Just add water. It’s true of dehydrated food and it’s true of a dehydrated sport approaching the end of the season. It seems adding a dose of rain improves any race, but none so more than the World Road Race championships. That is, so long as you ignore Paris-Roubaix and de Ronde van Vlaanderen. In any case, I’m hoping for rain in Melbourne on on Saturday and Sunday.
The cycling world’s eye is turned sharply towards Australia as the World Championships unfold. It seems to me the competitors are facing some unique challenges in this years event, given it’s location and route. Conventional knowledge is that the course is not hard enough and will favor the sprinters. I am convinced this is not the case, despite the considerable setbacks of not having studied the course nor having been to Australia. I’ll also mention that I’m unwilling to do any “research” to validate my assumptions, but they sound good and a good-sounding guess is almost the same as a fact.
I’m not about to underestimate the disorienting effect of riding upside down. Aussies and Kiwis will be used to it, but all that blood rushing to your head when you’re in Oz will do nothing to toughen up your guns. Riders who already have a big head, like ‘Cav, will be at risk of having their noggin’s rupture under the pressure. I just hope they’ve been acclimating by sleeping upside down.
It’s also Springtime in Oz, so the Euros who already raced a Spring campaign will suffer the unpredictable side-effects of experiencing the same season twice, similar to what happens when you travel back in time and share a brewskie with your past self.
Finally, most Europeans are used to having dogs and the like shoot into the road and know how to handle it. It’s usually no big deal because European dogs are generally small and fluffy and can be run over pretty easily with only a bit of fur getting stuck in the drive-train. However, I have it on the excellent authority of someone who’s credibility I can’t verify that kangaroos are fucking everywhere down there, and everyone already knows all Aussies carry Bowie knives. I can only speculate as to the sequence of events caused by having a marsupial hop into the rider’s path during the race. I’m guessing those Bowie knives will likely come in handy.
Bear these insights in mind as you enter your picks for the inaugural Velominati Super Prestige World Road Race Championship edition. This one is a little bit different from before; we’ll be doing a concurrent event for both the Men’s and Women’s Elite Road Race. Enter your picks for both races by the time the Women’s race starts on Saturday. After the start, substitutions for the Mens race will only be allowed for pre-race DNS’s. Regular 1-day race points apply for both races, 5 for first, 4 for second, 3, for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for 5th. A bonus point will also be awarded for any pick in the top five, regardless of placing.
Bonus Points:
We will be offering a 5 point bonus to the contestant who correctly picks both winners.
We will also be awarding bonus points to anyone who identifies egregious Rule Violations before, during, and immediately after the races. Entries should be posted here as you see them; supplemental evidence given through photos posted or specific times in the races (km’s from the finish) will be given extra consideration. Violations are worth 1 bonus point each, at the panel’s discretion.
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Again I'm viewing the jerseys from mid-pack
Best Worlds since '89 and that probably only edges it because of the weather. Worth staying up all night. Now have to let the caffeine work through the system before sleep
@Jarvis
I agree, awesome race. I love the way the lads raced at the end, with no games, just Rule 5. Giblets did a great finale.
@all
Pretty humble pickings for the VSP, but newcomer Ken took the prize by being the only one to pick Thor and having a strong showing in the Women's race. I thought about it but...couldawouldashoulda...It's also interesting that by and large, we scored more points in the Women's than Men's races.
Well done, Ken; we'll be contacting you to make arrangements to send you your Obey the Rules sticker!
Those scoring points were:
1 Ken 10 points
2 Frank 7 points
3 Marko 6 points
4 Robert Marques: 6 points
5 Steampunk: 6 points
6 Marcus: 5 points
7 Brett 4 points
8 Jarvis 4 points
9 Nathan Edwards: 4 points
10 KitCarson 4 points
11 Sgt 2 points
12 John 1 point
13 Hawkeye 1 point
14 Ben 1 point
15 Cyclops 1 point
Overall, Andy maintains his lead despite not entering this edition, with Steampunk closing in to within striking distance.
1 Andy 56 points
2 Steampunk: 48 points
3 Frank 46 points
4 John 45 points
5 Geoff 45 points
6 Marcus: 40 points
7 Hawkeye 40 points
8 Jarvis 39 points
9 Rob 38 points
10 Brett 37 point
11 Robert Marques: 36 point
12 Joe 35 point
13 Marko 30 points
14 Scott 26 points
15 Roadslave 25 points
16 Ben 20 points
17 Pont 15 points
18 Nathan Edwards: 11 points
19 Souleur: 10 points
20 Crossy: 10 points
21 Ken 10 points
22 KitCarson 10 points
23 Daniel 5 points
24 Sgt 3 points
25 David: 2 points
26 Dan O 2 points
27 Joshua 2 points
29 David 1 points
30 Cyclops 1 points
31 James 0 points
32 Jim 0 points
33 Ben: 0 points
34 Dale: 0 points
35 Houdini 0 points
@Frank
I'm feeling rather ashamed of myself. I celebrated winning the VSP by doing the exact opposite of Rule 5 today, the rain hammering down outside providing the perfect excuse for sitting on the sofa watching World Champs highlights and the Europeans dishing out the golfing equivalent of Rule 5 to the Americans in the Ryder Cup. (Though I'm rather conscious of the fact that even mentioning 'golf' and 'Rule 5' in the same sentence rightly risks instant excommunication from the ranks of the Velominati.)
I clearly need that sticker!
Thanks!!
@ken
Has anybody noticed that golf spelled backwards is flog?
@ken A tough day on the bike can ruin your legs and your body...a tough day on the golf course can ruin your mind...
Chapeau to the UCI for no radios
What a great race, and an unbelievable defence by Good Cadel. Gilbert was too strong and so blew his load a hill too soon, although considering the headwind off the final hill, it was unlikely anyone would stay away. The stress in the UCI that the peloton would be lapped before entering the circuit was absofrickinlutely hilarious.
And the fact that virtually everyone did better in the chicks just shows how mediocre a race it is: you can't help but get a couple right when there's only about 6 who can possibly do any good.
Great race! I unfortunately had to go out to meet some friends (and watch damn American football, but thankfully I got home before midnight and caught the last 70 km or so.
As for the sport flog and the Ryder Cup - I knew it was going on only due to the NYT Sunday edition, but all I could think is, "Who the hell cares?" I'll play golf, maybe, but watching it? C'mon now.
Did get in two great rides this weekend. Awesome weather, though a bit windy. And the harvest moon last night allowed a reason to celebrate on a Sunday night.