World Championships Innsbruck 2018

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

so only 7? Absolute carnage then, very very hard to control.
Decisive moves way before last 3 km climb for sure.
Nibali points out about very little respite as well, just up and down.
We'll see, looks brutal.

Edit: en passant Nibali cited some names from different nation, Chaves Uran, Valverde Izaguirre's brothers (ofc cause they are in TBM), Bardet Pinot, Yates brots, etc.)

There was no chance of this being a controlled race anyways. The climbing itself would be enough to rip this race apart but then you also have to take into account the fact that no team would be comfortable going head to head with Valverde or Alaphilippe.

Head to head where? On the final climb? I don't really see why not if it's necessary.

I think he's referring to a sprint finish against those two. I just can't see Alaphilippe being there for the finish as he's not really a top climber.

 

[Rollthedice]

The French hope would be Bardet and maybe Pinot.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

so only 7? Absolute carnage then, very very hard to control.
Decisive moves way before last 3 km climb for sure.
Nibali points out about very little respite as well, just up and down.
We'll see, looks brutal.

Edit: en passant Nibali cited some names from different nation, Chaves Uran, Valverde Izaguirre's brothers (ofc cause they are in TBM), Bardet Pinot, Yates brots, etc.)

There was no chance of this being a controlled race anyways. The climbing itself would be enough to rip this race apart but then you also have to take into account the fact that no team would be comfortable going head to head with Valverde or Alaphilippe.

Head to head where? On the final climb? I don't really see why not if it's necessary.

I think he's referring to a sprint finish against those two. I just can't see Alaphilippe being there for the finish as he's not really a top climber.

I have a hard time seeing riders reaching the finish in groups in the first place

In any case, I just rechecked the 2013 route. Fiesole is a super easy climb and did a lot of damage in that last lap.

 

[bassano]

Do not expect that some big group will arrive to last lap, Italy and maybe even Colombia will blow race much earlier, they will not wait for last 2 climbs risking Nibali´s chance, he is extra strong in super hard races and they know it

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Do not expect that some big group will arrive to last lap, Italy and maybe even Colombia will blow race much earlier, they will not wait for last 2 climbs risking Nibali´s chance, he is extra strong in super hard races and they know it

I honestly wonder how much room there is to pace your effort over the entire 7-8 hours in another way, cause you need a lot of advantage if you attack earlier, spend more energy and then have those last 2 climbs to go.

 

[Durden93]

Re: Re:

so only 7? Absolute carnage then, very very hard to control.
Decisive moves way before last 3 km climb for sure.
Nibali points out about very little respite as well, just up and down.
We'll see, looks brutal.

Edit: en passant Nibali cited some names from different nation, Chaves Uran, Valverde Izaguirre's brothers (ofc cause they are in TBM), Bardet Pinot, Yates brots, etc.)

There was no chance of this being a controlled race anyways. The climbing itself would be enough to rip this race apart but then you also have to take into account the fact that no team would be comfortable going head to head with Valverde or Alaphilippe.

Head to head where? On the final climb? I don't really see why not if it's necessary.

I think he's referring to a sprint finish against those two. I just can't see Alaphilippe being there for the finish as he's not really a top climber.

I have a hard time seeing riders reaching the finish in groups in the first place

In any case, I just rechecked the 2013 route. Fiesole is a super easy climb and did a lot of damage in that last lap.

I was referring to the final climb but it applies to both. I think this race will be won solo.

 

[Rollthedice]

To put things into some kind of perspective, Innsbruck is 258.5 km with an elevation of 4670 m while Rio was around 20km shorter with around 1000 m less elevation gain.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

To put things into some kind of perspective, Innsbruck is 258.5 km with an elevation of 4670 m while Rio was around 20km shorter with around 1000 m less elevation gain.

The crucial difference is that in Rio you only had the big climb three times. A lot was talked about the fact that GVA could win that race despite not being a climber. But in fact the pace on the big climb in Rio wasn't very high the first two times, GVA and some other riders attacked on the first ascent, but the race really exploded when Italy attacked on the 2nd descent. GVA was caught by that group, on the final climb slipped back to the next, really big, group from where he attacked after the final descent. That win was a tactical masterpiece but didn't really represent how a puncheur can do on a climbers route.
Besides, the first half of the Rio race included many short hills and even cobbles. That massively played into GVA's cards as for over 100 kilometers he was on perfect terrain for him while pure climbers might have gotten exhausted in that part of the race. In innsbruck, there is no such section.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

To put things into some kind of perspective, Innsbruck is 258.5 km with an elevation of 4670 m while Rio was around 20km shorter with around 1000 m less elevation gain.

The crucial difference is that in Rio you only had the big climb three times. A lot was talked about the fact that GVA could win that race despite not being a climber. But in fact the pace on the big climb in Rio wasn't very high the first two times, GVA and some other riders attacked on the first ascent, but the race really exploded when Italy attacked on the 2nd descent. GVA was caught by that group, on the final climb slipped back to the next, really big, group from where he attacked after the final descent. That win was a tactical masterpiece but didn't really represent how a puncheur can do on a climbers route.
Besides, the first half of the Rio race included many short hills and even cobbles. That massively played into GVA's cards as for over 100 kilometers he was on perfect terrain for him while pure climbers might have gotten exhausted in that part of the race. In innsbruck, there is no such section.

