Anatomy of a Photos: This Is How It’s Done
Before we move on to the last Monument of the season, let’s reflect on what happened in Richmond. My deeply held fears of the American organizers making a mess of things were unrealized. The two cobbled climbs were spectacles and the resulting road races were pretty damn fine.
Personally, I don’t think the Worlds should ever end up in a bunch sprint. Sprinters should have their chance but the race should be so tough that even a flat course ends up in a fractured gasp for the line. The women’s finish was not a field sprint. Lizzy Armitstead led from the bottom of the last hill and made sure no one got past her for very long. Anna VDB was there but she was not going to win this one. Armitstead was probably the strongest/fastest in her field and kept it together to prove that.
Peter Sagan won from kilometers out, gaining time with each corner. He might not have been the strongest or fastest but he was most definitely the smartest. He sat in the field the whole race and then jumped everyone with a move that won the day.
Neither winner had a strong team for support. When it comes down to the final kilometers, it’s all legs, brains and heart.
It will be a pleasure seeing the rainbow stripes on these two for the next year.
Agreed – Richmond did itself proud and two worthy world champions in Sagan and Lizzie (and a top result for Specialized, who will market the hell out of it!). Special mention to Kiryienka in the TT, love that guy, an absolute beast of a rider – great results for the sport.
I was fortunate enough to be there to witness these events. The atmosphere at Libby Hill Park was a highlight. From my perspective, the organization and the road race course were extremely fan friendly. I was in awe watching the road races from the junior levels through the elite women and men. I think even a non-cycling fan would be entertained and impressed by the sheer speed that these athletes carried over that parcours. My ears are still ringing from the shouts, cheers and cowbells.
This got my heart going pitter-patter
It will be interesting to see how the upcoming 2016 season plays out for both new World Champions, Sagan in particular though. Will this win be the watershed moment that precedes his realization of the expectations that have been thrust upon him? It will be interesting to watch things play out. Based on his celebration of his victory, conventional thinking could be turned upside down during his reign.
Interestingly, it seems that Oleg seems to have a muzzle on at the moment.
@frank
The finest garment in all of sports.
Hear Hear
Well said, Gianni.
@Sparty
Lucky you. I had the same impression as we watched the Ronde in 2012, from the edge of a cobbled climb. Sweet jesus, they are hauling ass! The women were hauling ass. The U23 guys were hauling ass. TV never brings that to you. You have to be there.
@Jay
I think Sagan is will kill it. Even in 2012 he was just getting distanced in the Ronde, either Fabs or Boonen were schooling him but he is capable of some Spring Classics and Milan-Sanremo. I could not have been more impressed with his Worlds win. It was genius.
@Jay
Please be with black bibs! Please be with black bibs! Please be with black bibs! Please be with black bibs!…
Guns of Navarone.
The thing with Sagan is that he’s had the curse of the Rainbow Jersey for the last 2 years, without having the jersey.
Every move he’s made in a race is being covered already – it can’t be any harder with now.
Nice one G-man.
Richmond certainly did themselves proud, it was the most exciting Worlds since Geelong. And two deserving winners who raced with heart and soul. Hopefully no Rainbow Turds will be shat out next season.
@frank
That is awesome gunnage.
And no gloves! Lizzie = badass.
@RobSandy
Yes. Double yes. And the Boels Dolmans color way was one of the best for this past year
@frank
The juxtaposition of the guns agains the nails caught my eye.
Well done Lizzie, i’m sure you’ll do the bands justice.
Sagan’s immediate post-race interview (when he struggled to say in English that he hopes that people can change the world and that he hopes that he can be an example) was one of the coolest things I’ve heard an athlete say in a long time. The interviewer’s follow-up was one of the dumbest.
@sthilzy
From cyclingnews: “Under UCI rules we can only have team issue shorts or white shorts. We haven’t decided which Peter will wear yet but the rules mean he can’t use black shorts.”
WTF!
@Gianni I could not agree more. I was screaming at the screen for Lizzie and Sagan and it wasn’t because I had them both in the VSP. They both rode and won like Champions, with guts, panache and a big helping of race craft, the way that any of us would choose to win. Even the under 23 finale was epic, that course in Richmond was tailor made for the kind of racing we love to. See.
I was at the finish for the Women’s elite and it was fantastic. I started on Libby Hill for the Men’s elite and then moved to 21st and worked my way over to Governor’s hill. It was a very spectator friendly course and the organizers were all very pleasant to deal with.
@davidw
Frank, can you send a copy of ‘The Rules’ to the UCI please?
Fucktards.
Mind you, out of team shorts or white shorts I think they would both look better in white.
Now if only tennis can take a page from cycling. It’s a bit tiresome for the men to fall to the ground crying when they win. Too much pansyism going on there as opposed to Sagan’s subtle “yep, I won” line crossing above.
(that said, the dudes who pull out binkies and what not should be relegated).
Nice! I think we have two very worthy champions this year. Not to single anyone out, but I think there have been a few lucky ones recently who have failed to do the rainbow bands justice.
Black shorts would be best, but I think they’ll go with white over the nasty team shorts they usually wear.
