2014 National Championships Summary

39 thoughts on “2014 National Championships Summary”

1. Radoslav Rogina is Croatian RR champion

   • Thanks

2. Fans of ‘schadenfreude’, underdogs, and/or the banning of race radios would have enjoyed the Belgian National Championship race. OPQS set out ostensibly to win on behalf of Gert Steegmans, who was in a strong break (with Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin) and Kris Boeckmans (Lotto) in particular a threat), with his team behind protecting his advantage. Then, under belated team instructions – apparently the DS’ no longer believing in Steegmans and preferring a bunch sprint for Tom Boonen – OPQS chased down the break. Then got poorly positioned and Boonen had to sprint on the wrong side (re: the wind) of the road, allowing Debusschere to hit the jackpot for Lotto (with a leadout from his soon-to-be brother-in-law, Jurgen Roelandts).

   Afterwards Boonen referred to the screwups and miscommunication (lack of time gaps on the local circuit; mechanics were standing there, but without signs) and, without naming names, the DS’ themselves, as “amateurish.” Steegmans said he felt betrayed by the team – not selected for the Tour and then denied a chance to race for the win the team had originally set out for. They were not pleased, to put it mildly. The race was like a handful of sand: the tighter OPQS tried to grip it, the faster it ran away from them. It certainly made it entertaining!

   • Ouch!

     • Belgian National RR must be the strongest around? Very interesting to hear how it really happened, OPQS on twitter just celebrated Toms bronze medal!

3. Lebanese national championships.
   TT :
   Elias Abou Rachid
   RR:
   Zaher el Hage

4. Both Elias Abou Rachid and Zaher el Hage are riders from the Lebanese club Athletico-BG

5. The Irish women’s road race was postponed because of a fatal car accident on the course earlier in the day. It will be rescheduled.

   The men’s elite TT was decided by bureaucratic weirdness. 19 year old super talent Ryan Mullen was fastest by nearly a minute, but was only eligible for the U23 crown. The elite title went to the second fastest man, Michael Hutchinson. Then in the road race, Mullen soloed home more than a minute clear, but in that race he was awarded both the u23 win and the adult win. Now the issue may be what happens in the TT until Mullen hits 23.

   • Is Hutch the only man to have won the National title in two different counties?

   • Are members of World Tour teams not eligible for the U23 title?, like Simon Yates?

     • According the commentators for the race neither Yates brother was eligible for the U23 title as they raced for pro teams, this must be some odd rule of the British federation.

       • Strange, as Laura Trott riding for Wiggle Honda, won both the Pro & U23 road titles.
         Also Ed Laverack the new U23 road champ, rides for Rapha Condor JLT.

         Katie Archibald riding for Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International is under 23, but the womens TT event didn’t have a separate U23 classification, so she was ‘just’ awarded the second overall place.

         Who writes the rules, as they don’t impress the general public?

         Note that Ireland is a separate country from Britain.

       • It’s a UCI rule. Anyone on a WorldTour team is no longer considered U23.

   • So Ireland arranged for at combined event?
     We did so in Denmark last year but opted this year for separate events as the U23 championship points could not be acknowledged by the UCI for a combined event.
     Same problem in Ireland? I would like to know as we need leverage towards the UCI to have a combined event i DK again.

     • There was a combined elite – u23 road race, yes. I don’t know if the same problem exists with UCI points, but suspect that it probably does.

       • Thanks, Zinoviev.

6. No women’s champ = no women’s race?

   • In some cases yes but also no information so far

7. In Greece the women’s RR champion is not Michali Tsavari (which is a man’s name), but Varvara Fasi (according to procycling.gr).

8. Shame Kennaugh is injured and couldn’t make the Sky Tour team 😉

   • sounds like he’s pretty p*ssed about it too. Another Sky Brit starlet looking for a more user-friendly environment perhaps?

   • A strange one but some say in Henao’s absence he’s now being lined up to lead the team in the Vuelta.

     • Thomas should then be peed off. I can see a wholesale exodus of Brits.

       • Thomas has signed again I believe.

         • He has indicated that this his preference but I don’t think it is all signed and sealed. If Wiggins and Kennaugh go I can see him reconsidering.

9. There’s something wrong with Czech women cycling if Sablikova (speed skater) could win both TT and RR

   • Sablikova is threefold olympic winner and several world records holder in (speed)skating. She regards cycling rather as a complementary summer sport. Mr. Bakala already tried to invite her to the Etixx team.
     And yes, behind her the quality is not overwhelming. This year she won the road race in especially commanding fashion – soon after the start she broke away and won a “private TT” by more than five minutes. Somewhat frustrating for the specializing ladies.

   • short version: yes.

     longer version: Sáblíková has a very powerful engine, which works to her advantage, but she’s also such a poor bike handler she has to take off early and drop the bunch and ride the road race as a TT. adding insult to injury, the 2nd placed Anežka Drahotová is primarily a track&field athlete, speed walker.

     p.s.: for speed skaters to transition to track and road isn’t all that uncommon, they make good pursuiters and TT riders. there’s plenty of examples in e.g., the Netherlands (Ellen van Dijk immediately springs to my mind).

     • Davis Phinney too from the US.

     • Eric Heiden – I remember.

       • Also Clara Hughes from Canada – multiple Olympic medalist at both sports.

         • Apologies bobmac – should scroll down all replies before replying!

10. Portugal – Womens’s RR champion is Celina Carpinteiro from Ouriquense team

11. Also Clara Hughes in Canada, with Olympic medals both on skates and road racing.
    Apparently Eric Heiden still involved in pro cycling as team doctor for BMC??

12. Last comment (from me) on Heiden, the five x gold medalist in speed skating at 1980 Olympics, won US Pro road race in 1985, becoming US champion that year, which brings mentioning him back on topic for this subject.
    His sister Beth was also accomplished in both disciplines … (Oops!).

13. Daniel Diaz (San Luis Somos Todos) is the argentinian rr champion

14. I think you’ve concocted an amalgamation of Vladimir Gusev and Alexander Porsev for the Russian champ…

15. Romania

    TT Elite – Andrei Nechita, U23 – Valentin Pleșa.
    Road Elite – Zoltan Sipoș, U23 – Eduard Grosu (Vini Fantini Nippo).

16. Canada – Svein Tuft won the race with a solo, 120km breakaway. This just a day after winning the time trial as well.

    Beast!

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