World Championships Innsbruck 2018

[barmaher]

That is pretty funny.

 

[ppanther92]

Re: Re:

Strongest Dutch team in like forever. Yet I can't see any of them winning. They'd have to solo.
That to say Dumoulin and Mollema (yes, Mollema) aren't even that slow, but not against Valv/Kwiato/Ala etc. Poels is pretty fast but so inconsistent I don't know if he is going to be hot or cold.

You should have heard Mads Pedersen talking about the sprinting capabilities of Mollema (he is a guest commentator today and of course a teammate of Mollema's).

He was willing to bet 10,000 euros that one of the other commentators (Brian Nygaard who has never been a bike rider) would be able to outsprint him and he was also certain that he himself would be able to outsprint him on the small chainring

Well, than Pedersen is wrong somehow. There ar enough results that show Mollema as one of the better sprinters amongst the climbers.

http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=21123
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=22040
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=21625
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=23211
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=28184
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=27104
and many more (includign various top10 in Fleche Wallone and Amstel Gold Race)

 

[Tim Booth]

Andrey Amador
"I write this letter to tell you about a regrettable situation. As you will have read in the media, on September 30 the road race of the World Cycling Championships in Innsbruck (Austria) will be held. That day is the only day of the year in which Costa Rican cyclists have the opportunity to wear the colors of Costa Rica in our jersey in the eyes of everyone. So what should be a party is far from it because the three runners who must represent Costa Rica in that test do not have any kind of support.
A few days ago I spoke with the coach and he explained that there is no money"
http://www.ciclismointernacional.com/amador-denuncia-falta-de-apoyo-y-pone-en-duda-su-presencia-en-el-mundial-de-innsbruck/

 

[Koronin]

Andrey Amador
"I write this letter to tell you about a regrettable situation. As you will have read in the media, on September 30 the road race of the World Cycling Championships in Innsbruck (Austria) will be held. That day is the only day of the year in which Costa Rican cyclists have the opportunity to wear the colors of Costa Rica in our jersey in the eyes of everyone. So what should be a party is far from it because the three runners who must represent Costa Rica in that test do not have any kind of support.
A few days ago I spoke with the coach and he explained that there is no money"
http://www.ciclismointernacional.com/amador-denuncia-falta-de-apoyo-y-pone-en-duda-su-presencia-en-el-mundial-de-innsbruck/

I just read this as well. This is a very sad situation.

 

[JRanton]

Dutch team

* Dumoulin
* Poels
* Mollema
* Kruijswijk
* Oomen
* Tolhoek
* Kelderman
* Weening

No Gesink?

 

[Red Rick]

Dutch team

* Dumoulin
* Poels
* Mollema
* Kruijswijk
* Oomen
* Tolhoek
* Kelderman
* Weening

No Gesink?

Crashed in a training in Boulder and broke about 92 ribs this time

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

Dutch national team
RR: Tom Dumoulin, Bauke Mollema, Wout Poels, Wilco Kelderman, Sam Oomen, Steven Kruijswijk, Antwan Tolhoek, Pieter Weening

TT: Tom Dumoulin (as defending champion), Wilco Kelderman, Dylan van Baarle

Strong squad, indeed.

Womens teams

RR
Ellen van Dijk
Annemiek van Vleuten
Anna van der Breggen
Lucinda Brand
Amy Pieters
Chantal Blaak
Sabrina Stultjens
Janneke Ensing

TT
Ellen van Dijk
Annemiek van Vleuten
Anna van der Breggen
Lucinda Brand

Wow!

That squad is so strong that it’s almost unbackable. Van Dijk, Van Vleuten and Van der Breggen can all win this.

Brand > van Dijk on this course, on 2018 evidence. She was 4th in the Giro, after all.

Hard to see anybody but the Dutch winning the women's race unless one of the star climbers has a star turn, but even then the advantage of numbers is such that getting rid of all of them will surely be nigh on impossible since this season van Vleuten and van der Breggen have been the two strongest climbers overall you'd say; it's not out of the realms of possibility, remembering Ash Moolman-Pasio on Jaizkibel vs. van Vleuten, Garfoot and Spratt, but highly unlikely. Ash will have much less protection (all of RSA's UCI points are hers I believe), and Niewiadoma hasn't got the form right at either of her season's goals this year to such an extent that I think she could overcome the numbers game (though Jasinska's had a career season and could be an invaluable help). Spratt and Longo Borghini probably don't have enough climbing depth in the team to challenge the Dutch, and combative though she may be, Cille won't have the benefit of a longer rope because of a teammate in the Worlds as none of the other Danish riders are built for mountains. On paper I'd think it's too hard for the likes of Fahlin or any of the Germans, who need a punchier, shorter ascent, and probably too easy for the likes of Eider Merino or Katie Hall to become key players, being fairly one-dimensional in skillset.

