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.
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@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.