You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Epic ride! Surely she has it!
Great result! What an effort.
Wow. Amazing. I feel emotional watching her cross the line!!!
Wow! What an amazing performance from the Austrian who hasn't even got a contract with a professional team. I think her life is about to change big time. It's really cheered my morning up.
terrific ride amd what were the Dutch doing ?
I got worried for her a couple of times, but awesome performance
+1 very gutsy ride, going solo with 41k to go.
Is it me, but there seemed to be a lack of congratulations to the winner after the finish. Did van Vleuten think she’d won it? She certainly seemed very happy with Silver when she crossed the line.
Yes, I thought that. I don't think the peloton knew there was somebody up the road.
In Lizzie’s interview on the BBC, she certainly thought van Vleuten had won!
Yep - big celebration across the line for silver, I think they thought they'd caught the whole break on that last lap.
Lizzie Deignan indicating that she thought vV had won it in her post-race interview on the BBC - probably what the whole peloton thought on the road then. [Edit: beaten to it!]
From the BBC report. Just shows what racing without radios is like.
So great was Kiesenhofer's advantage that Van Vleuten did not realise she was only in second place, celebrating as though she had won as she crossed the line, before exclaiming: "I was wrong."
Racing without radios should be the norm. They are such a massive advantage for the top riders and teams.
I agree about the radios, but surely you should still have a way to get time checks on riders even if its just so timing boards ever x miles or someone holding up a sign.
I did feel sorry for the winner - she did look a bit lost/lonely after her win.
They race without them at worlds and I think at nationals. But certainly at the worlds they make a much better fist of relaying info from pits and blackboards on bikes. I didn’t see one blackboard today.
They didn't have a clue Kiesenhofer was 3mins ahead, which makes that shot on the speedway, where the camera panned across showing she was riding parallel to the peloton as the track looped, all the more wonderful.
but surely you should still have a way to get time checks on riders even if its just so timing boards ever x miles or someone holding up a sign.
No problem with that, it's the constant updates which tell you how far someone is up the road, or how quickly you're bringing them back which allows them to manage their efforts.
Well done Kiesenhofer, what a way to win.
I think we'd all like to lose radios from the GTs - I'd get rid of on-bike computers as well - but they're here to stay unfortunately.
I miss seeing the motorbikes with chalk boards driving through the peloton.
Watching it live I thought van vlueten was relieved to salvage silver after everything but watched again and she clearly thought she had won. As confirmed by all the interviews of course. Painful.
Another thing was the finishing gantry in big races normally has lots of data the riders can use about times and positions on and this one didn’t. Perfect storm of lack on info. Also at the last van vleuten would have known she was doing in second.
I’m sure she will get over it but it did seem awkward for the winner after a bit with the big impersonal motor racing space, covid reducing numbers, no crowd, no team mates or huge backroom staff to hug, a rider not a serial winner probably in shock. Last shot Eurosport had of her She just got up and pedaled away from the finish on her own like she’d completed a sportive.
Those big yellow 750ml bottles though 🙈.
Sounds like a great watch, can't find it on the iplayer though. 🤔
Just about to watch it myself.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000ybs7/olympics-day-2-red-button-04000800
Great! It doesn't show the end of the race??!!
It doesn't!
The red button coverage from 08:00 doesn't pick it up from where that ^ ends.
Bugger
Worth getting Discovery+ for a month as each discipline is categorised and full repeat of every event is available well as live.
Seeing a few pros on Twitter saying it’s not as simple as ‘No radio = better racing’.
Eg:
https://twitter.com/adamblythe89/status/1419313628688392192?s=21
To my mind, as long as all the teams have the same access to radios it’s fine. Apparently there were plenty of chalkboard motos in the race today, but the tv didn’t show them much.
Either way, a great win today. I love being reminded that you don’t need to be the strongest to win (although you do need to be pretty strong!)
I think I subscribe to Cecile Uttrup Ludwig's take on the race today. Seemed like amateur hour, without taking away anything from Anna Keisenhofer's win, which was extremely gutsy. I don't believe racing is always better without radios, although I agree that radios do swing things in favour of the teams chasing (though that didn't stop plenty of breaks getting away during the TDF). And this particular race wasn't helped by having 100km and the hard climbs lopped off from the men's course but that's a whole other issue.
it's one thing reading the race, but it's entirely different for every team member to read the race at any moment. Being able to tune out in the peloton then kick into action when the DS tells you to must be so helpful.
I don’t believe racing is always better without radios, although I agree that radios do swing things in favour of the teams chasing
The thing with the Olympics though, in theory there is a "team" - a national squad, numbers based on qualification events throughout the previous 4 years.
