World Championships **Spoiler tags required for same day race info**

dastardly00 wrote: »

Has he raced much since the TdF? I haven't heard him mentioned in any race results. He definitely should be there or there abouts.

He raced in a lot of crits after the Tour I heard, and then he had a go in the GP Quebec but faded 300m from the line. But for someone who can climb those short hills, and still have enough to win the sprint, I can't see beyond him or Gilbert.

CillianL wrote: »

Rodriguez
Voeckler
Contador
Gilbert
Sagan
Boonen
Nibali
Gerrans
Boson Hagen

One of them will win it or make the podium. Can anyone think of any dark horses for it? Chris Froome and Dan Martin come to mind, though Moreno Moser has been flying all year as well

What a mouth-watering list of contenders, most of whom are still going well in the latter part of the season.

What is the strategy likely to be for the Belgian team..........? They cant be working for both Boonen AND Gilbert for the whole race, can they? Or is it going to be a case of tactics rather than strategy and just seeing which of the two contenders is best placed on the final laps? It will be interesting to watch that one develop.......particularly if Boonen doesn't get away earlier and Sagan is still in the mix.

Then there's a similar issue in the Spanish team with Contador, Valverde & Purito. etc etc.

Looking forward to this!

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

What a mouth-watering list of contenders, most of whom are still going well in the latter part of the season.

What is the strategy likely to be for the Belgian team..........? They cant be working for both Boonen AND Gilbert for the whole race, can they? Or is it going to be a case of tactics rather than strategy and just seeing which of the two contenders is best placed on the final laps? It will be interesting to watch that one develop.......particularly if Boonen doesn't get away earlier and Sagan is still in the mix.

Then there's a similar issue in the Spanish team with Contador, Valverde & Purito. etc etc.

Looking forward to this!

I think it actually suits the Belgians to have two big names in the team as it gives them options no one else has. If the race blows apart into echelons Boonen is more than capable of holding his own, and will take nearly anyone in a sprint, otherwise if Gilbert is first man up the Cauberg on the last lap he's no slouch on the flats either so he'd have to drop Boonen if it it came down to it.

I reckon the Belgians and the Spanish will control the peloton as long as it suits them and once they get onto the circuit, they'll tighten the screw each lap until the decisive attacks come in the last two laps. Boonen will need to be well positioned coming into the climbs, but seeing how well he climbed in the TTT he should be fine. They'll need to avoid the mistakes made by the Brits in the Olympics though, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Italians and Australians try and catch with their trousers down if they get the chance

As regards Sagan, he went off making money in crits after the Tour so he's probably knackered after his summer campaign. And everyone will ride to get rid of him as soon as possible. He hasn't got a team to look after him either so unless he's recovered really quickly and he cashes in on a load of favours I can't see him winning

Beasty wrote: »

Special punishments may be applied to minimise the risk of this happening again. In the case of the "other one" involved, I will be requiring him to be watching the Liverpool v United match instead of the RR - he can drop information on that one into the forum until his heart's content, so long as they are accompanied by these smileys:

:mad:

I will! but I am sure it will be more of a