 |
| (Welcome to the 2012 Amstel Gold Race! *Cough* I mean, UCI Road World Championships!) |
With less than 4 days to go until the 2012 UCI Road Limburg and are eagerly awaiting the départ of this prestigious race. Not only will the first rider across the line be crowned "World Champion", he will also don the traditional rainbow jersey (and associated paraphernalia) for the entirety of the 2013 season. At stake, nothing less than cycling immortality. A place amongst the legends of our sport.
The Route:
The course profile for this 79th Road World Championships stands in stark contrast to the "sprinter's dream" offered in 2011. Riders will set out from Maastricht
 |
| (The first 100 km crests 7 taxing climbs.) |
 |
| (Round we go! 10 loops of this painful circuit!) |
Indeed, whether the race comes down to a battle between a handful of riders on the Cauberg’s final ascension, or whether someone successfully launches an attack from further out, this year’s edition of the World Championships should be a great one!
The Challengers:
 |
| Philippe Gilbert |
Age: 30
Nationailty: Belgian
Team: BMC Racing Team
Specialty: Puncheur
2012 Results: Vuelta a Espana (2 stage victories), 3rd - La Flèche Wallone
While Gilbert’s 2012 season has been nothing to write home about – let’s face it, 2 victories in 2012 compared to 18 in 2011 could be qualified as nothing short of a disaster, it is a testament to his class that bookies and odds makers list him as the favourite for Sunday’s race. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Gilbert should be quite at ease with the roads proposed on the menu. This hilly-race specialist has won the Amstel Gold Race twice (as recently as last year) and boasts a palmares that most other riders in the current peloton could only dream about. When he is on form, his accelerations up short and steep hills cannot be matched by anyone in the world. Two recent stage victories at this year’s Vuelta a Espana further suggest that his form is finally on the mend.
---
 |
| Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodriguez |
Age: 33, 32 and 29 respectively
Nationailty: Spanish
Team: Movistar, Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank, Katusha
Specialty: All Rounders
2012 Results: Too many to list...
It may seem cheap that I’ve heaped all three riders into the profile of one “challenger”, however I think it’s safe to say that this six legged, three headed Spanish hydra-beast definitely has the fire power required to blow this race apart. Whether they’ll be able to come together as a team or whether egos and personal ambitions will hinder their chances remains to be seen, however. All three riders appeared to be on top form at this year’s Vuelta a Espana. The question now will be to see how depleted they are following the September Grand Tour.
Of the three, Rodriguez is potentially the most explosive rider at their disposal. If anyone can match and dismantle a Gilbert attack, it’s Joaquim Rodriguez. When on top of his game, J-Rod has proven time and time again that he is one of the best in races with this type of finish. His podium finishes at both the Italian and Spanish tours could potentially see him on the tail-end of his second “peak” of the season, however.
It’s much of the same for Valverde, I’m afraid. While typically phenomenal on these types of courses (Valverdre is a two time winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the 2006 winner of La Flèche Wallone), “El Imbatido” is still finding his legs following his 2 year doping related suspension. Don’t get me wrong, his podium finishes at the Vuelta a Espana, the Tour Down Under and Paris Nice are nothing to scoff at. He just doesn’t seem to be firing on all the same cylinders as before. Regardless, we shouldn’t be too surprised if the Movistar rider finds himself on the top step of the podium on Sunday.
Contador on the other hand, while also undoubtedly fatigued from his efforts at the Vuelta, is coming into this race with a lot less racing in the legs than most of the challengers. If anything, the Vuelta could have produced a supercompensation effect and Contador could be lining up on Sunday morning with peak physical and psychological form. Throw in some healthy support from both Sanchez’s (Samuel and Lulu) and the evergreen Oscar Freire, and you’ve got yourself a very scary team!
---
Of the three, Rodriguez is potentially the most explosive rider at their disposal. If anyone can match and dismantle a Gilbert attack, it’s Joaquim Rodriguez. When on top of his game, J-Rod has proven time and time again that he is one of the best in races with this type of finish. His podium finishes at both the Italian and Spanish tours could potentially see him on the tail-end of his second “peak” of the season, however.
