World Championships Innsbruck 2018

[Hugo Koblet]

Finally Valverde will win.

 

[SKSemtex]

Sagan after winning his third title in Bergen will change during the winter to a climbing goat and easy win this race. :lol:

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Am I the only one who thinks this is way too much?

3km at 11% after 250km? Really? I don't think that UCI approves it.

Well, they already did.

 

[Sophistic]

i've never been prouder of my home country.

 

[yaco]

I am not worried about riders waiting to the final climb, because my guess is riders will start dropping like flies from the third or 4th lap - It will be a race of attrition.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

I am not worried about riders waiting to the final climb, because my guess is riders will start dropping like flies from the third or 4th lap - It will be a race of attrition.

Yes, we are talking about 5000 meters elevation gain over 265 km of racing, it will be brutal. Whoever is capable of producing just a bit more watts than the others on the final climbs regardless of the inclines will have the first chance to win.

 

[silvergrenade]

Re: Re:

Froome's best chance and probably only ever chance for the Triple Crown.

I wanna see Froome going well in a one day race first. Altho this one obviously doesn't suit him, him being in Bergen and deciding to forego it speaks volumes about what he thinks of himself as a one-day racer.

Froome can do well in one-day races if he focuses on them I reckon. Obviously, he needs to enter into some races which suit his capabilities without hampering his GT calendar.

 

[silvergrenade]

Nibali can win this if he can avoid crashing on the descent...
He takes a lot of risks and has paid for it a few times now though.

 

[FilipeFD]

i'm worried about one thing. well two.

its a long long race with a lot of climbing. which means slow peloton until about 50km to finish, and by then, the riders are already tired, so no epic attacks will occur.

second. usually, sprinters skip Vuelta to prepare WC. next year, what will they do? go to Vuelta, where the rumours dont seem to favour them. Shouldn't Vuelta make a easier route to make them ride it? How about climbers? Next year will any of them skip Vuelta because want to be fresher by WC RR?

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Froome's best chance and probably only ever chance for the Triple Crown.

not likely with Cookson out of the game

 

[OlavEH]

Re:

second. usually, sprinters skip Vuelta to prepare WC. next year, what will they do? go to Vuelta, where the rumours dont seem to favour them. Shouldn't Vuelta make a easier route to make them ride it? How about climbers? Next year will any of them skip Vuelta because want to be fresher by WC RR?

Who cares about the sprinters. They had their chances both in 2010, 2011 and 2016. It's long overdue for a course that tough that no sprinters will be in the finale. This is the toughest course in over 20 years, and only Mendrisio and Firenze is anywhere close to this in terms of difficulty. It's about time they have a course that favorizes the better climbers.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Weather will be very, very important.
Could be nice and sunny there and then, but also miserable and cold. If the latter, not many will make it to the finish.

This, Innsbruck can be pretty horrible with bad weather, if it is cold and rainy it could be really nasty.

 

[Breh]

I'm afraid it will be a snoozefest...

 

[Nirvana]

Re:

i'm worried about one thing. well two.

its a long long race with a lot of climbing. which means slow peloton until about 50km to finish, and by then, the riders are already tired, so no epic attacks will occur.

second. usually, sprinters skip Vuelta to prepare WC. next year, what will they do? go to Vuelta, where the rumours dont seem to favour them. Shouldn't Vuelta make a easier route to make them ride it? How about climbers? Next year will any of them skip Vuelta because want to be fresher by WC RR?

Nibali at the end of the Vuelta said that he need to return next year to prepare WC.

 

[Supimilian]

Re:

Watch Froome winning TdF, WC ITT and WC RR in the same year.

Same, but Dumoulin

 

[slosada]

Re: Re:

Yes, good post. Throw in guys like Gallopin and Barguil and France should have a really good squad for this parcours.

Valverde's last shot and it looks really good for him. It will be interesting to see what kind of form he has next year. He really should base his season around Worlds next year but he likely won't.

There is one Colombian who wouldn't need to win solo. I know I shouldn't have gone there but he actually gave me hope this year. In any case, the Colombians should be a blast to watch.

Same for me... This will be his first rainbow jersey if doesn't return to Southwest Antioquia.

But Urán, Chaves and Henao can also do wonders in such parcours

 

[Brullnux]

Uran had a brilliant chance in 2013, when he climbed with Rodriguez and Nibali up Fiesole (just ahead of bala and costa) but crashed on the descent. He would have been favourite to outsprint all but Bala I'd say.

Last climb may be too steep for him? I don't know how well he handles muritos. Chaves should be good.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Uran had a brilliant chance in 2013, when he climbed with Rodriguez and Nibali up Fiesole (just ahead of bala and costa) but crashed on the descent. He would have been favourite to outsprint all but Bala I'd say.

Last climb may be too steep for him? I don't know how well he handles muritos. Chaves should be good.

He wasn't ahead of Bala and Rui Costa, he was with them, and slightly behind Nibali and Purito... But I agree it's a good course for him

 

[Climbing]

Even with the final murito this screams Nibali.

 

[bob.a.feet]

If Italy play their cards right they have a great chance of winning. Set a high pace on early climbs to reduce the field. Nibali attack on penultimate climb forcing other riders to expend energy chasing. Then, depending on whether or not Nibali is still ahead, Aru could attack on final climb as he's good on the steep stuff.

(I know this is a year away but still I'm excited )

 

[jaylew]

Re:

If Italy play their cards right they have a great chance of winning. Set a high pace on early climbs to reduce the field. Nibali attack on penultimate climb forcing other riders to expend energy chasing. Then, depending on whether or not Nibali is still ahead, Aru could attack on final climb as he's good on the steep stuff.

(I know this is a year away but still I'm excited )

Me too. Can't wait for this one.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

If Italy play their cards right they have a great chance of winning. Set a high pace on early climbs to reduce the field. Nibali attack on penultimate climb forcing other riders to expend energy chasing. Then, depending on whether or not Nibali is still ahead, Aru could attack on final climb as he's good on the steep stuff.

(I know this is a year away but still I'm excited )

What about moscon?

 

[Red Rick]

Peter Sagan will win this bike race.

 

[franic]

Re: Re:

second. usually, sprinters skip Vuelta to prepare WC. next year, what will they do? go to Vuelta, where the rumours dont seem to favour them. Shouldn't Vuelta make a easier route to make them ride it? How about climbers? Next year will any of them skip Vuelta because want to be fresher by WC RR?

Who cares about the sprinters. They had their chances both in 2010, 2011 and 2016. It's long overdue for a course that tough that no sprinters will be in the finale. This is the toughest course in over 20 years, and only Mendrisio and Firenze is anywhere close to this in terms of difficulty. It's about time they have a course that favorizes the better climbers.

Mendrisio and Firenze were okish. This looks more like Duitama, Sallanches or Chambery

 

[yaco]

I suspect a smart GC team will really target the Vuelta in 2018, seeing some of the GC guys may see this as bad preparation for the World's