Yes and yes @photos:Tim de Waele/Corbis and CyclingWeekly
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.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@frank
Yup, Etixx do seem to get it right on kit, don't they? Real caps, good looking gear. Black shorts etc. That was the one disappointment with the Lombardia podium - baseball caps on all three riders.
New word for the Lexicon: Saganical
Accidental unclipping while laying down the V yet immediately clipping in casually deliberate.
Sagan unclipping see 2m.27s
On the subject of black vs white shorts for the World Champion. I know Frank may ex-communicate me for this, but ... But really, who gives a flying f**k what WE think is right? None of us is the World Champion and that's who decides whether he/she wants to wear white or black. They earned it and they (and only they) deserve to decide what's "right." What y'all or I like doesn't really matter.
@ChrisO
I didn't mean it with any judgement about your own situation, I just thought it was an odd comment to make seeing as (I assume) you're in a similar position yourself.
On the original topic at hand, if we're happy enough to denigrate Sagan for his mistakes (Flanders podium), then why not also praise him when he does something good?
Sagan is THE MAN.
@chuckp
If thats the case @frank may as well pull the plug on this whole site.
We SHOULD care what colour bibs a world champ wears, otherwise whats the point to anything. And the colour choice should be black!
Funnily enough, I get that there's tongue in cheek irreverence here. I get we like to talk about bikes 'n stuff. I get the appreciation of the history of cycling.
I'm finding though that for the past little while, I haven't come back here as often because people seem to take this stuff waaaaaay too seriously.
Frankly, I find this whole discussion really quite boring. Yes, In the past Saronni wore black WC knicks, so did Merckx, So did Bobet. That was history. They also rode steel bikes with gumwalls. That is also history. I'm sure most of them even rode shallow box aluminium rims with shiny silver hubs. Also history.
Problem is; now is not then. Things have moved on. I don't listen to top 40 radio or golden oldies. I'm sure most of you don't either. So why is nostalgia clouding your judgement about what's acceptable now.
This site, I thought was about aesthetics. I think that the greater part of aesthetics for cycling is about how one looks on a bike. Put Sagan or Armistead in white WC kit and they'll look awesome. Put them in Camo kit, or whatever and they'll still look awesome. Because they are positioned well. Because they're strong.
Bang on all you like about what's fashion correct. Start petitions if you'd like. Point out your rules to all who will listen but I think you will reach the point very soon where people will begin to roll their eyes at the groupthink and pedantry of it all.
Sadly, I have.
@mouse
haven't you answered your own question. Its supposed to be tongue in cheek. Hence why we love this site.
To me it's always been a slightly odd blend of tongue in cheek and way too serious groupthink and pedantry, but as I've (finally) worked out that I'm as guilty of both viewpoints as anyone I'm reconciled with my place here.
@mouse
I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about, I listen to both kinds of music, Country and Western.