Exactly. Also the Vista Chinesa climb was basically 4km at 8.5%, a small descent and then way easier. I think these climbs suit classics riders a bit more if the hard bit is at the beginning

 

[Jancouver]

Probably Kwiatek but Nibali would be a great ambassador for those rainbow stripes.

Dark horses: Roglic and Kreuziger

Anybody but Valverde and Froome.

 

[Climbing]

Re:

To put things into some kind of perspective, Innsbruck is 258.5 km with an elevation of 4670 m while Rio was around 20km shorter with around 1000 m less elevation gain.

My numbers says distance 261.74 Km altitude gain 4958 m.
But anyway absolute pure climber route, way way harder than Olympics or, for what matters, Lombardy.
As said before even harder than many GT queen stages lately...

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

The French hope would be Bardet and maybe Pinot.

When he is in peak shape, I wouldn't rule out Alaphilippe. He seems like a real championship rider, someone who'll always be there no matter what the course or circumstances. Like Kolobnev.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

so only 7? Absolute carnage then, very very hard to control.
Decisive moves way before last 3 km climb for sure.
Nibali points out about very little respite as well, just up and down.
We'll see, looks brutal.

Edit: en passant Nibali cited some names from different nation, Chaves Uran, Valverde Izaguirre's brothers (ofc cause they are in TBM), Bardet Pinot, Yates brots, etc.)

There was no chance of this being a controlled race anyways. The climbing itself would be enough to rip this race apart but then you also have to take into account the fact that no team would be comfortable going head to head with Valverde or Alaphilippe.

I would agree if the last "murito" would come after normal 180km stage in any stage race during the year.

In this race it comes after 240km out of which 65km is 6% average gradient glimbing. This race is about endurance, not about ability to power climb in last murito.

 

[Brullnux]

imo the last climb ruins the balance of the race, but we'll see.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

imo the last climb ruins the balance of the race, but we'll see.

Been saying that since the start. They should've put it in at like 3 laps to open the finale

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

imo the last climb ruins the balance of the race, but we'll see.

Been saying that since the start. They should've put it in at like 3 laps to open the finale

Yeah so have I, and I agree. Even as the penultimate climb it would have been better, but I'm not totally keen on the race being decided by a 3km slog up an inciredibly steep climb at about walking pace. It seems a bit gimmick-y. Had the climb been 1km rather than three, I'd be happier, but it's just so hard - genuinely one of the hardest climbs I have seen in a one day race.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

imo the last climb ruins the balance of the race, but we'll see.

Been saying that since the start. They should've put it in at like 3 laps to open the finale

Yeah so have I, and I agree. Even as the penultimate climb it would have been better, but I'm not totally keen on the race being decided by a 3km slog up an inciredibly steep climb at about walking pace. It seems a bit gimmick-y. Had the climb been 1km rather than three, I'd be happier, but it's just so hard - genuinely one of the hardest climbs I have seen in a one day race.

It's basically the equivalent of having Muro di Sormano as the last climb in Il Lombardia and riding straight to Lecco

 

[Max Rockatansky]

ORF reports, that there are still 3,2 Mio. Euros missing to finance this event. Hello Qatar...

 

[Alexandre B.]

France long list of preselected riders for the Worlds.

Road race
Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors)
Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Warren Barguil (Fortunéo-Samsic)
Lilian Calmejane (Direct Énergie)
Mikaël Cherel (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Nicolas Edet (Cofidis)
Tony Gallopin (AG2R-La Mondiale)
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)
Pierre Latour (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Cyril Gautier (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Groupe Gobert)
Amaël Moinard (Fortunéo-Samsic)
Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ)
Pierre-Luc Périchon (Fortunéo-Samsic)
Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ)
Pierre Rolland (EF Education First)
Romain Sicard (Direct Énergie)
Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R-La Mondiale)

Time trial
Rémi Cavagna (Quick-Step Floors)
Corentin Ermenault (Vital Concept Cycling Club)
Tony Gallopin (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Pierre Latour (AG2R-La Mondiale)
Johan Le Bon (Vital Concept Cycling Club)
Yoann Paillot (Saint Michel-Auber 93)
Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ)

 

[Netserk]

Depending on form, you'd expect at least six of these (they have 8 spots, right?):

Julian Alaphilippe
Romain Bardet
Warren Barguil
Lilian Calmejane
Tony Gallopin
Pierre Latour
Thibaut Pinot
Alexis Vuillermoz

Frightening team.

 

[Red Rick]

I hardly call that frightening.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

I hardly call that frightening.

I agree, if Colombia really wanted to they could pretty much drop half of the french team in the first lap. Ofc not a bad team either, but there will surely be stronger ones.

 

[Squire]

Re:

I hardly call that frightening.

With Contador, Purito and Samu retired, it's about as frightening as it gets. Colombia probably the only country to match the depth of the French. But the French are really dependant on their leaders being in absolute top shape if they wanna do something. It's not like they have a Valverde or Nibali who you can rely on producing a result almost always.

The French should use their depth to attack, and not set a tempo. Other team leaders would benefit more from a hard race. But history dictates that teamwork will not really happen in the French team. Pinot is their best bet, I believe.

 

[Red Rick]

Don't think team is very deep at all, it's pretty light on reliable top climbers.

 

[Netserk]

You hardly need top climbers for the first 75% of the race. Gallopin or Latour would be great to have together with one of the four leaders in a move 3-4 laps out.