Reality is that within the whole peloton, there will be members of the same WorldTour team who are suddenly on "opposing" National sides (eg, Geraint Thomas and Richard Carapaz yesterday) which always muddies the waters and the fact that it's not really a "team" event, it's basically 4 or 5 riders who happen to be wearing the same jersey. Only one of them is going to win Gold.
The Dutch went in with an insanely strong squad of leaders but that doesn't necessarily make for a coherent team and none of them really had any reason to work for the other. GB were better - Anna Shackley was definitely in the service of Lizzie Deignan - but again, that didn't really work out although it might have done with 2 more riders.
Olympics is a funny one though, it becomes a very defensive race. Radios are part of that, you've not got a DS in your ear telling you that Opponent X is on the ropes, put the pressure on and it really takes it back to basics. But as usual, everyone marks the favourites, ignores the no-hopers who have gone up the road and today, the no-hoper won. Have to say, it was one hell of a ride, she absolutely deserves that. Very very impressive use of tactics.
Slightly annoying that a lot of the media are still focussing on AvdB "losing" and not Anna Kiesenhofer winning...
Slightly annoying that a lot of the media are still focussing on AvdB “losing” and not Anna Kiesenhofer winning…
I'd say not just the media but seems to perhaps be a slight lack of respect from the riders too. Maybe too soon after the race but lots of talking about not even knowing her or even giving her a thought as part of their tactics. Not seen many quotes properly recognising her effort which I think lacks a bit of class.
Yes, she absolutely deserved that gold. She was spent at the end unlike the rest. I don't know or understand road racing well enough (unlike crazy-legs) but it seems like the radios can (not in all instances) make it a more exciting or at least selective race (bearing in mind the size of the bunch that made it to the end of the women's race). You hear that someone is on the ropes so you attack and the bunch gets whittled down a bit more. And if you know you're going to catch the break (invariably filled with 'no-hopers') then logically you'll be a bit more aggressive in getting rid of potential rivals. But it's never so clear cut. Anyway, cannot wait for the XC tomorrow, the course looks epic.
The women’s peloton is pretty close knit. A lot More than the men’s. It’s pretty much the same riders going head to head all through the season and there are less people dipping in and out based on their specialisms like the men. so i don’t think it was lack of respect I think it was just genuinely they didn’t know her, she’s not in the gang, she had no mates rushing over like
Carapaz did. They were probably all shocked like we all were about where that ride came from. The mood on the podium seemed jollier when it had all sunk in for everyone.
An excellent write-up by inrng here:
https://inrng.com/2021/07/womens-road-race-review-tokyo/
Debunks a few misconceptions going around about the race and helps put the win in perspective.
Is catching the lead car not a clue as to when you have reached the front?
I’d say not just the media but seems to perhaps be a slight lack of respect from the riders too.
Cecile congratulated her, so at least one person knew she had won.
Considering how disappointing the course looked (where's the huge steep climb?) it produced a brilliant race. The Dutch screwed it up.
Radios are bollocks. Timing boards are bollocks.
Teams are bollocks. Every man, woman and child for them self.
Bunch racing. Shoulder to shoulder. Each going for glory.
Where's the glory in beating yourself up to get your glorified team mate up front?
Time trial is the only (current) true form of road racing.
Vos has stated she knew there was still one up the road. Everyone for themselves it would seem. Perhaps she didn’t have the legs and was happy for one to be away and her “team” not to try for the win.
I’ve been in races with similar confusion. Normally someone by the side of the road is giving information.
An excellent write-up by inrng here:
Christ, that's perhaps the most badly written thing I've seen published in a long time. Indecipherable
^ rubbish, it was a very insightful read.
Christ, that’s perhaps the most badly written thing I’ve seen published in a long time. Indecipherable
What were you reading? The inrng review is excellent
Pro cycling depends on having domestiques to control breaks, the teams with four riders didn't want to work, underestimated the Austrian, lost
Dutch looking for excuses, unsportswomanlike probably racing against each other as much as the rest of the peleton.
Lizzie Diegnan was interviewed after the race and had no complaints
Going to tight finish in the TT
****ing bbc!
yowsers!!!!!!
It's not the most thrilling course to watch is it? Motor racing circuits designed for fast cars look SO slow when cyclists are riding round, even if they're actually averaging 45kph!
Evnepeol was doing a good ride early on, not surprised to find that smashed to bits now though.
Well that's not at all suspicious is it, putting a min into Ganna,Domoulin and Dennis!!!
Well that’s not at all suspicious is it, putting a min into Ganna,Domoulin and Dennis!!!
He's recovered very well after his crash at the Tour.
You can read the word "recovered" in whatever tone of voice you want, I'm saying nothing... 😉
Well that’s not at all suspicious is it, putting a min into Ganna,Domoulin and Dennis!!!
