Worlds 2021

[DuncanM]

Well, the worlds has started. Mega flat TT course for the men yesterday and the women today. Not really a surprise in the top 5 (maybe slightly in the order), but Ethan Hayter did a good ride, and Dan Bigham demonstrated that aero is pretty damn important by beating a load of World Tour riders.
The women don't seem to ride many pan flat TTs, so today is going to be interesting...

[drgannet]

Nice to see Tony Martin with a final world championship on the day he retired.

[MattH]

Well done to Zoe Backstedt  Be nice to have the rainbow jersey on some UK races next year.

[Peter]

Nice to see Tony Martin with a final world championship on the day he retired.

I can't find that result - was it in one of the new-fangled mixed thingies?  Definitely agree with the sentiment.  Wonder if he'll ask for the jersey to be made out of cardboard and have opi-omi printed on it.  Sickeningly coincidental that it brought down a German!

[Karla]

It was in one of the new fangled mixed things, yes.

The women's RR was good today too.  It was a shame Vos couldn't win but I guess the Italians can continue their 2021 domination of all things sport.

[Peter]

Thanks, Karla.  And a good summation of my feelings about the women's race.  I didn't see it, I'm afraid but Marianne Vos's record of 2 wins and 7 seconds is sensational.  Suspect Italian resurgence won't stretch to the rugby - Scotland's South African could have got in the Saffas' team, I think, but not the motley imports in the Azzurri.

[drgannet]

Thanks, Karla.  And a good summation of my feelings about the women's race.  I didn't see it, I'm afraid but Marianne Vos's record of 2 wins and 7 seconds is sensational.  Suspect Italian resurgence won't stretch to the rugby - Scotland's South African could have got in the Saffas' team, I think, but not the motley imports in the Azzurri.

3 and 6 at elite level; 4 and 7 if you include junior level.

[DuncanM]

I only saw the last 15km of the womens road race - it was proper attacky. The Italians clearly won the teamwork - the Dutch plan seemed to be to attack with everyone except Vos and let her look after herself if it was a sprint, but the Italians saved a lead out. I felt for Kasia Niewiadoma - it looked like she covered pretty much every attack in the last 15k and launched a couple of her own, but missed the last one (not that she could have won a sprint from that 3 person group).

[Peter]

Thanks, Karla.  And a good summation of my feelings about the women's race.  I didn't see it, I'm afraid but Marianne Vos's record of 2 wins and 7 seconds is sensational.  Suspect Italian resurgence won't stretch to the rugby - Scotland's South African could have got in the Saffas' team, I think, but not the motley imports in the Azzurri.

3 and 6 at elite level; 4 and 7 if you include junior level.

Sorry, I took her palmares from the bbc report - silly boy!

[Mr Larrington]

(click to show/hide)

D Friebe:	O hai! I am TV's D Friebe, I iz in Belgium and I haz chips! [Indicates chips] Here!
NC Boardman:	O hai! I am TV's Niec C Boardman and I liek chips!  Gotta love a country whose cuisine relies on deep-frying!
J Douglas:	O hai! I am TV's J Douglas and I am glad u approve ov Scotland, Niec C!
J Alaphilippe:	RAAAAAAWWWWWWWWR!
Bethany (11):	Banned for life by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Inc. and now this? Fckles!
CP Sagan:	Crazy!

[DuncanM]

(click to show/hide)

I'm just really confused by what Belgium were doing. If they were all-in for WvA making it hard enough to get rid of some sprinters makes some sense, but creating a perfect launch pad for the punchy types like Alaphilippe, Kwiatkovski, Mohric with no-one left to keep it together because you burned everyone in the first half of the race seems somewhat pointless. If you can't cover the attacks at the pointy end, you've got things wrong.
Also, if Pidcock had good legs, he followed the wrong wheels. I think he marked WvA and VdP and his bridge attempt at the end was too late. He's had a pretty good season though.