National Champs *SPOILERS*

[Flying_Monkey]

The women's event is already done and Great Britain has a new national champion, Lizzie Armistead.

Mind you, she had half of her Garmin-Cervelo team working for her and Emma Pooley to make sure that they beat Nicole Cooke, who still managed 2nd, despite being isolated, and seemingly not on top form this year.

 

[Keith Oates]

Good win for Lizzie and having a team to work for you is a help as well but as a fan of Nicole I'm a little sad she did not make it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[iLB]

any one know about the mens?

 

[iLB]

wiggins up the road by 25 seconds with thomas and swift amongst the chasers

 

[iLB]

brad takes the win from a solo break

hope he can hold his form...

 

[Paul_L]

Sky lock out the podium;

Wiggins first, Thomas second and Kennaugh third.

 

[Keith Oates]

A good win for Wiggins and the Sky team in general. Wiggins seems to be getting some form in time for the TdF so let's hope he can do well there this year.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

The problem is that there was no way a non-Sky rider had a chance in hell. It's not just that Sky has most of the best British riders already signed up, but also that the had enough top-level riders used to working together that it was really just a matter of which of the 3 or 4 or them would win. And if it didn't come down to a sprint, that was pretty much always going to be Wiggins this year. Awesome demonstration, but it was just that - a demonstration, not a race.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I just hope that Sky's success means that the other emerging British teams at the level below the Pro-Tour will be able to tag on to their success adn the raised profile of competitive cycling in Britain and gain more sponsorship etc. Endura, Rapha-Condor Sharp and Motorpoint are all teams that have had some success in Europe this season and there's no reason why Britain can't have a pool of teams at that edge of the Pro-Tour level, as do the French or the Italians, for example.

 

[raindog]

Here's a list of all the elite winners after a busy week-end.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/2011-national-champions-summary

I watched the French men's RR live on tv - really tough course. Chavanel won in front of 24 year old Anthony Roux.
The amazing Jeannie Longo won the women's TT and came second in the RR.

 

[yello]

The amazing Jeannie Longo won the women's TT and came second in the RR.

I was going to mention that! Fabulous achievement. Her 58th national title I believe!

In Britain, sounds like the 3 Sky men literally rode away from everyone else from the word go. Fair tt-ed it! Excellent prep for the TdF.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I just discovered that my old club mate, Peter Hawkins, came 9th in the Irish national RR, which is a pretty stunning achievement, especially considering he was out with glandular fever for most of last year and some of the year before. Great job, Peter!

 

[resal]

The problem is that there was no way a non-Sky rider had a chance in hell. It's not just that Sky has most of the best British riders already signed up, but also that the had enough top-level riders used to working together that it was really just a matter of which of the 3 or 4 or them would win. And if it didn't come down to a sprint, that was pretty much always going to be Wiggins this year. Awesome demonstration, but it was just that - a demonstration, not a race.

Yes that just about sums up the facts of the matter. Somehow there needs to be a rule that just applies to national championship races to make them individual races, to get the best rider on the day winning. We need the UCI to come up with something.

 

[yello]

Why? That's racing resal, for better or for worse. Happened in the women's event the day before too.

To be practical for a moment though, how could you enforce such a rule? How to determine when a rider is riding for someone else? Allegiances form and break even outside team ranks, even during the race.

 

[oldroadman]

Why? That's racing resal, for better or for worse. Happened in the women's event the day before too.

To be practical for a moment though, how could you enforce such a rule? How to determine when a rider is riding for someone else? Allegiances form and break even outside team ranks, even during the race.

Quite correct. Road racing at a decent level is a team sport with an individual winner. Which is what makes it unique.
Plus, as said, there is no way anyone could enforce such a rule. As I understand Ms Cooke found out in 2010, when there were mutterings of protests about being worked over by the Cervelo team. This happes when you decide to be a loner.