It’s much of the same for Valverde, I’m afraid. While typically phenomenal on these types of courses (Valverdre is a two time winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the 2006 winner of La Flèche Wallone), “El Imbatido” is still finding his legs following his 2 year doping related suspension. Don’t get me wrong, his podium finishes at the Vuelta a Espana, the Tour Down Under and Paris Nice are nothing to scoff at. He just doesn’t seem to be firing on all the same cylinders as before. Regardless, we shouldn’t be too surprised if the Movistar rider finds himself on the top step of the podium on Sunday.
Contador on the other hand, while also undoubtedly fatigued from his efforts at the Vuelta, is coming into this race with a lot less racing in the legs than most of the challengers. If anything, the Vuelta could have produced a supercompensation effect and Contador could be lining up on Sunday morning with peak physical and psychological form. Throw in some healthy support from both Sanchez’s (Samuel and Lulu) and the evergreen Oscar Freire, and you’ve got yourself a very scary team!
---
 |
| Vincenzo Nibali |
Age: 27
Nationailty: Italian
Team: Liquigas-Cannondale
Specialty: All Rounder
2012 Results: 3rd at the Tour de France, 1st at the Tirreno-Adriatico, 2nd Liège-Bastogne-Liège, 3rd Milan-San Remo
Vincenzo Nibali has had a quiet, yet extremely solid year. “The Shark”, as he’s known in the Peloton, has demonstrated his versatility in achieving Grand Tour Success (2010 Overall GC at the Vuelta a Espana and 3rd this year at the Tour de France), yet also stamping his authority in the one day classics. His third place at the 2012 Milan-San Remo, the “Sprinter’s Classic”, revealed both his aggressive and opportunistic sides. Nibali possesses considerable “race smarts” and has developed an ability to read the right moves. Further, he isn’t afraid to attack and lay everything on the line. Look for him to set off some fireworks at some point before the final climb.
---
---
 | ||
| Simon Gerrans |
Age: 32
Nationailty: Australian
Team: Orica-GreenEDGE
Specialty: Puncheur, Classics Specialist
2012 Results: 1st Milan- San Remo, 1st Australian National Championships Road Race, 1st Tour Down Under, 1st GP cycliste de Québec, 2nd San Sebastian Classic.
Simon Gerrans is enjoying what has potentially been the most impressive season of his career. He’s been operating at a very high level since the early spring and he has a string of impressive victories to show for it. While judging late-season form is always difficult, Gerrans has showed that he is locked and loaded for Sunday’s race – following a victory in Québec and narrowly missing out on the podium in Montreal. While I don’t think he could win head-to-head against Gilbert or Rodriguez, Gerrans is a savy rider who will look to make his mark, one way or another.
---
 |
| Peter Sagan |
Age: 22
Nationailty: Slovak
Team: Liquigas-Cannondale
Specialty: Sprinter, Opportunist, To Be Determined
2012 Results: Points Classification - Tour de France, Tour of California, Tour de Suisse, Tour of Oman. 15 victories, including 3 stage victories at the Tour de France.Ah, Peter Sagan. What hasn't already been said about this generational talent? At the tender age of 22, he has racked up more professional (and prestigious) victories than most riders will in their entire careers. His 2012 campaign has already been tremendous and a rainbow jersey would be the perfect cherry on top. The best thing about Sagan, is that you never know what to expect from him. Being so young, his physical prowess is still undoubtedly growing and he is just starting to discover what he's capable of. A mini-merckx indeed. 2012 may be a tad early for Sagan, but the experience will be invaluable and you can bet the house that one day he will be the one being crowned World Champion. (Don't put it past him to be right up there in the finale, however!!)
Darkhorses:
While the previously named riders have been labelled as "favourites" going into the race, don't be surprised if the following names end up as protagonists on your TV screen Sunday.
Thomas Voeckler
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Rui Costa
Rigoberto Uran
Tom Boonen
and our boy....
 | |||||
| Ryder, hoisting the cup.. I mean the Giro trophy! |
That's it for this year's preview of the UCI Road World Championships!
Make sure to check the following links on race day for live feeds:
http://cyclingfans.com/
http://www.steephill.tv/
Cheers,
Alex
No comments:
Post a Comment