IMHO the route is very tough, even before the final, brutal climb, so I really hope we'll see action from afar and good selection, please no 60-70 riders to the foot of the last climb!!
I like your roundup :), the only other name I can think of is Van Avermaet, it's quite hard for him, but Rio was pretty tough too and yet he won.
And the Colombians, too bad Bernal is still injured, but they have a strong team, maybe Lopez or Uran can pull a surprise!
Where I differ from you is about Sagan, I think he can handle the regular lap climb quite fine, surely the final climb will be a nightmare for him, 99% chance that he won't hold, but... he's Peter Sagan, at the worlds, it's a lethal combination :D
My number one favourite though wil be Alaphilippe, I think he is tailor-made for this race and he has had such a brilliant year! I also think that he has probably the best uphill kick.
I'm not making a pick, because I'm undecided and also I'm split about who to root for between these two guys :)).
My third favourite is Nibali, Italian media (very unusually) are downplaying his condition, but as you said, you can never count him out. If he wasn't ready, he wouldn't be here.
About the women's race, I think it's quite easy : Van der Breggen or Van Vleueten (I'm not familar enough to make a pick) , no other option :D
Comment has been collapsed.
Yeah, I thought about mentioning Van Avermaet cause of Rio but I don't think he can do it tomorrow.
And Peter... I would love it if he got his fourth consecutive world title but I think it will be almost impossible for him to do it; you'd assume the others will be smart enough to have a breakaway and not arrive at the last climb en groupe.
Comment has been collapsed.
Fuglsang, of course, and Majka, just to throw in something unexpected :)
Comment has been collapsed.
Anna van der Breggen is the new Merckx! https://twitter.com/wielerman/status/1046031876597657601
Comment has been collapsed.
I tuned in for the last lap and she already had an enormous gap, amazing! I knew that Van Vleuten had crashed , despite finishing 6th or 7th, I just read that she had a knee fracture :-o
Comment has been collapsed.
She managed to get 7th place with a knee that "popped out" and now it appears has a fracture and some other stuff: https://twitter.com/AvVleuten/status/1046090205256708096
It's amazing how well they all did. I hope the men's race will be as exciting.
Comment has been collapsed.
And Valverde finally has the rainbow jersey. What a great race!
Comment has been collapsed.
It was quite boring till the end but then all the favorites started dropping like flies!
He had to wait till 38 but he finally got what he deserved, I'm very happy for Valverde.
Shame Tom was completely empty for that final sprint though. :)
Comment has been collapsed.
Given how broken he looked after the TT, I think he had an amazing performance, lots of respect for this guy, so much fighting spirit!
Comment has been collapsed.
Yeah, I can only hope he will become even better in the years to come and get us that so long awaited Tour de France victory. :)
Comment has been collapsed.
Lots of surprises from favourites underperforming but this takes nothing away from Don Alejandro, he can stll climb these mad gradients and sprint like he was 10 years younger :D.
Comment has been collapsed.
Alejandro Valverde in men's road race WCh
🌈
🥇 2018
🥉 2014
🥉 2013
🥉 2012
🥉 2006
🥈 2005
🥈 2003
Alejandro Valverde 🇪🇸 (38 years-158 days) is the 2nd oldest men's road race world champion after Joop Zoetemelk 🇳🇱 in 1985 (38-272).
Source: https://twitter.com/GracenoteGold/status/1046411352280117249
Comment has been collapsed.
Just imagine how his upcoming season is going to be. :D
Comment has been collapsed.
Peter Sagan is just the best, oh man!
Comment has been collapsed.
Road World Championships - Road Race
Also running: Russian Grand Prix 2018
How it works
Predict who is going to win the race; that's all. :)
Race Preview
Last year Peter Sagan had the perfect race; completely invisible till the last kilometre and then taking it at the line. This year will be quite different
with seven (four for the women) real climbs between start and finish. No fourth title in a row for Peter!
The course can be compared to Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the list of favorites contains winners of the spring classics and some grand tour contenders.
Sites
Wikipedia
Favorites
Women's Race Preview
I can't help but mention the women's road race since the Dutch are so strong. :D
They got places 1,2,3, and 6 in the ITT on Tuesday but failed in the European Championships road race a few months ago. Can they do better here?
Giveaways
Comment has been collapsed.