World Championships Innsbruck 2018

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Will Aru even be there or will he just be included in the ITT squad?

 

[tobydawq]

Haha, what a glorious GIF. I didn't watch that stage so I hadn't seen this before

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Alaphilippe survived a similar climb today. I really think he has a chance.

The question is... would he have survived 70km more with 7 of those climbs in addittion?

He did manage Col du Mont Noir earlier. He will be dropped by the climbers but you have to understand that these top notched climbers will not work with each other given the final Murito is there. So a minute lead can be covered by the chasers

He managed 2 proper climbs today. He needs to manage 8 proper climbs in September. And of course the teams with proper climbers will create damage throughout the race. Italy will propably sacrifice hard core climbers such as Aru for Nibs, Colombia will do exactly the same i.e. Quintana, Bernal and Chaves might well be domestics for Uran. Puncheurs won't last to the final proper climb and will be 5+ minutes down by the last murito. If not, the leading climber teams have failed miserably and that rarely happens to all of those teams in single day race. Dauphine is a stage race raced like a stage race and is completely different world to single day WCRR.

Other than the fact that Valverde is a puncheur and he's one of the favorites to win. He'll also have a team around him as sole leader for the first time in a long time.

 

[yaco]

Reckon when we get to the final climb there will only be three or four riders in the lead group - Italy must go all in for Nibali who is a proven one day racer - Colombia is not straightforward as their riders have their strengths and weaknesses - England is a vexed question because A.Yates is better than Simon at long one day races but Adam's form usually goes off later in the season - A rider like Roglic or even a Kelderman could do well on this course - This is an open World's.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Re:

Italy or Colombia have the strongest team???
Really ?

Then take a gander at this

Froome
A Yates
S Yates
Geraint Thomas
Geoghegan Hart
James Knox
Hugh Carty

Kennaugh too. I go along with the view that nobody will seriously challenge though. None have shown, thus far in their careers, that they can really challenge in an elite level one day race over 250km with lots of climbing.

 

[ferryman]

Re:

Reckon when we get to the final climb there will only be three or four riders in the lead group - Italy must go all in for Nibali who is a proven one day racer - Colombia is not straightforward as their riders have their strengths and weaknesses - England is a vexed question because A.Yates is better than Simon at long one day races but Adam's form usually goes off later in the season - A rider like Roglic or even a Kelderman could do well on this course - This is an open World's.

England, is indeed a vexed question. Particularly as they are not riding the race.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

Alaphilippe survived a similar climb today. I really think he has a chance.

The question is... would he have survived 70km more with 7 of those climbs in addittion?

He did manage Col du Mont Noir earlier. He will be dropped by the climbers but you have to understand that these top notched climbers will not work with each other given the final Murito is there. So a minute lead can be covered by the chasers

He managed 2 proper climbs today. He needs to manage 8 proper climbs in September. And of course the teams with proper climbers will create damage throughout the race. Italy will propably sacrifice hard core climbers such as Aru for Nibs, Colombia will do exactly the same i.e. Quintana, Bernal and Chaves might well be domestics for Uran. Puncheurs won't last to the final proper climb and will be 5+ minutes down by the last murito. If not, the leading climber teams have failed miserably and that rarely happens to all of those teams in single day race. Dauphine is a stage race raced like a stage race and is completely different world to single day WCRR.

Other than the fact that Valverde is a puncheur and he's one of the favorites to win. He'll also have a team around him as sole leader for the first time in a long time.

Valverde to me is much more climbing oriented all-rounder with proper puncheur capabilities, but I guess he is one of the rare that are pretty hard to categorize. Alaphilippe might be going to similar direction, but lacks still a lot the climbing side compared to Valv. On the other hand I don't regard Nibali as climber either.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Italy or Colombia have the strongest team???
Really ?

Then take a gander at this

Froome
A Yates
S Yates
Geraint Thomas
Geoghegan Hart
James Knox
Hugh Carty

Isn't a gander a male goose? Why would I take a such at a possible line-up for a British team?

Is that seriously an expression? :lol:

 

[shalgo]

Re: Re:

Isn't a gander a male goose? Why would I take a such at a possible line-up for a British team?

Is that seriously an expression? :lol:

Etymology
First recorded in 1887, based on craning the neck like a goose.

