World Championships Innsbruck 2018

[King Boonen]

Re:

There are plenty of less waifish climbers from the region though - Miguel Indurain

If we're being picky isn't Indurain from Navarra?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

I think this course suits Nibali if he can time his form just right after the Tour.

You can take a clue from the Rio olympics...... it's a pretty similar route, though a great deal harder.

It will be the same guys, with logical additions for riders, who have found their climbing shape the last 2 years.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

There are plenty of less waifish climbers from the region though - Miguel Indurain

If we're being picky isn't Indurain from Navarra?

Zazpiak bat!

Yes, Indurain is from Navarra but in respect of the amateur scene and espoir development, we often talk of the Basque-Navarrese amateur scene - the characteristics and startlists of many of the races are very similar. The Comunidad Foral is rather divided geographically and linguistically/culturally and many riders who are from Navarre are claimed by the Basques - Mikel Nieve, Egoí Martínez, Gorka Verdugo for example - if they identify as such or have the requisite heritage; similarly much of the at least partially Basque-speaking or Basque-sympathetic area of Navarre is similar in terrain to its neighbour.

 

[King Boonen]

Re: Re:

There are plenty of less waifish climbers from the region though - Miguel Indurain

If we're being picky isn't Indurain from Navarra?

Zazpiak bat!

Yes, Indurain is from Navarra but in respect of the amateur scene and espoir development, we often talk of the Basque-Navarrese amateur scene - the characteristics and startlists of many of the races are very similar. The Comunidad Foral is rather divided geographically and linguistically/culturally and many riders who are from Navarre are claimed by the Basques - Mikel Nieve, Egoí Martínez, Gorka Verdugo for example - if they identify as such or have the requisite heritage; similarly much of the at least partially Basque-speaking or Basque-sympathetic area of Navarre is similar in terrain to its neighbour.

At least Google translate recognises euskara!

Fair enough, thanks for the explanation.

 

[Rollthedice]

No radio communication during the road race, UCI has decided. Source: https://www.directvelo.com/actualite/67518/oreillettes-interdites-au-championnat-du-monde

 

[Blanco]

Re:

No radio communication during the road race, UCI has decided. Source: https://www.directvelo.com/actualite/67518/oreillettes-interdites-au-championnat-du-monde

Great news!

 

[Asero831]

Mende stage represents the final Murito and it seems there is no huge gap created. Mende has 1.7km flat after the climb while Worlds will have 6km decent and 2km flat.

This will be interesting. Alaphilippe and Roglic looked good; so is froome.

Bardet major disappointment

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Mende stage represents the final Murito and it seems there is no huge gap created. Mende has 1.7km flat after the climb while Worlds will have 6km decent and 2km flat.

This will be interesting. Alaphilippe and Roglic looked good; so is froome.

Bardet major disappointment

Today means nothing, it's 14th day of GT!

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Mende stage represents the final Murito and it seems there is no huge gap created. Mende has 1.7km flat after the climb while Worlds will have 6km decent and 2km flat.

This will be interesting. Alaphilippe and Roglic looked good; so is froome.

Bardet major disappointment

This really isn't comparable at all. The climb at the worlds is quite a bit steeper and it comes after over 200 super hard kilometers. Saying gaps at the worlds won't be big because they aren't big here is nonsense. But anyway, can't wait for all the julyers taking this stage as prove that Sagan is the favorite for the worlds.

 

[franic]

Re:

Mende stage represents the final Murito and it seems there is no huge gap created. Mende has 1.7km flat after the climb while Worlds will have 6km decent and 2km flat.

This will be interesting. Alaphilippe and Roglic looked good; so is froome.

Bardet major disappointment

I can't possibly believe Froome will still be competitive by then. One Roche was enough for me.

I still think this is a tad too difficult for Alaphilippe and I hope this is finally going to be a WC purely for climbers like Duitama

 

[franic]

Re: Re:

Of course there are many strong teams but Italy is imho the strongest.

Their possible line up:

Nibali
Aru
Moscon
Pozzovivo
Formolo
Caruso
Rosa
De Marchi
Or eventually also Pellizotti, Ciccone, Villella.

The thing with Italy as well, is that they all always sacrifice themselves for the team cause. All the simmering feuds are put on hold during the race. And presumably that team cause will be Nibali.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Visconti in the line as well - especially if Nibali has some influence in team selection.

Only in the last decade or so Italy has become a real team, the merit probably go to Ballerini that in 2002 was able to convince riders like Di Luca, Bettini, Petacchi to work for Cipollini cause and succeeded. Since that the team spirit has prevailed almost every time.
In the past the history books are full of stories about Italians riding against their teammates, from Coppi and Bartali to the disaster of Lisboa 2001 where the likes of Bartoli and Lanfranchi rode for Mapei cause and chased back Simoni that was going to win.

