Škoda Tour de Luxembourg 2021 (September 14-18)

[Escarabajo]

Tomorrow the queen stage: A massive 5 first category climbs and 2 HC climbs. Bodies will be seen on the side of the road!!

 

[tobydawq]

Ewan is keen on the World's so he will suffer through an unsuitable race - Actually if he rode Slovakia he'd nearly win the GC on that parcour.

I don't think it makes much sense to pretend that it's perfectly normal that he drags himself home alone, a minute within the time limit, three minutes behind a group containing Mareczko, 12 days before a major goal.

The only hope one can have if one hopes for his success at Worlds is the fact that he did something similar (if not even worse) in Tirreno a week before he was Van Aert's equal on the Poggio.

But the WCRR is a different beast and he is not going to feature there. That would be quite sensational, IMO.

 

[staubsauger]

I don't think it makes much sense to pretend that it's perfectly normal that he drags himself home alone, a minute within the time limit, three minutes behind a group containing Mareczko, 12 days before a major goal.

The only hope one can have if one hopes for his success at Worlds is the fact that he did something similar (if not even worse) in Tirreno a week before he was Van Aert's equal on the Poggio.

But the WCRR is a different beast and he is not going to feature there. That would be quite sensational, IMO.

Well the only major mistake he made at M-SR was to not pull a Kirsipuu and counter attack to win solo. He really was surprisingly strong there, so he might know what he does right now.

But if he constantly rides into the red zone I don't know if that's sufficient indeed.

 

[Samamba]

I don't think it makes much sense to pretend that it's perfectly normal that he drags himself home alone, a minute within the time limit, three minutes behind a group containing Mareczko, 12 days before a major goal.

The only hope one can have if one hopes for his success at Worlds is the fact that he did something similar (if not even worse) in Tirreno a week before he was Van Aert's equal on the Poggio.

But the WCRR is a different beast and he is not going to feature there. That would be quite sensational, IMO.

I simply think he doesn't have the form right now, which wouldn't be all that weird after him crashing out of the Tour and his delayed comeback.

But i was thinking/hoping the same about him being not feeling well in the Tirreno to just be incredibly strong a week later. Only that Ewan has a shot at becoming WC. One that's good but not in the form of his life doesn't.

 

[johnymax]

I didn't see the today stage. How was Fausto looking?

Don't lie...
Brian Smith was saying during the stage that Masnada must be friends with the camera guy, because every time they showed the peloton, it was Masnada who was pulling. You were the camera guy for sure, admit it!

 

[SafeBet]

Lol just noticed yesterday's stage had the same number of riders finishing OTL as all 21 stages of La Vuelta.

 

[search]

Tomorrow the queen stage: A massive 5 first category climbs and 2 HC climbs. Bodies will be seen on the side of the road!!

and two intermediate sprints as well! Yesterday's stage had none, for whatever reason - the Eurosport commentators were joking, that it's because Schleck didn't like sprinting.

 

[yaco]

I don't think it makes much sense to pretend that it's perfectly normal that he drags himself home alone, a minute within the time limit, three minutes behind a group containing Mareczko, 12 days before a major goal.

The only hope one can have if one hopes for his success at Worlds is the fact that he did something similar (if not even worse) in Tirreno a week before he was Van Aert's equal on the Poggio.

But the WCRR is a different beast and he is not going to feature there. That would be quite sensational, IMO.

I've posted in another thread that it's doubtful Ewan will make the final of the World's - He is good at specialised preparation for races and the Tour of Luxembourg fits into that template.

 

[yaco]

I simply think he doesn't have the form right now, which wouldn't be all that weird after him crashing out of the Tour and his delayed comeback.

But i was thinking/hoping the same about him being not feeling well in the Tirreno to just be incredibly strong a week later. Only that Ewan has a shot at becoming WC. One that's good but not in the form of his life doesn't.

Ewan won a hard stage at the Benelux Tour - His form is OK.

 

[BlueRoads]

Is Kamil Gradek all on his own the whole time??

 

[BlueRoads]

Is Kamil Gradek all on his own the whole time??

Ah no, PCS changed the graphics.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Vincenzo!

 

[BlueRoads]

A few rain drops.

 

[BlueRoads]

Oh Mauri...
nobody rides like you do...

 

[SafeBet]

Great attack by Turgis.
DQS still with Vansevenant, Cattaneo and Masnada to help Almeida.

 

[tobydawq]

Brian Holm: "Let's not forget that ten years ago, Boasson Hagen was as good as Van Aert is now".

Just fire the guy.

 

[BlueRoads]

Great attack by Turgis.
DQS still with Vansevenant, Cattaneo and Masnada to help Almeida.

Would be great if Turgis made it...

 

[SafeBet]

Vansevenant bleeding time. Perhaps DQS should have Cattaneo work.

 

[tobydawq]

Brian Holm: "Let's not forget that ten years ago, Boasson Hagen was as good as Van Aert is now".

Just fire the guy.

And Turgis is apparently a big boy who reminds him of Jack Bauer...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Brian Holm: "Let's not forget that ten years ago, Boasson Hagen was as good as Van Aert is now".

Just fire the guy.

To be fair to EBH his first seasons as a pro actually made it look like he could reach a Van Aert like level in sprints, classics and TTs, and Holm probably mostly remembers the great potential he saw in him at the time. In the end he didn't really come close to achieving it though.

 

[Bonimenier]

About time Hirschi won again. He looked strong.

 

[Escarabajo]

So the Tour of Luxemburg wants to challenge the Vuelta for the bad broadcast. Luckily for us that just happened at the end!

 

[SafeBet]

We've been waiting a long time but Hirschi looks finally back.

 

[tobydawq]

To be fair to EBH his first seasons as a pro actually made it look like he could reach a Van Aert like level in sprints, classics and TTs, and Holm probably mostly remembers the great potential he saw in him at the time. In the end he didn't really come close to achieving it though.

Yes, but isn't that exactly his problem? He gets something into his head and then twists reality and forces his ridiculous views on the viewers.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

UAE played that superbly, but Almeida is still in the front seat, and he got rid of Cattaneo.