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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View Comments

Peter Houkjær says:

Oct 17 2016 at 2:16 am

@Teocalli

Degenkolb not a happy bunny!

Hehe, hell no!
DVMR says:

Oct 17 2016 at 3:54 am

In all fairness, none were more worthy to take the rainbow bands than Sagan. He has been phenomenal this year, and such a joy to watch. We are/have been witnessing a legend in the making.

Roll on 2017
fignons barber says:

Oct 17 2016 at 5:22 am

Wow. Glad that's over. There are many many things that don't sit well with me regarding this event. I applaud the riders for enduring a 6 hour crit, and hope the UCI folks each enjoy the payoff money they took for selling out cycling.
Ron says:

Oct 17 2016 at 7:54 am

What the hell was Degenkolb doing?! You finish the race then you pop your front wheel out and smash him with it! Gosh, he should know better.

If I ever go bald, no shaved head for me. Only Mr. Clean looks good like that. All else should have the short fuzz/stubble.
Ron says:

Oct 17 2016 at 8:13 am

I just wish Sagan was riding something like a Pegoretti for the upcoming season, not a Specialized.
Ron says:

Oct 17 2016 at 8:42 am

Just saw this in a comments section NOT my own data bank memory.

The closest ever before this year was 1981, when the podium was the 76 and 81 champion Maertens, Saronni who would win the following year (82) and Hinault who had won the previous year (80).
paolo says:

Oct 17 2016 at 8:42 am

@fignons barber

Wow. Glad that’s over. There are many many things that don’t sit well with me regarding this event. I applaud the riders for enduring a 6 hour crit, and hope the UCI folks each enjoy the payoff money they took for selling out cycling.

I'm afraid it's only going to get worse and not just in cycling. Everybody wants a slice of Middle East money. Better get it before the oil runs out....
wiscot says:

Oct 17 2016 at 9:25 am

Great finish! Personally I would have been happier with a Boonen, Cav, Sagan podium, but hey, it was well-deserved by Pinchy and Cav coulda, shoulda, woulda won if he hadn't bolloxed up his sprint and been interrupted by Bling. That's the way the sprinting cookie crumbles I guess. I think both Cav and Boonen realized that this was their last realistic shot at wearing the bands.
Buck Rogers says:

Oct 17 2016 at 11:53 am

@Ron

Just saw this in a comments section NOT my own data bank memory.

The closest ever before this year was 1981, when the podium was the 76 and 81 champion Maertens, Saronni who would win the following year (82) and Hinault who had won the previous year (80).

Excellent! Thanks, Mate!

I did not realize that a repeat champion had happened so many times in the past (five times prior to Sagain doing it) and that one of them was NOT The Prophet. Although the Rik Van Brothers (Steenbergen and Looy) were among them.
RobSandy says:

Oct 18 2016 at 2:09 am

@paolo

@fignons barber

Wow. Glad that’s over. There are many many things that don’t sit well with me regarding this event. I applaud the riders for enduring a 6 hour crit, and hope the UCI folks each enjoy the payoff money they took for selling out cycling.

I’m afraid it’s only going to get worse and not just in cycling. Everybody wants a slice of Middle East money. Better get it before the oil runs out….

And the water - all the surface water you saw was being pumped from underground aquifers which are running out.