101st Liège–Bastogne–Liège - 2015 Fourth Monument - 253k

[ray j willings]

I get impression that Nibs is doing exactly what he did last year. Getting in the mix then sitting back and let the race for first go.
I don't see him doing anything different in this race. Like last year he his holding back form.
Rolland would be a great champion. He could make an attack stick.
Usual suspects I imagine will be there. Lets hope there is plenty of aggressive riding and lots of attacks.

 

[Pantani_lives]

****Valverde
***Gilbert, Kwiatkowski
**Nibali, Wellens, Rolland, Rodriguez
*Fuglsang, D. Martin, Dumoulin, Kelderman, Henao, Kreuziger, Gerrans

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re: Re:

Albasini was a demon at Fleche. He has a decent sprint and the team should back him. Even though Gerro is apparently unfit the team should be able to deliver one of their riders into the selection.

Albasini has often been very good in FW but he has never performed in LBL. He has never even top 50'ed. It's just way too hard for him I guess. OGE will ride for Gerrans and Yates.

Of the two Simon's on the team I think Clarke is more likely to do well than Yates. Yates is still young and gaining experience.

Albasini might do a top twenty if he was team leader but with Gerrans in the team and the defending champion he should be the team leader.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re: Re:

Of the two Simon's on the team I think Clarke is more likely to do well than Yates. Yates is still young and gaining experience.

There are three of them: Gerrans, Clarke, Yates. They seem to grow on trees these days.

 

[The Hitch]

Last 2 years Liege has sucked and this year many classics have sucked including all 3 monuments and both Ardennes classics. I'm worried it will be a meh race worth only tuning in for the last few minutes for. Hopefully not, it wasn't that long ago that favourites were attacking 20k out from small groups.

 

[Dedelou]

If Possovivo is not too tired after Trentino and the traveling to Belgium he would very well figure in the final equation...

 

[bala v]

Re:

Usually I would have Valverde as the favorite for 2nd but with Kwiatkowski looking a little weak and Martin hurt I'd say he's guaranteed to win.

Yeah, he rarely wins, just 5 times this season. Also not good in this race, won only twice. Martin and kwiatkowski in form way bigger favorites

 

[Panda Claws]

Re:

Last 2 years Liege has sucked and this year many classics have sucked including all 3 monuments and both Ardennes classics. I'm worried it will be a meh race worth only tuning in for the last few minutes for. Hopefully not, it wasn't that long ago that favourites were attacking 20k out from small groups.

I thought you had not watched the classics this year.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re: Re:

Of the two Simon's on the team I think Clarke is more likely to do well than Yates. Yates is still young and gaining experience.

There are three of them: Gerrans, Clarke, Yates. They seem to grow on trees these days.

What an idiot I am at times.

 

[Põhja Konn]

Valverde being so clear favorite together with the changes to the parcours should mean a reasonable chance for attacking race at least after La Redoute. With Kwiat,Gerrans and Martin lacking in form and Gilbert reportedly having knee problems, not many teams got a reason to wait for the very last kilometers. Very different from last year, when all favorites were in top shape. The race could very well turn out to be similar to last years, but prerequisites in order to not to be are very much there.

 

[sir fly]

In the spirit of the Monumental tributes started right before De Ronde, I've ridden a tiny local LBL.

It's been just shy of 50 kilometers, with, around, 1000 meters of climbing, starting with a 500 meters cobbled climb (just to say good bye) and ending on the gravelled road at the highest altitude (250) of the route (to say hello to Finestre).

Cheers!

 

[doperhopper]

does not matter who wins as long as it's raced hard and selective enough, so full *** please on Redoute and Roch

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

ABV......(Anyone...But...Valverde)

AVB.... (Alejandro Valverde Belmonte)

+100

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

if not an Astana rider, hopefully Pozzo or someone that has o attack to win. If it ends up in a bunch sprint Valverde FTW!

 

[DBotero]

Valverde should normally win this,he's in great form,anyway i'm waiting more from J.Rod,i hope he'll be better than in La Fleche.

 

[rainman]

I'm hoping for a great classic but expecting the most boring, frustrating spectacle ever witnessed in pro cycling.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

wait, wait, wait, send somebody irrelevant up the the road noone cares for, sprint, Valverde wins again.

 

[May0maniac]

We could get a little bit of rain.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re:

We could get a little bit of rain.

Possibly really bad weather.

 

[search]

Valverde should normally win this,he's in great form,anyway i'm waiting more from J.Rod,i hope he'll be better than in La Fleche.

not sure it's a lack of form, he just might not have that punch anymore. Last time he won on a steep climb was in Chieti more than two years ago,

 

[greenedge]

I'm going to be optimistic and hope that Nibali and JROD fight it out in a two man sprint.
Hopefully it's hard for Movistar to control the finale!

 

[jflemaire]

Re: Re:

We could get a little bit of rain.

Possibly really bad weather.

It's been raining all day over Liège and according to the weather forecasts it should be worse tomorrow.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

We could get a little bit of rain.

Possibly really bad weather.

It's been raining all day over Liège and according to the weather forecasts it should be worse tomorrow.

Bring it on .

 

[cineteq]

Re:

I'm going to be optimistic and hope that Nibali and JROD fight it out in a two man sprint.
Hopefully it's hard for Movistar to control the finale!

That would be ideal. Watch out for Bardet...his climbing form is pretty good at the moment.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Saxo has not won a single thing since Tinkov was playing havoc with the team management.. Let me wish for a Kreuziger win. To put the jersey on a podium and give something to cheer to Saxo-Tinkov fans

A podium is not unlikely for Roman K. He appears to be in good shape and Liege Bastogne Liege is technically the race that favours him most. Valgren will be exciting to follow aswell. But long range attacking is required from Tinkoff-Saxo no matter what.

Tinkoff Saxo need ot do something to help set up Kreuziger ...maybe an attack by Majka...Does he do attacks ?? Or Valgren ??

But if Kreuziger's decision goes against him on June 10th you wonder why TCS bother...why not ride for Valgren or Majka