104TH LIÈGE-BASTOGNE-LIÈGE 1.UWT April 22nd, 2018

[Red Rick]

It's very obvious that Dumoulin will try to follow attacks for Matthews. That's why it's imperative that RaF is raced hard so that riders who are prepared better can fry him right then and there.

Movistart got foung out at Fleche. EQS don't have a back up plan for Alaphilippe. Dan Martin failed tremendously at Fleche too. There's 3 teams that may want everything together for the SN.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

Nibali is so overhyped for the hilly classics. There are better candidates from long range attacks such as Dumoulin or Thomas.

What, when?

They are faster than him if it comes down to a sprint and I don't think he can drop any of them. If anything, both Dumo and Thomas can drop Nibali on those climbs.

:lol:

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Yeah.

Nibali is SOOO overrated for the hills. The man doesn't have a punch. He even has a better chance in Paris-Roubaix.

He has everything that's needed to win a race like Liege. I wouldn't totally rule out a Sheffield, TdF 2014 scenario with Valverde as Sagan and Alaphilippe as GVA. The only question mark is Nibali's shape which doesn't look like it's 100% and I'm not sure if less is enough.

 

[Laplaz]

***** Alaphilippe, Valverde, Matthews
**** Vanendert, Kreuziger
*** Nibali, Valgren, Bardet, Fuglsang, Wellens
** Benoot, Dumoulin, Gasparotto, Kwiatkowski, Teuns
* Gilbert, Calmejane, Kangert, I. and G. Izaguirre, Pozzovivo, G. Thomas, Schachmann, Jungels, Woods, Molard, Rui Costa, D. Martin, Slagter, Henao, Mollema, Gesink

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

****** Matthews
*****Alaphilippe, Valverde
****Nibali, Vanendert
***Fuglsang, Bardet, Teuns
**Kreuziger, Kwiatkowski, D. Martin, Wellens, Thomas
*Kangert, Gasparotto, Rolland, Gilbert, Dumoulin, Benoot

FTFY.

Yes, I overlooked him, but I think the race won't be as passive as last year and he will be dropped on the climbs.

The climbs are spaced too far apart and he can survive basically any 1 km effort. Doesn't matter if it's 6% or 11%. The only climb that long enough to drop him is La Redoute but it's too far away from the finish to be crucial.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

Nibali is so overhyped for the hilly classics. There are better candidates from long range attacks such as Dumoulin or Thomas.

What, when?

They are faster than him if it comes down to a sprint and I don't think he can drop any of them. If anything, both Dumo and Thomas can drop Nibali on those climbs.

:lol:

Neither Thomas nor Dumoulin are explosive but they are great at riding tempo up such climbs. Nibali isn't. He need to come up with some surprise attack which is less likely to happen.

 

[Velolover2]

Bardet may surprise. He was alright in FW and this race suits him a lot more.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Nibali is so overhyped for the hilly classics. There are better candidates from long range attacks such as Dumoulin or Thomas.

What, when?

They are faster than him if it comes down to a sprint and I don't think he can drop any of them. If anything, both Dumo and Thomas can drop Nibali on those climbs.

:lol:

Neither Thomas nor Dumoulin are explosive but they are great at riding tempo up such climbs. Nibali isn't. He need to come up with some surprise attack which is less likely to happen.

Yeah, let's completely ignore Nibali's record at this race. It's absolutely impossible Nibali ever performs well here.

 

[SafeBet]

Weather forecast?

**** Bala, Ala
*** Matthews, Wellens, Kreuziger
** Bardet, Nibali, Kwiatkowski, Vanendert, Landa, Vakgren
* Gasparotto, Benoot, Molard, Gilbert, Rui Costa, Martin, Serry, Dumoulin, Haig, Ion, Henao, Teuns, Fuglsang

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

hilarious how some people expect more out of Dumoulin than Nibali.

Nibali has proven he can win classics. Dumoulin, while having the skillset, hasn't. Simple as that. Nibali has far more chance. But even his chances are slim this year I think. Because he's not in similar shape to when he was 2nd after Iglinsky. MSR you can win even if you are a bit off 100%. But Liege? Don't think so

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yeah, Matthews is my favorite here. Then the obvious Valverde and Alaphilippe.

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

Weather forecast?

There could be rain.

 

[Blanco]

I can't tell who will win this bike race, but I'll tell who's not going to win it: Matthews, Dumoulin and Thomas!

 

[Red Rick]

Private footage of me, getting ready to watch LBL

 

[Climbing]

And Nibali when it's raining

 

[Durden93]

Re:

Nibali is so overhyped for the hilly classics. There are better candidates from long range attacks such as Dumoulin or Thomas.

Remind me, how many monuments do those guys have? Nibali has 3, including one this year. He’s a strong candidate.

 

[Lo squalo di messina]

I must be the only one who thinks nibs didnt go all out in FW. It seemed more like a good training without forcing anything.
But yeah he doesnt seem to be at his very best.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

I must be the only one who thinks nibs didnt go all out in FW. It seemed more like a good training without forcing anything.
But yeah he doesnt seem to be at his very best.

I'm considering that as well. He needed to hold back for the final ascent anyway, and when he knew it wouldn't happen he sorta let it go

 

[loge1884]

if Matthews is such a favorite here, I wonder why Peter Sagan is not racing this .....

 

[markene2]

Enrico Gasparotto will win this bike race

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

if Matthews is such a favorite here, I wonder why Peter Sagan is not racing this .....

Cause he gets slowly fried on La Redoute before getting on the Roche aux Faucons

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

if Matthews is such a favorite here, I wonder why Peter Sagan is not racing this .....

Matthews is a better climber.

 

[Durden93]

Re:

if Matthews is such a favorite here, I wonder why Peter Sagan is not racing this .....

Matthews started his classics campaign two weeks after Sagan. You can’t peak forever.

 

[krakenKE]

Re: Re:

if Matthews is such a favorite here, I wonder why Peter Sagan is not racing this .....

Matthews is a better climber.

What makes you to think so?

 

[Frankschleck]

Re:

hilarious how some people expect more out of Dumoulin than Nibali.

Nibali has proven he can win classics. Dumoulin, while having the skillset, hasn't. Simple as that. Nibali has far more chance. But even his chances are slim this year I think. Because he's not in similar shape to when he was 2nd after Iglinsky. MSR you can win even if you are a bit off 100%. But Liege? Don't think so

Honestly Nibali has not looked good this year. I won't rule him out because it is Nibali, but I think Dumoulin will do better. Nibali is a rider who can win on 80% and is almost never the strongest, but finds a way anyway. I like that, but i think Dumoulin will do better.