Also very possible, yes. Speaking of which, Chris Boardman and his co-commentator during that women's race were really painful to listen to at times. Kept repeating the same things over and over and tried to convince people that having a 30 second lead with 30 km to go was somehow a convincing lead that the peloton would never pull back... it did turn out that way, of course, but far larger gaps have been closed over that distance. Even if the small teams did to some extent give an advantage to breakaways.

I've noticed that before, that he's always talking about his team in all the interviews (which, indeed, I generally only get to see after he's won). Which is only fair, considering that he's not the type of sprinter, like Freire or Zabel in his day, who can win races even without any support. But still, a lot of people in his place would be more arrogant about it, for sure.

He was so much the favourite that it was always going to be really hard... favourites always have a hard time in World or Olympic championships, particularly if they have to do it in the sprint. There's just so much pressure and you need so much luck, either in getting away with the right escape or in having the escape reeled in in time without anyone launching a new one.

I think we can be quite certain of that, yes. Just what cycling needs... not.