 

[May0maniac]

The big names have all be mentioned, I think that guys like Kreuziger and Chernetski could be dangerous outsiders, Kreuziger has the pedigree when it comes to one day races but his shape is a bit of a question mark, Chernetski seems to be in good shape, he's a good climber (top 10 in a really hard TdS), has dinished top 10 in the last Lombardia and is fast enough to beat all the other favourites that aren't Valverde in a sprint. Both guys won't have a really strong team around them, but Hirt and Zakarin (with all the respect, nobody in the right mind would have him as the only team leader in a one day race that finishes after a technical descent) should be great on the climbs.

 

[DNP-Old]

Élite Varones
Nairo Alexander Quintana (Movistar Team)
Rigoberto Urán (EF Drapac)
Miguel Ángel López (Astana Pro Team)
Sergio Luis Henao (Team Sky)
Daniel Felipe Martínez (EF Drapac)
Sebastián Henao (Team Sky)
Winner Anacona (Movistar Team)
Rodrigo Contreras (EPM Scott)

Élite damas
Ana Cristina Sanabria (Swapit Agolico)
Paula Andrea Patiño (Centro Mundial UCI)

Sub- 23
Iván Ramiro Sosa (Androni Sidermec)
Alejandro Osorio (GW Shimano)
Wilmar Andrés Paredes (Manzana Postobon Team)
Einer Rubio (Vejus Italia)
Miguel Eduardo Flórez (Willier Selle Italia)

Junior varones
Juan Tito Rendón (Centro Mundial UCI)
David Camargo (Disgarsa Colindres España)

Junior damas
Erika Milena Botero (Coldeportes Zenú Sello Rojo)

Técnico: Carlos Mario Jaramillo Mesa

 

[Escarabajo]

Andrey Amador
"I write this letter to tell you about a regrettable situation. As you will have read in the media, on September 30 the road race of the World Cycling Championships in Innsbruck (Austria) will be held. That day is the only day of the year in which Costa Rican cyclists have the opportunity to wear the colors of Costa Rica in our jersey in the eyes of everyone. So what should be a party is far from it because the three runners who must represent Costa Rica in that test do not have any kind of support.
A few days ago I spoke with the coach and he explained that there is no money"
http://www.ciclismointernacional.com/amador-denuncia-falta-de-apoyo-y-pone-en-duda-su-presencia-en-el-mundial-de-innsbruck/

I just read this as well. This is a very sad situation.

He will probably get some help from Movistar. But that's not the point. Sad indeed. Especially coming from Costa Rica which shouldn't be in a bad situation. At least not to be able to help them!

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

Élite Varones
Nairo Alexander Quintana (Movistar Team)
Rigoberto Urán (EF Drapac)
Miguel Ángel López (Astana Pro Team)
Sergio Luis Henao (Team Sky)
Daniel Felipe Martínez (EF Drapac)
Sebastián Henao (Team Sky)
Winner Anacona (Movistar Team)
Rodrigo Contreras (EPM Scott)

Very strong, as expected.

I bet Uran will be the best among the leaders.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Élite Varones
Nairo Alexander Quintana (Movistar Team)
Rigoberto Urán (EF Drapac)
Miguel Ángel López (Astana Pro Team)
Sergio Luis Henao (Team Sky)
Daniel Felipe Martínez (EF Drapac)
Sebastián Henao (Team Sky)
Winner Anacona (Movistar Team)
Rodrigo Contreras (EPM Scott)

Very strong, as expected.

I bet Uran will be the best among the leaders.

What was a great opportunity for Colombia has become an OK opportunity. Nothing else. What I thought was the original team has been decimated. Especially Chaves who is the only Colombian who has won a classic.

But still a good team and I'll be cheering with all my heart to get that first gold medal in the RR.

 

[Valv.Piti]

They are missing Chaves, but who else? Betancur?.. Ah, Bernal as well obviously.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

They are missing Chaves, but who else? Betancur?.. Ah, Bernal as well obviously.

Atapuma and Pantano are workhorses. If we compare them today you would say they suck. But that's my point they were great before they got ill or injured. And yes there is Betancur that who knows where he is.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

They are missing Chaves, but who else? Betancur?.. Ah, Bernal as well obviously.

They are actually missing a rider, who can win this race. ;-)

Bernal would have done U23, I guess. So no Worlds for Bernal and Landa, while that guy, who ended their seasons due to pure stupidity, is winning two stages in a Grand Tour and might be the race leader for Team USA in Innsbruck?

