Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s World Championship Road Race 2016

Reaching down in the drops for the last drop of the V

Three riders stand out in this photo: Sagan, Van Avarcan’t*, and Deggencobble in the drops, crushing it up the stupid-steep cobbled final climb at the 2015 Worlds in Richmond, Virginia. I’ve never thought much of Virginia, if at all, and I certainly never thought of Virginia’s many cobbled climbs. Goes to show that not everything below the Mason-Dixon Line is rubbish.

The photo says it all: only 66% of the riders climbing in the drops lost the World Championships, while 100% of the riders climbing on the hoods lost them. The science is conclusive: something about climbing in the drops gives you extra Awesome Speed.

From a traditional standpoint, I can’t say the US is the best place to host World Cycling Events. That said, the old Coors Classic was badass as shit, and both the CX and Road World Championships hosted here were easily the best in recent times in both disciplines. Merca: crushing it. So long as we don’t include “winning” within the concept of “crushing it”. But as far as hosting a great race? Nailed it.

Even less traditional is the Qatar Worlds location. As Gianni said, flat and cross winds. Very Dutchish or Flemishish, on the surface of it. Have you ever been in a sauna and had someone blow on you because they are an asshole? If you have, you will realize that in that sort of heat, adding wind makes the wet parts of your skin burn, not cool. In other words, cross winds in the desert is like racing in Belgium while Beelzebub chases you about with a flamethrower.

At least doffing leg warmers and extra jerseys won’t slow anyone down.

Get your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to nil, and good luck. Oh, and study the start list, as if it helps. Remember: a Don Walker frame is on offer for the winner of the VSP! A custom steel frame!

*Except he Van Avercould at the Olympics. Quite the time to pull out the “No More Second Places” card.

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frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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Randy C says:

Oct 16 2016 at 3:57 pm

Well… That was all right. Looking at the circuit course on a map it does look like a crit but at 10 miles it was stretched out. And I digged catching it right at the selection in the desert. Anywho, Sagain… so awesome that the, his best bud and his bro' got to race and win the worlds together and man, talk about having the world right now in your hands. Those three are in for some good times, and not sure they could find a place to celebrate in Quatar? And Tommeke on the podium?!? That sunuvagun makes me think I'm fat. And I'm not but dang he just looks like he's built to crush a bike. What a cool cat. Cav ? Oh he looked pissed at the end didn't he? Was that Matthews he got hung up behind? Uhhh, the Germans? Cool for sure to see Haymen in the group at the end. And a sneaky little attack from Leezer at the end made it interesting. Ohhh to see Sagan at PR next year !!! And I'm sure I'll not watch the tour of Quatar next year… again.

Cheers all
Oli says:

Oct 16 2016 at 5:04 pm

Great race, and a super win by Sagan. Chapeau!
Mikael Liddy says:

Oct 16 2016 at 5:22 pm

@Rick

@Pali65

Here in Slovakia the whole country is celebrating. After second title we call him Sagain…

Just a guess here but I bet that Slovacks know how to celebrate properly :) Congrats to one of your own (Sagain).

In the post race interview Sagain mentioned that he was disappointed last year because the Americans closed everything at midnight, but he was concerned it would be worse here...
Barracuda says:

Oct 16 2016 at 5:29 pm

@Mikael Liddy

@Rick

@Pali65

Here in Slovakia the whole country is celebrating. After second title we call him Sagain…

Just a guess here but I bet that Slovacks know how to celebrate properly :) Congrats to one of your own (Sagain).

In the post race interview Sagain mentioned that he was disappointed last year because the Americans closed everything at midnight, but he was concerned it would be worse here…

@frank @brett @Gianni - one for the Lexicon right there I reckon !!
Mikael Liddy says:

Oct 16 2016 at 6:25 pm

@Cary

for all the bullshit that got tossed around about the poor quality of the Qatar course, this race certainly produced a quality podium! Sagan, Cav, and Tommeke? that is some RARE company, a fucking Mount Rushmore of the 21st century peloton.

To be fair, the actual course itself was only part of the issue with where the race was held.

When you consider the ethical concerns that surround the Qatari government, the fact that they appear to have paid way over the odds to host the event, and of course the riding conditions that resulted in things like this - https://twitter.com/TimvanDijk1991/status/786924033791107072 - perhaps some of the "bullshit" was justified.
Cary says:

Oct 16 2016 at 6:58 pm

christ. a flopper. looks like me after my first kilo TT. this was one of the best races of the year, regardless.
Buck Rogers says:

Oct 16 2016 at 11:02 pm

@Cary

for all the bullshit that got tossed around about the poor quality of the Qatar course, this race certainly produced a quality podium! Sagan, Cav, and Tommeke? that is some RARE company, a fucking Mount Rushmore of the 21st century peloton.

Yes! The podium was composed of all formers winners of the WCRR (and the previous year's winner).

I wonder of that has ever happened before??? (Oli???)

Just so perfetto!!!

I cannot wait to watch PR in person next year and see Sagain go by in the Rainbow jersey on the pave'!!!
piwakawaka says:

Oct 16 2016 at 11:09 pm

Sagain!
Cary says:

Oct 16 2016 at 11:42 pm

when i get off work this morning, i'm going to watch this race again. not as cool as last year's race, but damn the finish was KILLER.
RobSandy says:

Oct 17 2016 at 1:15 am

I think Sagan and Cav must have been thrilled with the tactics of the Belgian, Italian and Norwegian teams. Keep the pace high so no-one can go off the front, and drag the two best sprinters to the line.

Sagan totally deserved that - spotted the best line and went through it like a freight train. Would have been closer if Cav hadn't been boxed by Matthews- but that's sprinting.

And we get to see Sags in the rainbows again for another whole year. Sweet.