Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s World Championship Road Race 2016
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.
[vsp_results id=”75561″/]
Bidniz indeed, offsite with the company. While in HK all signs are translated into English, in Macau all is translated into Portuguese.
VSP PICKS:
OK. Changing my picks. Not that it really matters since I don’t have a chance to win overall.
VSP PICKS:
@KogaLover
Strange; just tried to post a reply, but that seems to have disappeared into Cyberspace.
Anyway: Cool. Happy landings and enjoy your get-rid-of-the-jetlag ride tomorrow.
For the record: gambling is utterly lost on me as well, fortunately. (Another addiction that can come at high cost for some, from what I’ve heard…)
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
Cav will kill it!
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
Dang, I just hit a wet drain cover
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
Here’s to Tommeke finishing his career on the top step in the Roubaix velodrome in the rainbow jersey.
VSP PICKS:
Manx missile ftw
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
Back to Back for the man with the locks!
VSP PICKS:
Just to Clarify – Gav not Cav. Will be interesting to see if Renshaw leads out Ewen/Matthews or if he rides for Cav in the finale?
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
@Quadzilla
And it will be interesting to see if Ewen leads out Matthews or vice versa…
VSP PICKS:
Could go any which way with these five but I am putting them in my “wishlist” finish order!
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
Heia Norge!
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
Mr Gaviria’s win at Paris Tours was flat out bad a**. I can’t help but think it’ll carry over. Cheers all
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
Fingers crossed.
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS:
VSP PICKS: