Gerro is not my favourite bike rider in the world and to some that is sacrilege coming from a fellow Aussie but I will admit he is a lot better cyclist than I used to give him credit for. I always regarded him as a bit of an opportunistic plodder but last night when he chased down the moves on the last climb in the world championship road race he put paid to my former detrimental thoughts of him. And that is the problem.
I’m sure Simon is a nice bloke but that is not what is at issue here. He is rapidly gaining a reputation among followers of the game as a “wheelsucker”, a fellow who gets by following wheels, never setting the pace, just lurking in the shelter of his opponents waiting for the last 200 metres to strike out for victory. There is nothing wrong with this in theory and of course the pure sprinters of the sport do this all the time but Gerrans is less a sprinter and more of an all-rounder and at the pointy end of a race such as last night he is conspicuous by his lack of willingness to share the load when the race is on the line. It’s smart racing but I don’t think he is doing himself any favours.
Simon has found a way to success using his specific skill set in a certain way and has managed to win a couple of really big bike races in his career as a result. Sitting in, letting someone else set the pace, only moving when he needs to. Milan to San Remo and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, two of the biggest one day classics in the world have fallen to him using this method. And the rainbow jersey was almost his last night.
The young Polish champion, Michal Kwiatowski, a rider many have been expecting big things from, attacked with eight kilometres to go. There was a hesitation in the peloton which allowed him to open up a substantial lead as the last grains of sand dripped through the racing hour glass. The Spaniards and Belgians finally reacted and led a chase from behind with Gerrans, showing great form easily crossing the gap to sit in with the chasing group. This is where things get a little sticky for Simon.
No one wants to use up the last of their energy reserves chasing down the leader in the dying stages of the race. It can be tricky. You may sacrifice your chance of winning by sitting on and hoping someone else will get you to the finish in the front group or you can do a turn or two to help catch the leader and hope you still have enough left to win. It’s a gamble but that is bike racing.
The young Pole gambled with his late attack and with a few guys such as Gerrans behind who were unable or unwilling to work, the chase floundered, only the Belgian Phillipe Gilbert who was riding for his faster finishing team mate, putting in the massive effort required to catch the leader and just failing to do so. Well played Kwiatowski. The first Polish rider ever to win the World Road Race Championship.
Gerrans popped out of the chase group to claim second with the venerable placegetter, Valverde gaining another world championship medal, albeit not the one he has always wanted. One can only imagine the reactions on cycling web forums where Gerro is roundly condemned as a wheelsucker, had he won the rainbow jersey last night. It would have been a melt-down I’m sure!
Simon’s tactics on paper are very good. He reads a race well and adapts his tactics to the situation. It has brought him success although I am surprised other riders still fall into the trap of giving him a free ride to the line under these circumstances. I would be sitting up, inviting him to take a turn or giving him a good look at the barriers should he continue to race in such a way if it was me. Last night may have been his best shot at winning the world championship.
My opinion of Simon would change if he could win a big race by animating it. Attacking, counter attacking and still managing to outsprint a small group for victory. He does it in Australia against the small fries every summer. The same tactics may work in the big time in Europe. For his own sake and that of his reputation, I hope he can do it. Then I will eat my hat and shout from the rooftops how good he is. But I won’t hold my breath.
Have great day.
Strange Notations From a Laborious Life 