Nah, Lisbon was terrible but Italy has a history of collaboration. Just take a look at all the victories from the 70s and you'll see everybody working as a team. Especially during Alfredo Martini's era, the team has been compact.
Not to mention the fact that the team has worked very well both in Rio and in Bergen and Davide Cassani is indeed Martin right successor. He was one of those men that was always present in those WC in the late 80s-early 90s and was the director on wheels.

 

[franic]

Re: Re:

Valverde
Landa
Luisle
Soler
Ion
Gorka
Nieve
Bilbao
Herrada
De La Cruz
Alarcon
Roson
Mas
Castroviejo
Fraile
Navarro
Moreno
De La Parte

The best part about this team is that it's leader is clear, all for one. Whereas with the other countries; not so much. Valverde is also one of only few riders who can confidently wait for a sprint if he has to.

How is the italian leader not clear?

Maybe you're right, but will Aru ride for Nibali if he has to?

He did in Rio de Janeiro.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

It certainly is interesting, when a championship course suits the GC riders.

Several nations have a whole bunch of captains in the same team..... so it''s going to be interesting to see if they can work together, especially when radio is off limits, and the national coaches thus have a harder time orchestrating things.

 

[Nirvana]

Re: Re:

Of course there are many strong teams but Italy is imho the strongest.

Their possible line up:

Nibali
Aru
Moscon
Pozzovivo
Formolo
Caruso
Rosa
De Marchi
Or eventually also Pellizotti, Ciccone, Villella.

The thing with Italy as well, is that they all always sacrifice themselves for the team cause. All the simmering feuds are put on hold during the race. And presumably that team cause will be Nibali.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Visconti in the line as well - especially if Nibali has some influence in team selection.

Only in the last decade or so Italy has become a real team, the merit probably go to Ballerini that in 2002 was able to convince riders like Di Luca, Bettini, Petacchi to work for Cipollini cause and succeeded. Since that the team spirit has prevailed almost every time.
In the past the history books are full of stories about Italians riding against their teammates, from Coppi and Bartali to the disaster of Lisboa 2001 where the likes of Bartoli and Lanfranchi rode for Mapei cause and chased back Simoni that was going to win.

Nah, Lisbon was terrible but Italy has a history of collaboration. Just take a look at all the victories from the 70s and you'll see everybody working as a team. Especially during Alfredo Martini's era, the team has been compact.
Not to mention the fact that the team has worked very well both in Rio and in Bergen and Davide Cassani is indeed Martin right successor. He was one of those men that was always present in those WC in the late 80s-early 90s and was the director on wheels.

They have won multiple times because they had a lot of strong individuals but they often rode against themselves, in '72 for example they were first and second but Basso chased back a late attack from Bitossi to beat him on the line. Even when there was Cassani on the road happened, in '94 for example Leblanc was able to win because Ghirotto refused to work for Chiappucci when the frenchmann attacked.

 

[Laplaz]

I think we have to add Roglic to the main favorites here. If his form is nearly as good as today it will be difficult to beat him.

 

[Rollthedice]

He is good but this is a one day race, he has no experience and no team. Far from a favorite.

 

[Laplaz]

Team shouldn't be bad with Mohoric, Tratnik, Novak, Pibernik and maybe Pogacar. Surely he isn't as favourite as Nibali is, but he definetly has a shot.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

I think we have to add Roglic to the main favorites here. If his form is nearly as good as today it will be difficult to beat him.

I think with two major peaks this year, for spring stage races and Le Tour, that Rogla will be nowhere to be seen at the WCRR.

 

[del1962]

Add to that Roglic has never finished top ten in a one day race outside his N/C then there is no way he can be considered a favourite

 

[Bardamu]

Re:

Add to that Roglic has never finished top ten in a one day race outside his N/C then there is no way he can be considered a favourite

He's set to ride San Sebastian next week, maybe he'll show himself there.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1025787699603628034

BE AFRAID!!!

 

[Rollthedice]

https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1025787699603628034

BE AFRAID!!!

It's held in Austria not Portugal.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1025787699603628034

BE AFRAID!!!

It's held in Austria not Portugal.

I would love to see that, I would also love to see him move to CCC

 

[Asero831]

If there is no radio, how will the rider know which riders on the break?
Does it mean that someone has to drop back just to ask the DS what are the composition of the break

 

[Koronin]

Re:

If there is no radio, how will the rider know which riders on the break?
Does it mean that someone has to drop back just to ask the DS what are the composition of the break

They won't unless someone from the team goes back to the team car to ask.