79pmooney
Posts:3180
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09/28/2014 10:45 AM |
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Good for Michael Kwiatkowski! Cool to see a rider from a non-super power pull off a longish move. And a fitting cap for an excellent season for him.
I'd have been happy to see a Spanish rider pull this off though I didn't really expect it. (Italy and Spain both seem to have trouble working cohesively at the WCs.) Australia, England or Belgium? Ho hum. Wins by boring power. Though a good solo move by Gilbert could have been fun.
So, a WC that I enjoyed. And a year of Poland and France sitting on top of the world. (Pauline Ferrand Prevot, the Woman's Elite WC). I like it!
Ben
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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09/28/2014 11:15 AM |
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I had picked Gerrans and Valverde; at least they made it on podium :-) Didn't see Kwiatkowski coming but he's had a stellar year so it makes sense. He is starting to do better than his buddy Sagan. Missed the entire thing, rolled out of bed just as they had finished. |
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bobswire
Posts:304
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09/28/2014 12:48 PM |
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Well deserved win, the chase was playing around too much with Gilbert doing most of work while the others waited too long expecting a sprint. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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09/28/2014 12:57 PM |
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What a season for this kid! The only down side to a season like this is doing it again next year with all the expectations on him. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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09/28/2014 01:06 PM |
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jm, he is on OPQS. That's a pretty grounded, level-headed squad. I suspect he will get a lot of help dealing with the expectations. I'm betting that he has it pointed out soon that next year will probably be a big reality check and that that's OK. Ben |
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Oldfart
Posts:511
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09/28/2014 03:55 PM |
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Poor Fabian didn't have a full team like other nations. Not fair. Meanwhile Poland had how many in the race? |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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09/29/2014 02:16 PM |
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I didn't watch it but it sounds like it was a great race... (from the Inner Ring) "Four riders went up the road, surprisingly few given the bunch was going to huddle in the rain, a rare chance for some to get on TV as they weren’t going to feature otherwise. It meant little to watch and you suspected a significant share of the audience for the first four hours comprised immobile hospital patients with limbs in traction, the remote just out of reach. " |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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09/29/2014 07:25 PM |
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Andy, I think Poland had a decent sized squad but that a good portion of that team were from lesser continental teams. Ie numbers but not firepower. Poland did do a lot of work at the front early in the race to bring the breakaway lead back from about 15 minutes to manageable. Nobody can argue Poland didn't get the most out its riders! Ben |
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