Is he anywhere close to peak form at this time of year?

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... but, but, but, we're in the age of "peak aero" and the differences in wheels and frames and helmets etc. are supposed to be negligible from one mfg. to another. Right?!

Aint he is focusing on tokyo?

His position seems different though, eyeballed an extra ~20 mm aerobar drop from saddle position (don't have time to use software to do a real measurement). He seems to be going from a roundish back power position (i.e. Tony Martin-ish) to a more text book flat back. They did the same with Castroviejo who went from extreme to like super extreme and did not seem to give him a great advantage.

Why would Durbridge be different? Or anyone else for that matter?

I would expect Dennis to be in good shape since he had a very light racing schedule in 2019 (he didn't need to rest and recuperate), it's summer (easy to train), it's his home turf, and Ineos has a decent team there for the TDU, and he is their protected rider (in it for the win). In other words, his condition should be as good as anyone's.

I just think it's funny in kinda a sick way, after all the BS last year about his equipment being subpar. No, I don't actually believe his equipment is a problem, nor was it the problem last year.

I'm willing to bet it's exactly the same... to the mm.

Is the world champ's stripes skinsuit the exact one he'd wear at the UCI worlds?

I thought people are often unhappy with the TdF skinsuits when they're in yellow for a TT?

I'd have to assume they tailored him one.

Lastly, is the guy who won purely a TT person? Kinda like an Obree? Or is that person also a pro who races road? Difference between a pure TT rider and a pro cyclist who specializes in TT. Kind of like difference between a guy who only shoots freethrows versus a pro baller who happens to be good at freethrows.

I wouldn't expect either of them to be peaking in January, but just because neither have peaked doesn't mean they're at the same phase in training. there are gonna be differences.

I didn't know the historical context about complaints that equipment was subpar last year.

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I don't think you can compare the goals of Dennis and Durbridge. Durbridge is a good TTer, but more like just outside the top 10 in the world. It's very likely that he would focus on being near peak for the nationals, while Dennis would come in with good form not the kind of form that could risk being flat by the Olympics and WC. Durbridge would be a much longer shot to medal at either of those.

they're both continental pros.

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This. Rohan has not had any issues calling out equipment or teams in the past. He seemed quite cordial after the race. Maybe not starving himself has made him less ornery.

You have precise eyeballs.

Don't quite get Jason's joke. I think he's just a troll.

He definitely rides a full schedule for MItchelton-Scott. While two years ago he would have been considered purely a TT/TTT guy and domestique for flat stages, they tried unleashing him two years ago on a full classics schedule, and it went pretty darn well, 4th at E3 and Dwars, 6th at Strade. His emergence as a classics rider was since derailed by a bad crash last year. Hopefully this year we can see what he does.

His TT win should also be noted in the context of Durbridge having road *hard* to help get his teammate Cameron Meyer the win in the road race (which Durbridge finished 4th in) - Dennis did not participate in the RR.

Durbridge is a domestique. He's obviously a good TTer, but he's on fulltime support duty. https://www.procyclingstats.com/.../luke-durbridge/2019

^^Good post by trail.

Thanks. I should have just searched for that one, but great info!

He was cordial after he lost last year, too. He didn't call out Merida publicly until much later.

Road race was after the TT, correct? Not sure how Durbridge riding in the RR as a support rider a few days later would impact his TT performance.

That said, Durbridge is a strong motor who rides as a domestique most of the season as part of the "engine room" for his team. However, he is not likely to beat Dennis when both are peaked and prepped for the course. Dennis goals this year are some week long stage races, TT stages and the Olympics. Fair to say he was not close to peak form or all that motivated for the race.

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I get the sentiment of the post and agree for the most part. That said, I suspect RD's mindset isn't as results oriented as you might first think. I suspect he originally had a problem with the Merida... then used results to justify it. From interviews, he seems to be hyped on the Sky equipment... which sort of explains why he didn't seem perturbed by the loss. In both cases his mind may have already been made up what he thought about his equipment before the results came in.

I follow the thinking that he also probably wasn't in top TT shape, especially if he knew he'd be on the TDU squad.
Finally, while I don't exactly think it's the case here, it's not unprecedented for a World Champs national pride to come into play and to want the nat jersey worn in big events, by someone.

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Strange, last year the TT was last, this year it's first. Guess they switched it up. Fair point, then.

Turbo Durbo also talked about all of the sacrifice for this the past few months. It was his first goal of the year. Rohan definitely isn't peaking right now. All credit to Luke; mega ride, but he doesn't sniff Rohan when he is fresh and motivated.

Always TT takes place on Thursday or Friday and then the RR at the weekend.

TT results really depend on whether Rohan was training to peak for this TT or for the TDU almost two weeks later where he will lead the Ineos team. Whereas Durbridge is always going to be a domestique in the TDU, so he is more likely to peak for the nationals where he gets some freedom to race for himself for once.

Regarding Rohan’s position the two photos do sugggest a very different position between the BMC he rode at the Worlds and knows very, very well. .....vs the Bolide which he got on for the first time just 6-8 weeks ago. Or it might just be a slightly different angle that the two photos were taken from.

Helmet is not the same. You're slipping, Ron! ;)

Last year the Elite RR was on January 6th, and the TT was on January 8th. [CN]

One of my riders is on a Pina team - setting up the F12s has been a pain (minimum spacer stack 30mm under the stem!)
Not looking forward to the Bolide - bit different if you have skyneos resources to make bar bits as required.