World Championships Innsbruck 2018

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Poland WCRR
Majka, Kwiatkowski, Bodnar, Gołaś, Paterski, Owsian.

 

[Red Rick]

Damn that 2006 story is so dumb

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Damn that 2006 story is so dumb

Thats what we like to call a classic Valverde-screw up: on the biggest scene, when the lights are the brightest and the exceptions the tallest.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Damn that 2006 story is so dumb

Thats what we like to call a classic Valverde-screw up: on the biggest scene, when the lights are the brightest and the exceptions the tallest.

Very typical of Valverde. He's very good at making dumb decisions, and his DS's and his fans have basically just learned to live with those decisions. He's really good at making those bad decisions in the biggest of races as well.

 

[CTQ]

no WC for Richie Porte due to illness https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/news-richie-porte-withdraws-from-2018-uci-road-world-championships-due-to-illness

 

[120mmStem]

Re:

no WC for Richie Porte due to illness https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/news-richie-porte-withdraws-from-2018-uci-road-world-championships-due-to-illness

Surprised, but not surprised.

 

[Koronin]

If it's not one thing it's something else with Porte.

 

[burning]

Re: Re:

Costa attacked into a corner just before the braking zone. When Valverde and Nibali saw it, it was too late to accelerate, they had to follow into the sequence of corners in the same order, Nibali ahead of Valverde. He gained a gap through the corners.

Coming out of the corner the gap was about 3 bike lengths . It was small enough for Valverde to get around Nibali and close it if he had the legs.

Here's where the controversy comes in. One camp believe Valverde's words that he didn't have the legs to close that gap while it was still small after the corners, the other camp believe he did have the legs and think he threw the race.




In any case, the one Valverde really should've won was 2006. He was told over and over before the race what the right gear for the sprint was, and insisted on using a different one. During the race Sanchez kept saying he should really listen and use the recommended one when the finale came.

Still doesn't listen, insists he's right. Come the sprint he puts it into a giant gear and can't accelerate at all. Then after the race he admits the obvious, that everyone else was right about the gear to use.

LOL

To be honest, that was a weird sprint and maybe he was expecting a leadout from actual sprinter trains in the end, not from Samu, so he was expecting to have a higher speed, which means a bigger gear is more sensible.

Btw, where do you get these similar stories? Are they from books or some spanish cycling forums?

 

[claude cat]

Re:

no WC for Richie Porte due to illness https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/news-richie-porte-withdraws-from-2018-uci-road-world-championships-due-to-illness

So Matthews comes in? Or go for a pure climber like Ben O'Connor?

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

no WC for Richie Porte due to illness https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/news-richie-porte-withdraws-from-2018-uci-road-world-championships-due-to-illness

So Matthews comes in? Or go for a pure climber like Ben O'Connor?

Tough call. Matthews has been in incredible form this year when he's not injured, but I can't see him lasting more than 200-220 kms on this course. O'Connor would be plan B behind Haig in his Trentino/Giro form but he hasn't raced for a while now, so how fit is he?

Another option could be McCarthy, who looked good working for Sagan at the Vuelta and can position Haig well for as long as he lasts. Canty or Morton (if he can be bothered) could also offer something if fit.

 

[claude cat]

Re: Re:

no WC for Richie Porte due to illness https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/news-richie-porte-withdraws-from-2018-uci-road-world-championships-due-to-illness

So Matthews comes in? Or go for a pure climber like Ben O'Connor?

Tough call. Matthews has been in incredible form this year when he's not injured, but I can't see him lasting more than 200-220 kms on this course. O'Connor would be plan B behind Haig in his Trentino/Giro form but he hasn't raced for a while now, so how fit is he?

Another option could be McCarthy, who looked good working for Sagan at the Vuelta and can position Haig well for as long as he lasts. Canty or Morton (if he can be bothered) could also offer something if fit.

O'Connor raced the Canadian classics, and just this week in the Italian semi classics - not with any outstanding results (although none of these would really suit him) - was a DNF on Thursday in the Coppa Sabatini - Gran Premio citta di Peccioli. So the fitness should be there.
Canty and Morton have struggled all season, sadly, I'd be surprised if the selectors looked that way.
Simon Clarke?

 

[Alexandre B.]

Australia will now have the possibility to field an actual threat.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

This is probably the only WC Alberto Contador could have won. Ever.

If he'd hit a good peak for the Worlds I think he'd have a small shot in 2009 and a pretty decent on in 2013. This one is the only one where peak Contador would be a favorite for I think.

Main reason why I'd think he could win 2009 and 2013 is the ridiculously strong Spanish teams where he could be the beneficiary of Valverde sitting on somebody's wheel, although he did mess that up so badly in 2013.

I actually think Valverde was so pissed with Rodríguez attacking, when he should just have been shutting down attacks from Costa and Nibali, that he didn't want him to win because of that.

Costa's attacked was brilliantly timed, I think Valverde hesitated for a moment and then just did what Valverde does.

If what you said was his real motivation that would be pretty disgusting.

