Worlds - spoilers

[Andrew G]

The only advantage of having a dentist's appointment was that I could watch the TT indtead of being on my way to work. Why was only one Brit sent?

[kieran]

all to do with ranking etc and points at various levels e.g. continental level - the best british riders ride the pro-tour races not the continental ones so the UK didn't score highly.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

It would have been a brave man to bet against Spartacus, but fantastic performance by DM to be proud of

[Dan_K]

Great women's race today. Tough luck for Cooke. Good ride by Pooley too.

[Dan_K]

So what did everyone think then for the men’s race? Fair result?

I only saw the selected BBC highlights but I thought it looked like quite a good race. Not overly happy about Thor winning it as I don’t particularly like him. Was a little disappointed that Gilbert didn’t stay away. He looked so strong on the climbs.

Which loony at British Cycling decided that it was a course for Cav??!! Why not chuck Russ Downing in there instead? The more and more I see with squad selection and Dave Brailsford’s ideas on road riding, the more I question whether he has any idea……

[Andy E]

I watched most of the highlights on Eurosport. I thought it was a great race, plenty happening before the last couple of laps. I was gutted Gilbert couldn't stay away too, i'd have liked him to win.

Chapeau to Thor though, he did well to heft his sizeable frame around that course. As he's shown in the Tour, he's so much more than a sprinter. Agree with you re Cav though, I find it hard to believe anyone ever thought it would suit him. I'm sure he'd have no problems getting over those climbs if they were only done once or twice, he's shown at San Remo and in the Tour he can cope with them, but 11 times!! I Think he was still our best chance of a win (admittedly in the unlikely scenario everyone else rode reeeeally slowly up the climbs). But can't see anyone else who'd have been good enough to win given how it panned out.

Give it a few years though, hopefully the likes of Thomas, Swift, Kenneagh(?) etc will be up there.

[-Adam-]

Thor was certainly a deserved winner, and a rider who will do justice the the jersey.

Selecting Cav was the only way to go, we don't have a rider from the same mold as Gilbert, so you had to put faith in a sprint.

As for Downing, as good a rider as he may be, there is no way on earth that he would have been in contention in a sprint like that, nor be able to go with the likes of Gilbert in the attacks.

[Andrew G]

[quote="-Adam-"]Thor was certainly a deserved winner, and a rider who will do justice the the jersey.

[Toks]

Couldn't quite understand the girls tactics. Shouldn't Pooley just have attacked let Nicole fend for herself and then been prepared to sit on chasers until/if Pooley was caught. Also I kinda felt she got caught out by the jump from Vos - she must've realised the chasers were coming back quickly. Nevertheless good effort by all the girls.