[IMG] 
[/IMG]
could offer some great vantage points to MTBers in the area 🙂
Wonder if they'll have to put up with the miserable roadies in Richmond Park...
Like a lot of people I think I'll be on the zig-zag at Box Hill. They'll still flash past n a few seconds, but at least we'll be able to see them coming.
I saw that - bumpy as hell.
Like a lot of people I think I'll be on the zig-zag at Box Hill
It's clear that's where the race will be won and lost. All the big finishers will be struggling to hold the climbers up there, can they minimize their losses sufficiently to be able to set up a sprint at the end.
From Leggyblondes picture it looks like the will circle Box Hill twice on the same road? What happens if the leaders catch up with the tail-enders? Won't they all get mixed up?
Most of the out bound route is my commute home! Ace!
If its the same as the world champs don't you have to drop out if you're lapped? like most crits as well...
It's clear that's where the race will be won and lost. All the big finishers will be struggling to hold the climbers up there, can they minimize their losses sufficiently to be able to set up a sprint at the end.
I disagree. That's not a climb to a pro, even fit 2nd cats can big ring it up the zig zags. Ditchling beacon is much worse and the TdF flew up there when it cam over here in 94(?), even the big sprinters. The atmosphere will be brilliant if it's a sunny day there though.
From Leggyblondes picture it looks like the will circle Box Hill twice on the same road? What happens if the leaders catch up with the tail-enders? Won't they all get mixed up?
Goes up Box Hill 9 times for the Men's race...
ti_pin_man. At least they will fix the road for the race so you will have glass smooth surfaces to ride to work on.
How do I know they will re-surface the route? Because Cavandish complained recently that there was tarmac on a road he had to race on (at the time he was running last)!!
Goes up Box Hill 9 times for the Men's race...
OK, the big guys will start to feel that!
I think that we'll try and catch them somewhere around Richmond on the way out and then ride out off road to Headley and catch them on the circuit before retiring to a pub on the river on the way back in.
There's nothing hilly enough on those roads to do anything to the favourites - they've already said that its a sprinter's course, and that the only thing is that its not a short circuit so the team managers won't be able to read the race as easily.
I was fishing....... but maybe now I shouldn't admit that and instead nod sagely in a 'told you so' fashion.
Like the course - I rode most of that (not at the same ride, mind) as my usual routes when I lived in London.
Earbyphil - ace, bits of it need serious resurfacing!
why do the women ride less miles? isnt that a bit mysogymathingy?!
Don't want them to look anything other than their best by the finish...
Seriously though, there is a real point there - obviously women's races are slower so they're shorter to compensate but they're not that much slower (eg half the mileage!). I know that several of the better women racers have complained on that point too.
Given that it's a 15mins ride off road from here to Boxhill I'm very excited. BBQ in the garden afterwards with a beer to watch the sprint finish. Fancy coming along Leggy? Bring your folks too?
Tony, thanks! I'm there 😀
bunch sprint, it's for cav
in the breaks, Swifty
I goes right past my house!!
they dont do a 100meter sprint for the men and a 65meter sprint for the little women, so i don't understand why it seems to be assumed women cant ride as far as men?!
are there any other olympic events where the women aren't expected to do as much as the guys?
[i]are there any other olympic events where the women aren't expected to do as much as the guys?[/i]
Marathon?
ah, no hang on.
I'm putting a tenner on Cancellara. He'll attack through Richmong park and solo it to the finish with the prevailing tailwind at 60kph
And women play shorter tennis games.
It's going to be fun having those roads closed all day for the race.
are there any other olympic events where the women aren't expected to do as much as the guys?
XC skiing, biathlon, swimming, kayaking, speed skating, downhill skiing, luge, skeleton... actually along with cycling I reckon that's a majority of the sports involving covering distance as fast as possible.
All mountain bike races too, from local races to world cups. Smaller field and lower speeds.
Box Hill should be good, looks like they're coming down Combe Lane which is a shame, that would've been good! Agree it's not much of a climb though, even after 9 times I reckon it'll be a big group at the finish.
Ill be there!!
I read somewhere that the roads will have to be closed very early on in the morning - something to do with olympic rules / 'field of play' restrictions. I can imagine the whinging now.
So, who's going to cheeky camp on the NT land at Boxhill to get the prime spots?