You're likely to be right. Five years on, I have still never rewatched that finale, so I might be misremembering things.

And maybe it was just me who was pissed that Purito attacked.

Purito did everything right that race, obviously valverde messed up.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

no WC for Richie Porte due to illness https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/news-richie-porte-withdraws-from-2018-uci-road-world-championships-due-to-illness

So Matthews comes in? Or go for a pure climber like Ben O'Connor?

Tough call. Matthews has been in incredible form this year when he's not injured, but I can't see him lasting more than 200-220 kms on this course. O'Connor would be plan B behind Haig in his Trentino/Giro form but he hasn't raced for a while now, so how fit is he?

Another option could be McCarthy, who looked good working for Sagan at the Vuelta and can position Haig well for as long as he lasts. Canty or Morton (if he can be bothered) could also offer something if fit.

Its not a tough call. Come on. Are all Aussies like this - I mean, it can't be more obvious.

Just select Matthews now. Porte is utterly pathetic. So is the coach if he isn't select Blingy.

 

[kiszol]

Re: Re:

Its not a tough call. Come on. Are all Aussies like this - I mean, it can't be more obvious.

Just select Matthews now. Porte is utterly pathetic. So is the coach if he isn't select Blingy.

He is pathetic, he already proved it when he didn't select Bling in the first place... I hope he will come to his senses now.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

If it's not one thing it's something else with Porte.

Pelvis, lung infection,collarbone, gastro, lung infection...........sigh........oh well back to diaper changing duties.

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

no WC for Richie Porte due to illness https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/news-richie-porte-withdraws-from-2018-uci-road-world-championships-due-to-illness

So he spent 3 weeks at the Vuelta to ... get sick! I don't know what Sky did to LRP, but it out-voodoos Nibali's voodoo.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

no WC for Richie Porte due to illness https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/news-richie-porte-withdraws-from-2018-uci-road-world-championships-due-to-illness

I can't help but laugh, this guy is just a mess. By the way, how can you already give forfait more than one week before the actual race due to illness? Tinfoil hat here, but unless he suffers from something like pneumonia, it seems like a nicer way of saying that he is in terrible shape.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Purito did everything right that race, obviously valverde messed up.

Well, if Purito had stayed put and shut down attacks, Valverde would have won, so I disagree.

 

[ppanther92]

Re: Re:

no WC for Richie Porte due to illness https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/news-richie-porte-withdraws-from-2018-uci-road-world-championships-due-to-illness

So Matthews comes in? Or go for a pure climber like Ben O'Connor?

Tough call. Matthews has been in incredible form this year when he's not injured, but I can't see him lasting more than 200-220 kms on this course. O'Connor would be plan B behind Haig in his Trentino/Giro form but he hasn't raced for a while now, so how fit is he?

Another option could be McCarthy, who looked good working for Sagan at the Vuelta and can position Haig well for as long as he lasts. Canty or Morton (if he can be bothered) could also offer something if fit.

Its not a tough call. Come on. Are all Aussies like this - I mean, it can't be more obvious.

Just select Matthews now. Porte is utterly pathetic. So is the coach if he isn't select Blingy.

Absolutely true.

 

[Googolplex]

http://www.uci.org/road/live-timing-tissot-innsbruck-tirol-2018

If we believe the images in live timing page (and why wouldn't we), there are only 1 intermediate time point in women's TTT and 2 in men's. At least for me that's a big disappointment. Of course, they will probably show GPS times, but I would much rather see 3-4 accurate timings than keep on guessing how accurate the GPS is.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

Btw, where do you get these similar stories? Are they from books or some spanish cycling forums?

Valverde copped to it all immediately after the race

Its not a tough call. Come on. Are all Aussies like this - I mean, it can't be more obvious.

Just select Matthews now. Porte is utterly pathetic. So is the coach if he isn't select Blingy.

He is pathetic, he already proved it when he didn't select Bling in the first place... I hope he will come to his senses now.

I don't think there's any debate on what the selection should be. Matthews, clearly.
But the australian selectors have a history of baffling decisions, so literally anyone could be called up.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Purito did everything right that race, obviously valverde messed up.

Well, if Purito had stayed put and shut down attacks, Valverde would have won, so I disagree.

And if Valverde had done his job, Spain would have won, so I disagree.

Seriously, Purito's decision to attack and go solo was a minor difference in winning % for Spain.

Valverde's decision to sit on Nibali who had done most of the work already and was probably never bringing back Costa was an was EV disaster.

 

[yaco]

The Australian selectors and Team Porte are being kind to Porte - He was dropped from the team for non-performance - There are two non-brainers - Matthews is the replacement rider and Haig is the leader.

 

[Nirvana]

If Matthews will be selected instead of Porte i'm convinced even more that a break with the best climbers among classics riders and second fiddle climbers will go with 3/4 laps to go and no one will chase with the proper pace needed to contain the gap in the waiting game for the final wall. Matthews will be for sure interested in anticipating and without Porte card for the final Australia won't chase.