Yep, Spesh have to be pretty happy.
I spent Sunday down at the base of Libby Hill for the first three laps, rode up to 23rd street for three, then to Main street, VCU, the turnaround at the Monuments before finishing at Governors for the final lap. The atmosphere when Sagan made his attack was electric. Even more so as each corner showed his lead growing. What a day. I only caught the back half of the women’s race Saturday. I wish I had driven down earlier, but I couldn’t miss my Saturday morning club ride. Richmond was a great host, and I only heard positive comments from a group of Belgian fans I chatted with Saturday.
@Jay
Sagan took 3 stages on le Tour in 2012 by surprise but from there on riders knew how dangerous he is. Peter said few times that on flat stages it is not so easy to beat Greipel or Cavendish who – as he says – are better sprinters. On a hilly stages riders refuse to cooperate in an attack with him. Sagan was repeatedly bitter for lack of Rule #67 because non sprinters don’t see a point in cooperating with him.
In 2016 he will have even harder time. If he will not get appropriate help by Tinkoff team he will have to act like a lonely lion and show dominance like in Richmond. Nobody wants to cooperate? All right, HTFU, I’ll win anyway.
@davidw
That’s an easy one to solve. Team gets black bibs next year!
@frank
Talk about a poker face. Holy smokes, all business.
Great photo all around with the painted nails and engagement ring, meanwhile crushing souls off the back.
Ok, tonight I vow to get the photos from that 2nd corner of Libby Hill off of my VMHs phone. She got some incredible shots of Stybar, Sagan, Boonen coming around the barriers in the gutter.
Was there all day Saturday, all day Sunday. Never in my life did I imagine I’d be a) a Follower b) able to drive 2.5 hours and see all those gods and goddesses of cycling!
Ah, nuts.
@davidw
What is the UCI thinking? They should stick to what they do best (pretending to fight the war on drugs) and leave the aesthetics to us, FFS.
@Matt
The jewelry and nail polish on the women is always so awesome – such a contrast to the crushing of souls, as you say.
She’s got a great poker face; here she is on the Oude Kwaremont:
Here she was leading the pack up while I shot on the Kruisberg in the 2014 Ronde
Alright people: we set up a petition to have the UCI change the rule preventing black shorts with championship jerseys. Help us get the word out and save Rule #15!
http://chn.ge/1QNlKHO
@frank
@frank
I reckon that image is a smoke screen – surely Oleg will go with a ‘camo’ version? :-)
@gilly
You are correct sir. The French U23 winner did just what Sagan did, lead it all the way from the steep cobbled climb, 23rd street (?). He didn’t quite have the lead Sagan did but it was a killer finish too. No one quite bombs the corners like Sagan does.
@Neispants
Yes! I completely agree. He is a class act.
My Dad and I were in Richmond Sunday for the men’s road race. It was awesome. You really do not get an appreciation for how fast they ride until you see it up close. The pros are from another planet as far as I’m concerned. Not only fast – but fast for 160 miles. Mind blowing. Seeing the team cars scream through the corners was pretty cool too.
Richmond did a great job and it was a great course to walk and see the riders come through at different sections of the race.
I got a quick video of Peter climbing off his bike right after the win, throwing his helmet and gloves into the crowd. People were going nuts screaming “Peter, Peter!”.
https://youtu.be/WPbHy0ma-wc
@Gianni
What example would that be… to live as a tax exile in Monaco? To grope podium girls?
Seriously, the guy can ride a bike, no dispute. But I don’t need lessons on world peace and harmony from multi-millionaire sports personalities.
And most of the people who praise him for saying something will do nothing about it anyway. Retweeting doesn’t solve a lot.
This
foto Balint Hamvas BrakeThrough Media
@ChrisO
when one is asked to speak (Sagan) one may as well take that opportunity not to simply talk about themselves as the one and only
@frank
thought santini maglificio sportivo was official uci supplier, not sportful
@frank
Done, C’mon folks. Sign the petition. Thanks Frank!!
@gilvelo
you didn’t see us sign, but most already did _ share thru facebook
Don’t know if y’all have noticed, but the two people you are currently drooling over don’t wear black shorts.
And, though you and I get to throw on whatever we like, they wear what their employer says they wear, however unfortunate we may think that may be. BTDT, said, “Fuck me are you kidding?”
@ChrisO
What a grinch!
@Darren H
Surely they can make the team wear predominantly black bibs with yellow highlights. I really don’t want to see white shorts… Not even Lord Sagan can make them look good…
@Oli
Agreed.
FFS if we disregard every good deed or noble sentiment just because the actor has a less-than impeccable history things are going to get really dull, really quickly. Worse than that, you deny someone the opportunity to rise to the occasion.
Might as well be a bloody crab bucket ’round here. Fuck. I’m calling a serious Rule #43 violation.
@universo
Okay… now I feel better.
@frank
She has previous for that offence when she’s been in the national champ & world cup leader jerseys.
Someone in our group caught this shot of Sagan laying it down.
@ChrisO
We’re not allowing young people the opportunity to mature anymore? That’s no fun, and I say that as being a massive former hater of his. Ass pinching was a real low, but this was a real high.