Verb
take a gander
(idiomatic) To take a look; to check or examine.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/take_a_gander#English

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Isn't a gander a male goose? Why would I take a such at a possible line-up for a British team?

Is that seriously an expression? :lol:

Etymology
First recorded in 1887, based on craning the neck like a goose.

Verb
take a gander
(idiomatic) To take a look; to check or examine.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/take_a_gander#English

Oh, so I should have put my laptop next to me for full effect

 

[Broccolidwarf]

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.

The whole danish team will surely be all about Fuglsang (for lack of other options), and it looks like they get a full squad this championship, because of the points amassed during spring.

It will be very light on true climbers though, only Hansen and Eg to support Fuglsang deep into climbs, the rest are more classics types, that will have to slim down significantly to be of use (like Valgren and Cort are already doing, because they need the same for the tour).

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Italy or Colombia have the strongest team???
Really ?

Then take a gander at this

Froome
A Yates
S Yates
Geraint Thomas
Geoghegan Hart
James Knox
Hugh Carty

It's not bad but I don't see that team winning and only see a couple of true podium contenders.

Maybe but before the advent of both Yates I would have agreed ...now is a different matter
Also if Froome is still riding he will want this...especially if he can beat Nibali/Quintana

Froome has never had a pedigree in one day races, even when he sucked at GTs. Thomas has only had a handful of good classics results as well. Simon Yates is the only rider in that list with a real chance, and he hasn't comfirmed if he's riding.

Hart, Knox and Carthy are not close to the level of Italy, France or Spain's 5th and 6th best available riders for this race, let alone Colombia's. Netherlands with Dumoulin, Kelderman, Mollema, Ten Dam, Oomen, Gesink etc will probably be stronger as well.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

Italy or Colombia have the strongest team???
Really ?

Then take a gander at this

Froome
A Yates
S Yates
Geraint Thomas
Geoghegan Hart
James Knox
Hugh Carty

It's not bad but I don't see that team winning and only see a couple of true podium contenders.

Maybe but before the advent of both Yates I would have agreed ...now is a different matter
Also if Froome is still riding he will want this...especially if he can beat Nibali/Quintana

Simon Yates is the only rider in that list with a real chance, and he hasn't comfirmed if he's riding.

Why wouldn't he ride, the one year worlds is for the climbers? :surprised:

 

[RedheadDane]

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.

Yes, but which of those riders are they actually gonna send?

 

[tobydawq]

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.

Yes, but which of those riders are they actually gonna send?

Valverde, Landa and six others.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

[long list snipped]
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.

Yes, but which of those riders are they actually gonna send?

Valverde, Landa and six others.

Yeah, but who?
Dammit, DNP-Old, if you're gonna make a team suggestion, make a team suggestion rather than just every Spanish rider.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

[long list snipped]
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.

Yes, but which of those riders are they actually gonna send?

Valverde, Landa and six others.

Yeah, but who?
Dammit, DNP-Old, if you're gonna make a team suggestion, make a team suggestion rather than just every Spanish rider.

Ion and Gorka and four others

 

[DNP-Old]

Re: Re:

[long list snipped]
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.

Yes, but which of those riders are they actually gonna send?

Valverde, Landa and six others.

Yeah, but who?
Dammit, DNP-Old, if you're gonna make a team suggestion, make a team suggestion rather than just every Spanish rider.

I don't know, I don't have some sort of magic 8 ball. A lot depends on form and it's not like there's 8 clear cut choices in there. Valverde will go, that much I know, and he'll probably be the favorite to win it all no matter who starts alongside him.

 

[Nirvana]

Re:

Will Aru even be there or will he just be included in the ITT squad?

Saronni said that he'll ride only in the case he'll be the captain so probably we won't see him.
Anyway Moscon could be an option if he continues to deliver in the mountains.

And a given is that Visconti will ride his own race if selected.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Alaphilippe survived a similar climb today. I really think he has a chance.

The question is... would he have survived 70km more with 7 of those climbs in addittion?

