Worlds Copenhagen 2011

[auscyclefan94]

RE mcewen at worlds: He doesn't have a chance in hell. Mcewen has never done in long one day races such as MSR and he'll struggle to make it to the finish. Anyway, there are guys who can climb better than Robbie and are faster than him at this point of time such as Goss.

Australia should put everything behind Goss and forget about Alby and Robbie. Too risky to back those guys. Alby is too inconsistent and Robbie doesn't have it anymore.


*from tour de wallonie thread*

 

[Finn84]

Isn't there seven countries with one bonus rider each available since Germany, Luxembourg and UK don't have enough point-scorers although they are in top 10 of WorldTour nations?

 

[Tuarts]

Not sure, there's nothing in the rules/.criteria about bonus riders. You have to wonder though where Luxembourg are going to get 6 flat riders from.

 

[jobiwan]

Cav doesn't get his 9 men. Luxembourg is going to dominate!!!
And Farrar gets a whole team, he could do well.

 

[jobiwan]

RE mcewen at worlds: He doesn't have a chance in hell. Mcewen has never done in long one day races such as MSR and he'll struggle to make it to the finish. Anyway, there are guys who can climb better than Robbie and are faster than him at this point of time such as Goss.

Australia should put everything behind Goss and forget about Alby and Robbie. Too risky to back those guys. Alby is too inconsistent and Robbie doesn't have it anymore.

*from tour de wallonie thread*

What about Renshaw?

 

[Ferminal]

What about Renshaw?

Just replace the name!

Anyway, there are guys who can climb better than Renshaw and are faster than him at this point of time such as Goss.

 

[jobiwan]

Just replace the name!

Yeah, I guess Goss should be the protected man, but will they have a second sprint option? Davis, probably?

 

[Finn84]

Not sure, there's nothing in the rules/.criteria about bonus riders. You have to wonder though where Luxembourg are going to get 6 flat riders from.

Had to read again, but this was mentioned:

The places of the nations which has been qualified by the UCI WorldTour calendar but are not allocated in regards of the last disposition, will be reallocated to the nations from the 11th rank of the UCI WorldTour calendar, with one supplementary place allocated by nation.

At the moment the seven countries who would get extra rider are Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Denmark, Norway, Czech Republic, Colombia and Belarus.

 

[Sebastian]

the commonwealth games road race was supposed to be a flat snore fest as well but it was anything but boring.

you can't have classics races every year the to worlds, that's unfair to half or more of the pro's

it'd be a shame if the worlds fastest sprinter never got a chance to win the worlds. he still has to be there at the end, and that's not always a given (as what happened in the commonwealth games)

I couldnt agree less. In my opinion to be a holder of the rainbow jersey means more than to be able to sprint. Those who cant climb or do classics should take part in the track cycling world cup.

 

[Ferminal]

Yeah, I guess Goss should be the protected man, but will they have a second sprint option? Davis, probably?

I'd pick Haussler. However they both need to start finding some legs. Not sure Davis can get back to where he was last year where he was in the top50 climbers in the final week of the Vuelta.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

I'd pick Haussler. However they both need to start finding some legs. Not sure Davis can get back to where he was last year where he was in the top50 climbers in the final week of the Vuelta.

Or Bling Matthews?

 

[Swede1]

Is Cancellara deciding to skip the TT to go for the RR?

If Italy makes the race difficult throughout the RR then riders like Pozzato, Cancellara, Breschel and Gilbert have a good chance. If Spain and USA just control the speed and do a lead out, then riders like Goss, Breschel (again), Hushovd, Farrar, Freire, Boonen have a better chance to win.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Just replace the name!

True but renshaw is not the best climber. Obviously Goss is going to be the main man but if a select group goes away then maybe having Gerrans would be a good idea.

 

[woodie]

I couldnt agree less. In my opinion to be a holder of the rainbow jersey means more than to be able to sprint. Those who cant climb or do classics should take part in the track cycling world cup.

How often do pure sprinters get a worlds course that suits them? once every 4 or 5 years? they deserve their chance just like anyone else, they work and race just as hard as climbers and classics riders.

What's the details of the climb again?

 

[richo36]

I dont see what the problem is with having a totally flat course. Sure its boring to watch except for the last 10km but you have to be fair to all Riders(as long as they dont have another one for 3-4 years, aleast). And besides i think a flat stage at the worlds would be the most exciting sprint weve seen for a while. with no htc train to dominate, it means cav has to fend for himself. Something he doesnt have to do to often. which gives an advantage to other sprinters. It would be a free for all.

 

[Sebastian]

How often do pure sprinters get a worlds course that suits them? once every 4 or 5 years? they deserve their chance just like anyone else, they work and race just as hard as climbers and classics riders.

What's the details of the climb again?

I understand your point, but I still can not agree. There is a lot of sprinters that actually can climb (at least to some degree) such as Rojas, Freire and Husvold. In my opinion they should not make the course to suite the sprinters. Instead I think the sprinters should develope to be able to compete with the best riders. As one commentator once said: Those riders that want a flat course should compete in the velodrome.

Still I understand your point as I said, but I can not simply agree with it.

 

[the asian]

The 2011 worlds course isn't exactly a bunch sprinters course. It's more of a Hushovd, Breschel type of course. For guys who can get over hills but have a fast finish. The finish is uphill and technical.

 

[just some guy]

Or Bling Matthews?

I also wonder if he will be the 2nd shooter on the grassy Knoll for Australia - Tour of Poland may help answer that one.

 

[canyonball]

If the argument is "let's be far to all riders" why not make a course up the Tourmalet? Climbers race hard too and they deserve it!

As a fan, I don't mind a sprinter-oriented course as long as there is something that keeps the suspence going on.

 

[Tuarts]

I understand your point, but I still can not agree. There is a lot of sprinters that actually can climb (at least to some degree) such as Rojas, Freire and Husvold. In my opinion they should not make the course to suite the sprinters. Instead I think the sprinters should develope to be able to compete with the best riders. As one commentator once said: Those riders that want a flat course should compete in the velodrome.

Still I understand your point as I said, but I can not simply agree with it.

Someone who uses "because I think so" as a reason, doesn't really have an argument in my view. Sprinting is a specialisation, they spend nearly all their training to try and be better sprinters and to be the best but that's not good enough for you because they're not adding climbing to their repertoire? They are sprinters, a course suited to them once in a while is fair enough, you have more often than not, a course suited for the hill specialists/rouleurs or climbers. Did Geelong suit Hushovd? Friere has had a course that has suited him numerous times (evidence of his wins) and I'm sure there were more where he was favourite so I have no qualms about there being a course purely for the sprinters.

As for the course, looking at the profile the elevation at the end is 20m over a distance of 500m. Not sure of the exact gradient but it can't be that steep so all is would mean is they'd have to time their sprints closer to the line than usual.

 

[greenedge]

Cavendish will cream the opposition unless if the race is made hard

 

[auscyclefan94]

Someone who uses "because I think so" as a reason, doesn't really have an argument in my view. Sprinting is a specialisation, they spend nearly all their training to try and be better sprinters and to be the best but that's not good enough for you because they're not adding climbing to their repertoire? They are sprinters, a course suited to them once in a while is fair enough, you have more often than not, a course suited for the hill specialists/rouleurs or climbers. Did Geelong suit Hushovd? Friere has had a course that has suited him numerous times (evidence of his wins) and I'm sure there were more where he was favourite so I have no qualms about there being a course purely for the sprinters.

As for the course, looking at the profile the elevation at the end is 20m over a distance of 500m. Not sure of the exact gradient but it can't be that steep so all is would mean is they'd have to time their sprints closer to the line than usual.

well considering what you have said the finish is 4%

 

[Tuarts]

So there's a kick in the last kilometer, it wont force a selection, only make the sprint longer/harder. If Cavendish can win a bunch sprint at Cap Fréhel then it should be no problem for a sprinter. Unless your name is Guardini or Van Hummel.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

a few months ago I didn't think it was hard enough, but who knows maybe gilbert can win this... too strong that guy.

 

[Ferminal]

a few months ago I didn't think it was hard enough, but who knows maybe gilbert can win this... too strong that guy.

If Belgium make the race hard enough to drop the sprint domestiques he should be able to win.

Everyone but GB and Belgium will be in a tough position, try and beat Cav in a sprint, or beat Gilbert in a selective race. I would be leaning towards the sprint at the moment.