2017 Cycling world championships: Men's road race live updates, blog

By Scott Pryde / Expert

Peter Sagan will look to become the first man to win three straight cycling road world championships when the 2017 edition is held in Bergen, Norway over a distance of 267.5 kilometres. Join The Roar for live coverage from 9:15pm (AEST).

After winning in Virginia two years ago and Doha on a flat course last year, Sagan will have another opportunity to wear the rainbow stripes in 2018.

The course couldn’t be suited more to the Slovakian, who comes into the race with less teammates than the big nations, despite wearing the No.1 card.

Starting out in Rong, the riders will spend the first 39.5 kilometres of the race rolling down the scenic coast of Norway. Water views will be on offer, but there will be a big fight for the breakaway with some lumps and bumps making life difficult, in what is sure to be a fast start to proceedings.

Once those first 40 or so kilometres are off the clock, the riders hit the circuit around Bergen where they will spend the rest of the day.

The first 17.9 kilometres is a nearly full lap, but they enter the circuit just after the finish line. Once they get back to the finish line, there will be 11 laps of the 19.1-kilometre circuit.

It’s the first half of the circuit that will challenge the riders. The first two climbs are nothing more than blips on the radar, but do them 12 times and it will burn.

The big part of the day is Salmon Hill. It’s about 10 kilometres from the finish line and is 1.5 kilometres at an average of 6.4 per cent, with a peak of over 10 per cent early on.

If the non-sprinters – think Michal Kwiatkowski, Philippe Gilbert, Diego Ulissi, Tony Gallopin and Daniel Martin – are going to get away, they must drop the sprinters – led by Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet and Michael Matthews – on Salmon Hill in the final two laps.

Otherwise we will come to the finish line with a sizeable group for a bunch sprint over the final 2.5 kilometres, all of which are almost pancake-flat.

Prediction
It’s difficult to go past Sagan, but his illness that forced him to pull out of the team time trial makes you question it. Matthews and Greg Van Avermaet appear to be his closest rival unless the race splits up.

Van Avermaet has had a superb season though, and on the back of a winning ride at the 2016 Rio Olympics, I’m backing the Belgium to become the world champion.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2017 World Championships from 9:15pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

The Crowd Says:

2018-01-16T02:33:55+00:00

Trevor

Guest


As an ex cyclist i settled in to view the Down Under Race,but,was very disappointed in your Commentators.You have 4,3 very experienced in cycling and one(Gilbert) who has never raced and probably cannot ride a bike.Last year he gave alot of false information,due to lack of knowledge and already he is doing the same,it makes him look like an idiot especially with gaps in his teeth,does not look good at all on T.V.I will now switch to Tennis.

2017-10-27T04:21:23+00:00

Raymonddaw

Guest


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2017-09-25T04:14:54+00:00

Brissie Boy

Guest


Geez. Back to back to back. Superb ride by Sagan, must have firmly cemented his place in cycling's history books by now (as if five Tour de France Green jerseys and 100 professional race wins weren't enough). Frustrating for both Kristoff and Bling, but no arguments about who was the best rider on the day.

AUTHOR

2017-09-25T01:37:34+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


It was just a little bit frustrating Geoff. But yep - Sagan is all class. Possibly the best ever.

2017-09-24T21:20:05+00:00

Geoff Parkes

Expert


Not a great advertisment for Norwegian TV was it Scott? Sit up late to watch it all build up to a very exciting finish and... the coverage goes to sleep right at the business end! Matthews had his chance, Sagan too good.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:51:36+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 World Cycling Championships as Peter Sagan confirmed his legendary status, winning a third in a row. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. We will be back in 2018 with the Tour Down Under. Bye for now.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:50:44+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


TOP 10 1. Peter Sagan (Slovakia) @ 6:28:11 2. Alexander Kristoff (Norway) + 0:00 3. Michael Matthews (Australia) + 0:00 4. Matteo Trentin (Italy) + 0:00 5. Ben Swift (Great Britain) + 0:00 6. Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium) + 0:00 7. Michael Albasini (Switzerland) + 0:00 8. Fernando Gavriva (Colombia) + 0:00 9. Alexey Lutsenko (Kazakhstan) + 0:00 10. Julian Alaphilippe (France) + 0:00

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:45:54+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Tell you what, that's probably Sagan's best win tactically. We barely saw him all day, but he came out in the last 500 metres and took victory. That is how you win without a great deal of support.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:43:39+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Results to come in a moment.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:41:52+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Thoughts on the race roarers?

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:41:38+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Well, it was close. Not even half of a wheel for Sagan. What a race.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:40:27+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Sagan is world champion! Yep. Sagan got him. Came around Kristoff and took it at the line on the final kick. Michael Matthews through in third, smacking the handlebars out of frustration. Peter Sagan is a three time world champion. That is incredible.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:39:26+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Sagan starting to celebrate. We are still waiting for official confirmation though.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:38:43+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


This is shaping up as one very messy sprint. Alexander Kristoff lines up for Norway and he is on the front, Again around the wheel. Matthews was there, but Peter Sagan has come around Kristoff and won his third straight world championship I think. Photo finish between Sagan and Kristoff.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:37:34+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Cort caught. All together at 500 metres and Italy on the front for Trentin.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:37:13+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Here they come. It's a group! Alaphilippe has been court, and it's Denmark's Magnus Cort trying to go off the front. Italy trying to set up Trentin. 1km to go!

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:36:36+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


We are currently looking at a picture of the 1km banner. The leader is about to come around the corner.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:36:02+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


We have lost pictures for now. Under 2km to go and it's still Alaphilippe at the front as far as we know.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:34:33+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Alaphilippe is flying, and the sprinters in this second group - Boasson Hagen, Sagan and Matthews - are all desperately hoping someone will step up and chase the Frenchman down. 3km to go.

AUTHOR

2017-09-24T14:33:34+00:00

Scott Pryde

Expert


Alaphilippe is going solo! Moscon loses the wheel, and that's the last time the Italian will see the Frenchman. 4km to go, and the chasers are struggling here. Boasson Hagen looks to be in the wheels of Matthews in fourth and fifth position respectively in that group.

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