He did manage Col du Mont Noir earlier. He will be dropped by the climbers but you have to understand that these top notched climbers will not work with each other given the final Murito is there. So a minute lead can be covered by the chasers

He managed 2 proper climbs today. He needs to manage 8 proper climbs in September. And of course the teams with proper climbers will create damage throughout the race. Italy will propably sacrifice hard core climbers such as Aru for Nibs, Colombia will do exactly the same i.e. Quintana, Bernal and Chaves might well be domestics for Uran. Puncheurs won't last to the final proper climb and will be 5+ minutes down by the last murito. If not, the leading climber teams have failed miserably and that rarely happens to all of those teams in single day race. Dauphine is a stage race raced like a stage race and is completely different world to single day WCRR.

Other than the fact that Valverde is a puncheur and he's one of the favorites to win. He'll also have a team around him as sole leader for the first time in a long time.

Valverde to me is much more climbing oriented all-rounder with proper puncheur capabilities, but I guess he is one of the rare that are pretty hard to categorize. Alaphilippe might be going to similar direction, but lacks still a lot the climbing side compared to Valv. On the other hand I don't regard Nibali as climber either.[/quote]


Agreed he's hard to categorize, which I think is why his own team gave up and just list him as an all rounder. I agree with you that Nibali is also more of an all rounder. Of course Valv and Nibali are the two biggest favorites for this year's Worlds.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

[long list snipped]
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.

Yes, but which of those riders are they actually gonna send?

Valverde, Landa and six others.

Yeah, but who?
Dammit, DNP-Old, if you're gonna make a team suggestion, make a team suggestion rather than just every Spanish rider.

I don't know, I don't have some sort of magic 8 ball. A lot depends on form and it's not like there's 8 clear cut choices in there. Valverde will go, that much I know, and he'll probably be the favorite to win it all no matter who starts alongside him.

Valverde and most likely he'll have input with the Spanish National Coach on who is supporting him. A lot will depend on form, also some will depend on who is racing la Vuelta. The Spanish National Coach does not like taking guys who don't ride la Vuelta.
Castroviejo will be there are the ITT but very unlikely on the RR team.
Landa is almost certainly going.

My guess right now:
Valverde as undisputed leader.
Landa, Ion and Gorka, Soler, Roson, LL Sanchez, and one other.

Castroviejo and LL Sanchez for the ITT.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Italy or Colombia have the strongest team???
Really ?

Then take a gander at this

Froome
A Yates
S Yates
Geraint Thomas
Geoghegan Hart
James Knox
Hugh Carty

It's not bad but I don't see that team winning and only see a couple of true podium contenders.

Maybe but before the advent of both Yates I would have agreed ...now is a different matter
Also if Froome is still riding he will want this...especially if he can beat Nibali/Quintana

Simon Yates is the only rider in that list with a real chance, and he hasn't comfirmed if he's riding.

Why wouldn't he ride, the one year worlds is for the climbers? :surprised:

There’s no obvious reason Yates wouldn’t, he’s probably going, but it’s not confirmed yet as far as I know.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

[long list snipped]
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.

Yes, but which of those riders are they actually gonna send?

Valverde, Landa and six others.

Yeah, but who?
Dammit, DNP-Old, if you're gonna make a team suggestion, make a team suggestion rather than just every Spanish rider.

Ion and Gorka and four others

So, the Spanish national team will consist of Valverde, Landa, and six others. And those six others will consist of Ion, Gorka and four others? Got it!

I don't know, I don't have some sort of magic 8 ball. A lot depends on form and it's not like there's 8 clear cut choices in there. Valverde will go, that much I know, and he'll probably be the favorite to win it all no matter who starts alongside him.

Make a guess. That's what all the teams being posted here are by this time anyway.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

[long list snipped]
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.

Yes, but which of those riders are they actually gonna send?

Valverde, Landa and six others.

Yeah, but who?
Dammit, DNP-Old, if you're gonna make a team suggestion, make a team suggestion rather than just every Spanish rider.

Ion and Gorka and four others

So, the Spanish national team will consist of Valverde, Landa, and six others. And those six others will consist of Ion, Gorka and four others? Got it!

I don't know, I don't have some sort of magic 8 ball. A lot depends on form and it's not like there's 8 clear cut choices in there. Valverde will go, that much I know, and he'll probably be the favorite to win it all no matter who starts alongside him.

Make a guess. That's what all the teams being posted here are by this time anyway.[/quote]


Soler and Roson have a good chance of making the Spanish team.

 

[yaco]

Nieve would have to be a certain selection for the Spanish team - An experienced hand who can go deep in the final.