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

No Thomas, but also no Froome in WCRR, dissapointing.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Andrey Amador
"I write this letter to tell you about a regrettable situation. As you will have read in the media, on September 30 the road race of the World Cycling Championships in Innsbruck (Austria) will be held. That day is the only day of the year in which Costa Rican cyclists have the opportunity to wear the colors of Costa Rica in our jersey in the eyes of everyone. So what should be a party is far from it because the three runners who must represent Costa Rica in that test do not have any kind of support.
A few days ago I spoke with the coach and he explained that there is no money"
http://www.ciclismointernacional.com/amador-denuncia-falta-de-apoyo-y-pone-en-duda-su-presencia-en-el-mundial-de-innsbruck/

It seems a shame that there could not be a team under a UCI flag or something for riders in such a situation. The commitment to teamwork might be lacking, but at least no-one would be robbed of the chance to compete because of the ineptitude of their national federation.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Élite Varones
Nairo Alexander Quintana (Movistar Team)
Rigoberto Urán (EF Drapac)
Miguel Ángel López (Astana Pro Team)
Sergio Luis Henao (Team Sky)
Daniel Felipe Martínez (EF Drapac)
Sebastián Henao (Team Sky)
Winner Anacona (Movistar Team)
Rodrigo Contreras (EPM Scott)

Very strong, as expected.

I bet Uran will be the best among the leaders.

What was a great opportunity for Colombia has become an OK opportunity. Nothing else. What I thought was the original team has been decimated. Especially Chaves who is the only Colombian who has won a classic.

But still a good team and I'll be cheering with all my heart to get that first gold medal in the RR.

This is an OK team. I'm guessing Uran is leader and Henao is plan B.

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Re: Re:

Élite Varones
Nairo Alexander Quintana (Movistar Team)
Rigoberto Urán (EF Drapac)
Miguel Ángel López (Astana Pro Team)
Sergio Luis Henao (Team Sky)
Daniel Felipe Martínez (EF Drapac)
Sebastián Henao (Team Sky)
Winner Anacona (Movistar Team)
Rodrigo Contreras (EPM Scott)

Very strong, as expected.

I bet Uran will be the best among the leaders.

What was a great opportunity for Colombia has become an OK opportunity. Nothing else. What I thought was the original team has been decimated. Especially Chaves who is the only Colombian who has won a classic.

But still a good team and I'll be cheering with all my heart to get that first gold medal in the RR.

Yes, why not. If not Pole, Quintana would be great World Champion!

 

[DNP-Old]

Having Chavito, Pantano, Atapuma and Egan healthy and in decent form would also have meant that the U23 got a huge boost, as probably Egan himself and Dani Martinez would have ridden there too.

 

[Tim Booth]

Re: Re:

What was a great opportunity for Colombia has become an OK opportunity. Nothing else. What I thought was the original team has been decimated. Especially Chaves who is the only Colombian who has won a classic.

But still a good team and I'll be cheering with all my heart to get that first gold medal in the RR.

Chaves struggled on stage 10 of the Giro back in May and after the race he was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus.
Like Mark Cavendish, it is not clear when he will be fit to race again.

 

[elfed68]

Re:

No Thomas, but also no Froome in WCRR, dissapointing.

Really, that's a shame, I was hoping to see GT in the rainbow jersey.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

No Thomas, but also no Froome in WCRR, dissapointing.

Really, that's a shame, I was hoping to see GT in the rainbow jersey.

I was hoping they'd at least show up to help the Yates twins

 

[DNP-Old]

Men Elite
Greg van Avermaet
Dylan Teuns
Tim Wellens
Tiejs Benoot
Laurens de Plus
Xandro Meurisse
Serge Pauwels
Ben Hermans

Men U23
Steff Crash
Bjorg Lambrecht
Kenny Molly
Brent Van Moer
Viktor Verschaeve

Men Juniors
Remco Evenepoel
Steven Pattyn
Henri Vandenabeele
Aaron Van der Beken
Ilan Van Wilder
Xandres Vervloesem

 

[DNP-Old]

Not a big fan of Belgium's U23 team. Lambrecht might be the top favourite and Crass is a good outsider, but their help is lacking. I thought they'd bring Vanhoucke, who has said he'd happily work for Lambrecht. The junior team on the other hand is flat out insane. It's a longshot, but gold and silver is not out of question with Evenepoel and Van Wilder. Vervloesem is able to ride a good result for himself too. Still, getting past Vacek will be a big challenge, and regarding depth, the Italians will bring a very good team as well.