Tokyo Olympics 2020 - Cycling

[Shebeen]

13 minutes ago, Mountain Bru said:

I don't gamble, but I like having a look at the odds sometimes. Seems Pog is the favorite as it stands. Fuglsang doesn't deserve to be on the board after his tour. Gaudu is another good option I think. 

I tried gambling on cycling last year(small time to make it fun, like R500 over the season). on analysis it's functionally stacked big time in favour of the house, as cycling is actually really unpredictable. Safest bet there is probably rest of field!

personally, there's no way any of the TdF finishers should be able to fly to japan, covid olympic everything and perform, they have to be on such a backstep.but hey we wait and see.

 

really surprised not to see bernal there. with the heat,humidity and him not doing TdF this looks like the course for him. but maybe the giro/vuelta double was paramount.

but more surprised to see this guy in the dutch squad

https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/yoeri-havik

 

 

 

[Nick]

8 hours ago, Shebeen said:

but more surprised to see this guy in the dutch squad

https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/yoeri-havik

I don't really know how it works but apparently something to do with also having him available for the team sprint on the track. They seem to reckon that they have a better chance of a medal there than on the road. ????‍♂️

[TNT1]

8 hours ago, Shebeen said:

really surprised not to see bernal there. with the heat,humidity and him not doing TdF this looks like the course for him. but maybe the giro/vuelta double was paramount.

As of yesterday, 57 confirmed covid positives in the Olympic athletes village alone. I'd also stay the hell away from that place. Especially if I have sporting goals later in the season. Two weeks of isolation will play havoc with your training and preparations - doubly so if you actually get the virus.

 

Hey, Matt, I said covid, but 100% cycling related, yeah?

Edited July 20, 2021 by TNT1

[kosmonooit]

Like I was saying...

[Long Wheel Base]

Hope all the athletes are enjoying the anti-sex cardboard beds????.

[Shebeen]

3 hours ago, Nick said:

I don't really know how it works but apparently something to do with also having him available for the team sprint on the track. They seem to reckon that they have a better chance of a medal there than on the road. ????‍♂️

seems like an obvious loophole to close. surprised NED don't seem to rate their chances in the road race clearly. will TomD even do the race or is he just there for ITT

[Nick]

9 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

seems like an obvious loophole to close. surprised NED don't seem to rate their chances in the road race clearly. will TomD even do the race or is he just there for ITT

Ah, so it's a common(ish) thing then.

Perhaps leaving the road Gold up to their star-studded women's team ????

[Shebeen]

mtb is MONDAY 26 for men TUES 27  for women.

no short track might be a change for the XCO world cup routine,

can't seem to find anything on the grid starting slots, is Alan maybe even front row?

[Nick]

I've merged @Jewbacca's duplicate thread into this one.

Any merit in splitting this out into dedicated Road, MTB, and Track discussions?

[DJuice]

Looking forward to the custom bikes!

Hopefully a few rising of the sun themes.

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, Nick said:

I've merged @Jewbacca's duplicate thread into this one.

Any merit in splitting this out into dedicated Road, MTB, and Track discussions?

nah. i reckon events will happen at different times anyways.

 

looking at the start grid, I assume they will use the current rankings

https://www.uci.org/mountain-bike/rankings

Alan is 15th,  but with three frenchies not going and Andreasson not there, he should be 11th.

weirdly enough van der poel is currently ranked 65th on this.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tokyo-olympics-mtb-events-start-list/

 

 

[Vetplant]

8 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

nah. i reckon events will happen at different times anyways.

 

looking at the start grid, I assume they will use the current rankings

https://www.uci.org/mountain-bike/rankings

Alan is 15th,  but with three frenchies not going and Andreasson not there, he should be 11th.

weirdly enough van der poel is currently ranked 65th on this.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tokyo-olympics-mtb-events-start-list/

 

 

IIRC it was in Rio that Sagan started dead-last and was 3rd by the time they started the proper XC loop?

MvdP will be moving up some places at the start methinks...

[TheoG]

I'm still hoping Nino can find some form and give us one last great performance, but its probably wishful thinking ...

[DieselnDust]

22 minutes ago, TheoG said:

I'm still hoping Nino can find some form and give us one last great performance, but its probably wishful thinking ...

I think everyone is sort of hoping that he can but I for one am super keen to see the young guns shine and bring in a new Olympic and XCO era.

MVDP, Tom Pidcock, Alan Hatherley,  etc. N1no had his day, he's got 3 Olympic medals (Bronze in 2008, Silver in 2012 and Gold in 2016. That's his 3 Olympic cycles done. At 35,.....he's going to have to have a special day. Even Flueckiger has never maintain his form for this long. I'd love to know how he's changed hi training regime to keep himself at peak for so long and at 33.

[dsw]

1 hour ago, Vetplant said:

IIRC it was in Rio that Sagan started dead-last and was 3rd by the time they started the proper XC loop?

MvdP will be moving up some places at the start methinks...

Yes, he will for sure move up, but it could come at a cost and is not ideal.

One would like to see that the best rider(s) do not have to start at a disadvantage.

It is nearly like asking Novak Djokovic to play the first set with a weight in his pocket or even left-handed.

Mind you, he will probably still win   

Edited July 20, 2021 by dsw

[Vetplant]

20 minutes ago, dsw said:

Yes, he will for sure move up, but it could come at a cost and is not ideal.

One would like to see that the best rider(s) do not have to start at a disadvantage.

It is nearly like asking Novak Djokovic to play the first set with a weight in his pocket or even left-handed.

Mind you, he will probably still win   

Who, Djoko or Matthieu?

I'm thinking Nino will take it...