Strange Notations From a Laborious Life

Well the World Professional Road Championship has been run and won again and I thought I would quickly give my thoughts while they are fresh in my head this morning.
I haved mixed feelings about the race. As I predicted it ended in a 100 man bunch finish with Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man, the best road sprinter in the world taking a predictable victory in front of Tasmania’s Matt Goss and the big German Andre Greipel.
I must say the last two laps were gripping and entertaining and with the British team and then the Australians losing control of the peleton in the last two kilometres it became a free for all and I thought it may turn out to be lottery and end up with a suprise winner.
In the end though Cavendish, using his extensive track experience found his way through the crush and on to Matt Goss’ wheel and launched up the right hand barriers with a furlong to go to take the victory.
Now I’m sure I will never know if Matt Goss knew that Cavendish was on his wheel and I’m sure that wouldn’t have been the plan as I bet Goss would have been looking to come off Cav but in the “dishwasher effect” of the last two kilometres the best laid plans came unstuck.
Now Cavendish has proven himself over the last three years to be the best road sprinter of his generation and when he spots the finish banner and gets a clear run he is rarely beaten. His acceleration past Goss was extroadinary and enabled him to take a winning lead which Goss cut to half a wheel on the line. Too little too late. Whether having Mark Renshaw, who wasn’t selected much to the chagrin of many, would have made a difference to Goss’ result is a moot point now but I have the feeling it may have.
Goss made a classic mistake in not “closing the gate” on his right enabling Cavendish to find a way through on the barriers instead of having to wheel left into the traffic and a more congested run to the line. In any case Cavendish moved too quick for Goss to respond but let it be a lesson for young players. If you are sprinting close to the barriers make sure you don’t leave enough room for any rivals to get through.
This may be Goss’ only chance to win the Title as there shouldn’t be too many courses as poorly designed as this one in the next few years. A chance gone begging. They don’t come along too often at this level.
So Mark Cavendish is the World Champion for 2011 giving the Brits plenty to crow about and I’m sure we will keep hearing about it for some time to come.
Whilst the British rode well and Cavendish deserved to win and has been a high profile rider for a few years now and is a worthy Champion, I can’t help but think that the World Road Championship deserves more.
The race wasn’t an even contest this year. Many of the best riders weren’t able to impose themselves because of the flat, fast nature of the course which enabled the strong British team to control things almost to the end. There should be more of a challenge to enable the cream to rise to the top and an even contest between climbers, sprinters and all rounders to evolve.
Next year I understand that the Titles will be held in Valkenburg, Holland on a much more challenging circuit, a choice I’m sure the purists will enjoy.
If I want to watch something resembling a flat Grand Tour stage, I will sit up late watching the peleton traverse the countryside of France in July. The world road championship should be much more than that.