Go Rafal go
It’s a little late to be writing about the road races in Rio…but gawd damn, they were both so good that I can’t help it. Chapeau to the designer of the course, especially the finale. A very tough climb followed by an equally tough descent followed by an utterly flat but long run-in to the finish. Who knew it would produce two dramatic finishes? A one day race without big strong trade teams to control the action; there were some favorites but no sure winners. A friend who knows nothing about cycling watched both races and he could not stop talking about them. They were that good. I don’t ever need to see Annemiek Van Vleuten’s crash in slow-motion again. Thank the baby jesus she may have escaped without serious damage as that was one horrific way to stop a bike- with your face. I’ve seen no post-race interviews with Nibali but him sitting on the curb as the tv moto came by spoke volumes.
Was I happy as Rafal Majka scooted along the waterfront, safely down off the descent, heading for a solo gold medal? No, I was not. Nothing personal Rafal, I just didn’t want a climber to win this. It’s the same with Mara Abbott, I’m sure she would have been a worthy winner but damn it, a reedy climber off the front, on the flat, kilometers between her and the finish. Someone has to chase that climber down. It’s the non-grimpeur’s revenge. Once a climber isn’t climbing, they need to be hunted down. If climbers start winning too many races on the flats, well, it’s all over, isn’t it?
If Van Avermaet or Anna VDB were off the front with the same gap, they would have lasted to the finish, and I would have been cheering them on.
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Gianni, Rick; Make me plus one for rooting against Majka. In my case it's because I'd heard and read a few recent comments alluding to him being a bit egotistical, but in a denigrating way. That appears to have been enough for me to take against him. I can live with "I'm great" (if it's founded in truth), but really dislike "I'm great and you're shit by comparison".
Oh man, I had forgotten that slide out from Nibali.
I guess my comment did curse Sagan in the mtn. race with his flat. As I don't watch mtn. races...why isn't there more than one spot to get a wheel? Seems kinda crazy that you flat and your race is completely over! Can happen in road if it's really close to the line, but rarely ruins a whole race/stage.
Also, why not a pit bike? They changed Sagan's wheel. Seems like Specialized would have given him as many bikes as he wanted.
@KogaLover
For decent coverage after the fact, go to http://olympics.cbc.ca hopefully it isn't region blocked, and you can enjoy the awesome coverage we had up in the Great White North.
@Steve Trice
A few years ago Majka was winking at the camera as he was dropping everyone else on some TdF climb, enroute to gaining the dotty jumpa. It made me wary of him, like Ricardo Ricco wary but there is no evidence of that. Still, enough with the winking while dropping everyone.
@Gianni
While racing on a team managed by Riis & backed by Tinkov? I believe that's known as grounds for suspicion...
@Ron
UCI Rules for XCO:
A buddy of mine, David Rosa, was competing, ended up with his rear wheel shaped like an 8 in the second lap while running 14th and moving up the ranks. The dude ran through the hardest part of the course carrying his ailing bicycle all the way to the technical area just to get a new wheel and stay in the race. It's not like the course was a nicely paved road, these aren't exactly featherweight road bikes and aside from his guns, the man is one tiny motherfucker.
This cannot possibly qualify as a Rule 42 violation. If anything it is a heartbreaking application of Rulke 4. Froomey abandoned his bike and ran away from his replacement ride, my friend desperately ran towards help carrying his fatally wounded bike.
It is my biggest gripe with XCO, that so many races are decided by technical issues and not due to strict enforcement and of rules 5 and 10.
@pedro
D Rosa - were his parents cyclists?
@Teocalli
Not that I know of. At least not at any relevant level. I'm talking about David Rosa, Portuguese mountain biker, perhaps you are thinking of Diego Rosa, the Italian currently riding for Astana?
@pedro
*watches as the joke zooms over Pedro's head...*
D Rosa. As in De Rosa.
@RobSandy
Thanks - I was working out how to reply.