
Tonton said:
True. Having said that, the last time I saw a Spanish team be a team (feel free to disagree - I missed a few), was Indurain chocking Pantani in Duitama and Olano won. Valverde wants this so bad, he won't be BigMig. Maybe I'm wrong.

Truthfully I can't remember the last time I've seen the Spanish team have a clue how to ride as team either. They are usually scattered throughout the peloton in the Worlds and most certainly not riding together. I've got a bunch of field pictures of the 2015 Worlds and they weren't even close to riding as a team. Yes Valverde wants this one very badly. I have a feeling Valverde will have final say on exactly who goes with him to the World's this year. Which is why I'm not convinced Landa will actually end up being on that team. On the other hand I do think at least one of not both of the Izagirre brothers do end up on the team.
 
Dec 30, 2009
3,801
1
13,485
Tonton said:
True. Having said that, the last time I saw a Spanish team be a team (feel free to disagree - I missed a few), was Indurain chocking Pantani in Duitama and Olano won. Valverde wants this so bad, he won't be BigMig. Maybe I'm wrong.

Not going to disagree, I'm probs a bit older than you but I remember Kelly (obviously not Spanish, just a wee similar example) in 1987, who also wanted it bad and was probably the fav to win the sprint, but let Roche go just to cover Argentin.
 
Jun 6, 2017
6,170
3,703
23,180
Tonton said:
True. Having said that, the last time I saw a Spanish team be a team (feel free to disagree - I missed a few), was Indurain chocking Pantani in Duitama and Olano won. Valverde wants this so bad, he won't be BigMig. Maybe I'm wrong.

The last time was probably when Valverde led out Freire in Verona 2004.

As for Valverde/Landa combo for the Worlds I think it's a very good combination for both of them. It increases chances for both riders, but they would need to stick to the plan. So far Landa is more than loyal, and Valverde is very grateful for that. We could see some repay at the Tour. I doubt Landa can finish it solo from the group of favorites, but he could do it if he escapes earlier. On the other hand Valverde would be more than happy to have someone up front, and without any need to hit the wind earlier than necessary.
 
Aug 3, 2015
22,743
10,688
28,180
So how many riders are the top teams allowed to bring? 6 or 7?

Valverde
Landa
Soler
Ion
Gorka
Luis Leon
Erviti/Fraile/Verona/Mas/Cruz/Herrada or whatever. Very strong team.
 
Jun 6, 2017
6,170
3,703
23,180
Re:

Valv.Piti said:
So how many riders are the top teams allowed to bring? 6 or 7?

Valverde
Landa
Soler
Ion
Gorka
Luis Leon
Erviti/Fraile/Verona/Mas/Cruz/Herrada or whatever. Very strong team.

Erviti is a must, if Valverde is the leader.