Or peak of form after the TDF, better heat control, hilly course, etc etc
It's not as if he is a TT newbie
If he's doping as you insinuate, >half the field will be, not that it makes it right
Not the first time Roglic has won a TT by drafting. It was like a team time-trial at one point. I don't really get how they can do that without being penalised. Spoilt it for me.
He’s recovered very well after his crash at the Tour.
You can read the word “recovered” in whatever tone of voice you want, I’m saying nothing… 😉
No comment on the minute that AVV put into the women's field?
^ rubbish, it was a very insightful read.
Are you kidding? Some of that isn't written in actual legal sentences 🙂 ...I'm sure the person who wrote it knows what they're talking about, they just need a decent sub to turn it into decipherable English
Not the first time Roglic has won a TT by drafting. It was like a team time-trial at one point. I don’t really get how they can do that without being penalised. Spoilt it for me.
Who was he drafting? I saw him getting into the mix with the Danish riders but I also saw him sitting off to the side when he could have been tucked in, and letting the Danish guys away when he might have chased to stay on etc.
Wiggins was making the point that some of the other riders (I think Dumoulin and WvA) were getting more assistance from their cars sitting directly behind that was strictly allowed, whereas Roglic's car was sitting the required 20m back.
Well that’s not at all suspicious is it, putting a min into Ganna,Domoulin and Dennis!!!
yeah...I'm sorry but no. A minute into Dumoulin Dennis,and Kung?
maybe I'm too cynical. but that stinks
Judging purely by the way he overtook Asgreen but then dropped back as Asgreen sped up, it could be that he simply judged his effort at different points on the course far better. Those others are TT specialists much more used to flatter courses whereas, other than WvA, Roglic is much more of an allrounder including an excellent climber, so knows when to put the power down and when to ease off the redline.
Edit - ok Dumoulin is a pretty handy climber as well! was thinking more Ganna / Dennis.
Brutal course that for the big men.
Great ride from Dumoulin - Dennis also despite the shithousery in outright swerving the road-race, but who cares about that when you're polishing your medals?
Who was he drafting?
He rode within drafting distance of Asgreen for several minutes. Occasionally off to the side and occasionally right on his wheel. They both clearly got an advantage several times, and a proper draft makes a huge difference. Which would go some way in explaining how Roglic miraculously put a minute into everyone in the closing kms.
I just don't see why any form of drafting should be tolerated in a TT.
I just don’t see why any form of drafting should be tolerated in a TT.
I didn't see enough of it to see how much he was doing, but some drafting would need to be tolerated as it is inevitable if a quicker rider catches a slower rider. What's the faster rider supposed to do? Throw away a potential medal place by taking a slower line round corners etc. in order to avoid 'accidentally' drafting the slower rider in front?
I guess the solution is that the slower rider gets told to move over/stay the hell out of the way...
Not really defending Roglic though, even though commentators explained he was recovering more on descents in order to capitalise on his climbing form, I was still mightily sceptical of that time gap...
I just don’t see why any form of drafting should be tolerated in a TT.
You need to have a word with the commisaires, the cars 3m behind Ganna, WvA etc were giving a drafting benefit
Roglic went faster on lap two, he was clearly pacing differently on the climbs hence the yo-yo with two other riders
, I was still mightily sceptical of that time gap…
No comments about the women's TT where AVV put a minute into the rest of the field in half the distance?
No comments about the women’s TT where AVV put a minute into the rest of the field in half the distance?
Yeah fair point, was just my initial reaction as had been expecting a tighter finish. Commentators did give some analysis of how Roglic might have paced it.
Roglic went faster on lap two, he was clearly pacing differently on the climbs hence the yo-yo with two other riders
You can't deny though that that yo-yo affect provided an advantage to both riders, which probably contributed further to the yo-yo affect as they both benefited from the stronger rider being in front relative to the terrain.
I.e Roglic getting a huge drafting boost on descents before pulling Asgreen up the next climb, again and again.
You can't eliminate drafting completely but that was a bit of a ****-take imo.
I could have misheard but I'm sure the commentary said Dennis was less than 1 second behind not long before Roglic met Asgreen.
Splits are here, click on Race Analysis tab.
Men's TT Results He didn't put a minute into the others "in the final kms", more like the second half.
As for drafting Asgreen, they overtook each other at least twice, Roglic faster uphill Asgreen faster downhill (heavier). I didn't see Roglic draft for 'several minutes".
I could have misheard but I’m sure the commentary said Dennis was less than 1 second behind not long before Roglic met Asgreen.
They were comparing with the Dutch rider, the way they did the splits was confusing