Velominati Super Prestige: Mens World Road Race Championships 2015

The Prophet has spoken

The last time the US hosted a World Championship, it was for the Cyclocross and it was totally badass. But potholes are part of the fun in CX; we’ll have to see how a speeding peloton deals with them.

My Pedalwan Nephew will be roadside watching this weekend in Richmond, and I have to say I hate him a little bit for having that opportunity at such a young age; he better be wearing Velominati gear or I’m disowning him. I also now realize in a face-palm moment that I should have sent him the V-Flag. What day is it? Can I still overnight it? Is that even worth it?

Ok. Back on message. I really hope the police don’t shoot any of the riders, or arrest the peloton for speeding. Assuming that doesn’t happen, I suggest you meditate on the start list, pull a few aces out of your sleeve, and lay down your picks. Good luck!
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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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frank says:

Sep 28 2015 at 7:20 am

@brett

That was awesome! The way he got the gap, we didn’t even realise he had it so quickly. And then the top-tube-sitting-pedalling, the Phantom Aeros, the not-overdone salute, the dozens of other riders congratulating him, and his interview where he talked about the humanitarian crisis… all class. That’s how you win Worlds.

Great ride from Kwiatkowski too, getting in the dangerous break and still in the mix at the end.

Massive class that he spoke in English which he is obviously not comfortable with, and it was very very clear that he felt strongly about the message he was trying to deliver and was struggling. What a classy moment in sport.
frank says:

Sep 28 2015 at 7:21 am

@piwakawaka

This.

Sagan goes sur la plaque with every fibre of his being.
frank says:

Sep 28 2015 at 7:24 am

@wiscot

I’m just a bit wary of what’s to come next vis-a-vis Sagan’s kit. Let’s face it, the Saxo kit is pretty shite and Tinkoff has no taste. Will we see a Saxo-Tinkoff Rainbow Turd? The eyeballs boggle at the thought.

Both Lizzie and Sags have a poor track record in this department. I have made my pleas on twitter, it is all I can do.
oligali says:

Sep 28 2015 at 7:27 am

@frank

By the way, did anyone hear the commentator on the app’s stream tell people to go to Velominati and check out The Rules?

yeah, i think i heard him saying that someone just twittered that to him.
also funny how he was blabbering on about black socks with white shoes and vice versa...

and, of course, sagan rules.
Ron says:

Sep 28 2015 at 7:34 am

wiscot - no problem! Yep, I'll get some photos up today.

Also saw Ted King on Libby Hill, he was in the VIP section. And saw countless numbers of awesome bikes being wheeled around by fans. And saw Arnaud Demare's spare bike hanging on the barriers before the start of the race. I was trying to inspect it but the VMH shooed me away, thought the soigneur would get upset.

And Frank...couldn't agree more about Sagan's message about things going on in the world. How awesome for a young kid, which is what he is, to take a moment during his biggest success to remind people there is a lot of bad, bad fucking stuff happening right now around the world. I'm guessing he was referring to the refugee situation. I would be scared to try and tackle that in my native language. Also has me wondering if maybe in his family history, with all that has gone on in his homeland part of the world...maybe his family was displaced at some point? Maybe a Slovakian Follower knows.

No matter what, to take a moment to point out that there is more out there than riding bikes, but also to highlight that sports can inspire and help things, if just a bit, impressed me big time. Say what you want, but for an athlete to remind everyone about world strife during their moment of glory takes some maturity and perspective.
wiscot says:

Sep 28 2015 at 8:06 am

@frank

@piwakawaka

This.

Sagan goes sur la plaque with every fibre of his being.

That second pic? The perfect example of putting people in the pain cave!
Matt says:

Sep 28 2015 at 8:30 am

@ChrisO

Have you seen the footage of his foot coming out of the cleat as he powered up the hill on his attack – he hardly misses a beat and puts it back in.

Very impressive.

Start @ 7:20. Cool as a fuckin cucumber!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=462&v=zoCvceSbTn0
TheVid says:

Sep 28 2015 at 9:08 am

@Geraint

@Gianni

There was a live stream of the whole thing on the uci YouTube channel. I think it’s globally available, I’m in Indonesia at he moment and it worked fine. One for next time maybe…

http://youtube.com/ucichannel

The youtube channel was not available in Canada. My understanding is that any country where they had a broadcaster with the rights to televise the race didn't get the youtube feed. Sucked for me, since I don't have cable. Steephill.tv/Eurosport to the rescue, so I got some of the action.
xyxax says:

Sep 28 2015 at 9:35 am

@Chica

@xyxax

Virginia is for lovers. Richmond is for let’s not ruin our friendship.

Love this!

Cheers. Hopefully not from recent experience with this abominable rationale!
xyxax says:

Sep 28 2015 at 9:42 am

Got this tweet the morning of the Men's race:

Somebody knew.