TTT's out the way, Sunweb doing a surprising double with wins for the men and women.
ITT tomorrow, should be a good one (good preview [url= https://cyclingtips.com/2017/09/preview-mens-worlds-time-trial-case-dumoulin-vs-froome/ ]here[/url]). In two minds about the course. Certainly not a typical one, quite short, and the big climb to finish and a bike change zone will mix things up a bit. Most reckon it's a two way battle between Froome and Dumoulin. Froome certainly seemed to peak at the Vuelta, but will he have held his form. Dumoulin looks on form too and should be better rested. If I was a betting man I'd probably go for Dumoulin.
ITT ladies, probably van Vleuten, that climb will probably tip it in her favour over van der Breggen.
As for the road race, rolling course should break things up and make it a great race. Three in a row for Sagan possibly?
More preview [url= http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-road-world-championships-2017/preview/ ]here[/url] and [url= http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/world-championships-road-race-previews-289374 ]here[/url].
Dumoulin for the TT just so long as he goes to the bathroom before the race.
Matthews/Sagan to sprint for the RR. (Don't think Gaviria or Viviani will be able to hang in). Should be interesting, as GvA and Gilbert will have to try and get away as they can't match the two favourites in a sprint.
Dan Martin for the road race for me
ouch
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Have to agree with Tony Martin about bike changes for the final climb. Seems wrong.
as GvA and Gilbert will have to try and get away
Belgium almost have too many options, be interesting to see how they play it tactically. Wellens for a breakaway win?
France look good too with both Alaphilippe and Gallopin.
Would have probably been a good opportunity for Valverde to finally win one too.
Speaking with my Belgian side:
Belgium will screw up (again) due to too many potential winners...
Gilbert's only chance is for it to be super hard from a long long long way out & awful weather.
van Avermaet will again be forced to play second fiddle to Sagan if the race style goes in his direction. They have very similar styles but Sagan just has that extra couple of % 🙁
Wellens will make a badly timed attempt to breakaway (though for once his methodology worked in Namur last week). Naesens &/or Teuns have both been brilliant at moments this year too and have the potential for the win.
For other teams:
I'm sure valverde would have been strong favourite for this one. Trentin has looked good recently & I'd certainly be surprised if Matthews wasn't there or thereabouts.
Team GB? hmmmm - hope for something good in the TT & forget about the road race 😉
Are we doing spoilers/results here?
Are we doing spoilers/results here?
If its what I'm thinking....amazing performance 🙂
no spoilers!
Can't edit it now but you'd have to be pretty dumb not to expect results chat, so spoiler away.
Oh and yes, cracking result. Multi discipline world champ too!
Looks a bit daft for a TT course. They should have used that hill as the finale in the road races.
If its what I'm thinking....amazing performance
It was. And it was!
A win!
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van Vleuten winning the women's as most predicted. Report [url= https://cyclingtips.com/2017/09/fastest-world-annemiek-van-vleuten-wins-worlds-individual-time-trial-title/ ]here[/url]. Wouldn't be a surprise to see her winning the road title too.
Senior men start times [url= http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/2017-uci-road-world-championships-mens-time-trial-start-times/ ]here[/url].
And more on that bike change [url= http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bike-change-could-be-key-to-worlds-tt-success/ ]here[/url]. Most saying it'll be 20 seconds quicker on the climb on a road bike so worth a change. Wet cobbles could throw up a few incidents too. Definitely not your typical world champs ITT!
So Froome off at 4pm UK. I'll fire up Eurosport player!
Early days but already seen some comedy bike changes.
Looks like the UCI hadn't figured on two riders arriving at the bike change zone at the same time, they need to find another carpet quickly 😆
Whole bike swap thing is a bit of a farce.
They should have made the climb in the middle of the course so there would be a penalty for the flat run in if the rider chose to swap bikes. Or better yet just not allowed bike swaps.
Bike swaps should be banned full stop, even if you have mechanical IMO. (Wheel changes are fine though.)
Is indeed a bit of a farce and I'd not be happy about it if I was one of the riders. World Champs maybe not the place to try something new for the first time 🙄
Quite interesting though. And it is quite a spectacle. Most so far seem to be choosing not to change.
Also getting quite dark with some rather menacing clouds overhead. Could well see someone from the middle of the start list coming out on top if it does tip it down.
the final climb on the mens ITT is mental with huge crowds !
Surely the riders and teams should have to pick one bike most suitable for the course, if that's your road bike with clip-on TT bars then so be it.
Dont agree with them being able to change bikes during the race. Can you imagine if the win is determined by their ability to swap bikes rather than ride them. I presume they will have to get both bikes through scrutineering to make sure they are legal,
let them do it but the bike must be in the hardest gear with no pushing to help get going. 😈
Kelderman off now. Could be in with a real chance, especially if the weather turns.
RE: the bike change. It is a bit of a farce but potentially the only way to be consistent with allowing bike changes for mechanicals - it's be more of a farce if all the riders just happened to have a mechanical at the base of the climb. Allowing wheel changes only on a TT means that if you get a puncture you've lost.
RE: Bergen. What a place! Just look at it! If anyone's tempted to go there then I recommend getting the fish.
Kelderman takes the hot seat (with a bike change). Some great slo-mo chin dribble from Wilco 🙂
Kiryienka on the road.
Allowing wheel changes only on a TT means that if you get a puncture you've lost.
Tough, just look at Greg Minnaars last few DHraces he lost due to mechanical issues, it's part of the sport.
Kiri is an outside shot for the podium in my eyes, he's alright on a climb and, when on it, is very fast on the flat.
Side on shot of Kiryienka there, so relaxed, doesn't even look like he's trying. Only 8 seconds back on the first time check. Though with that hill it's quite difficult to read much into the early time checks.
EBH on a compromised road bike, be interesting to see how he goes, albeit it's not his focus.
I can't quite work out if the bike change thing is a genius plan a la F1 Pit stops. It's definitely adding an extra element of interest!
(not to mention something to fill the commentary 🙂 )
No bike change for Moscon and Kiri. Sky would have done their sums so likely no bike change for Froome.
Kiri looking pedestrian on the climb which probably means he's flying.
What happened to Gougeard there? Some saddle problem. He was going really well.
**** me is that boring....! and how many cars?
i'm off out for a wheelie.
Kiri looking pedestrian on the climb which probably means he's flying.
Probably only doing 500W.
JRA.
Ooof how close was that. Kiri into second by .23 seconds.
Fluke me that was close for Kiri
I'm crap at guessing what 10s of road looks like. I thought both of those were going to get first!
I'm crap at guessing what 10s of road looks like. I thought both of those were going to get first!
It's deceptive as for pace both both were looking ok at 300m and 200m but lost it in the last 100m so it must ramp up a bit right at the finish.
Froome 18s down on Dennis at first check point. Dumoulin 9 seconds up on Dennis.
Getting quite wet in Bergen now.
Is this weather going to turn the results upside-down?
If Dumoulin hasn't gone off way too fast, this is over.
Froome 34 seconds down on tom and it's now pissing it down!
Rain means that the people in the club house must be feeling like there's a chance!
I think Froome has got this you know, he has been very good at pacing TT's recently, almost all of these have meant he was behind at the first check.
hmmm - Froome not bad before the final climb!
You can't write Froome off early on. He's not a daft lad is he!
