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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As a brazilian rider I thank you for the velominatious way of writing about those races. Cool, elegant, sharply precise. The parcour is really tough. I bid fellow cyclists all over the world can make it once in their lifetimes. I made a bike movie there once, if you feel like watching it, I'd be honoured:
https://vimeo.com/alexandrecruz/rio
@Alexandre Cruz
beauty video, thanks for sharing
The men's race was exciting almost from the start. Gotta love how the mechanics didn't prep the bikes as they would have for P-R and bottles were getting ejected, saddles slipping, riders tumbling. Craziness from the gun.
Those climbing circuits were amazing as well. I don't like to see people crashing, but damn...holding your breath around the corners, can't see ahead, moto comes around and BOOM, another rider down, then another. And if Nibali goes down, you know that shit is real. Real tough.
I've been thinking about it. I can't recall seeing Nibali ever crash. (Wiscot or Oli...care to remind my memory banks?) And not to curse him, but I think that leaves Sagan as the only rider way up there at the top that I've never seen hit the deck. The moto hitting him doesn't count, nor will crashing, if he does, in the mtn. race tomorrow.
Yup, the VMHs friend, who is of Dutch ancestry, wrote me a long email, saying how awesome the races were and how crazy that crash was. Both races were GREAT. I really like Greg VA, happy to see him win.
And talk about prestige and being a good teammate. Marianne went crazy at the line and was thrilled for her teammate and then there was the young Belgian guy who couldn't stop crying. So damn cool to see that passion.
And gotta give a shout out to Michael Kwiatkowski for that fucking ride. Strong showing outta that guy.
@Ron
TdF a distant memory?
@Alexandre Cruz
Nice video. Is that a dedicated cycling route with the road markings?
@Alexandre Cruz
Wow! I was expecting a Go Pro video but that is exceptional work. Thank you for sharing. If I am not mistaken the riders in your film approached the summit from the other side than the Olympians?
@Alexandre Cruz
Very cool video and use of drones. Love the kits too. And I know I'd seen that logo somewhere…
@Alexandre Cruz
Very cool.
@Alexandre Cruz
Fantastico!
Races were amazing too, my heart sunk when I saw Nibali drying the road with his back but it was oh-so-great to see GVA cross the finish line first.
I almost didn't miss seeing Sagan in there, and that's says a something.
@Alexandre Cruz
Wow, that is a beautiful looking movie. Rio looks like an awesome city set into the coastal mountains, yes, I'd go there, hopefully with a bike. Nice work AC.