108th Liège-Bastogne-Liège: 24 April, 2022

[Hugo Koblet]

I wouldn't underestimate Alaphilippe, he may not have been at his best this year but he almost always among the best at Liège.

While that might be true, he's also always (among) the best in Fleche Wallone, which he wasn't this year. This was his worst performance in Fleche Wallone in six participations.

 

[Lequack]

While that might be true, he's also always (among) the best in Fleche Wallone, which he wasn't this year. This was his worst performance in Fleche Wallone in six participations.

That's because he was slowed down by Pog.

Also, Dylan Teuns should win this race too in his current form.

 

[movingtarget]

Wout van Aert will win finish 2nd in this bike race

Michael Matthews will finish 4th or 11th.............

 

[Red Rick]

While that might be true, he's also always (among) the best in Fleche Wallone, which he wasn't this year. This was his worst performance in Fleche Wallone in six participations.

Yes. And he's won Fleche before proceeding to get crushed on RaF multiple times.

I still think Alaphilippe can win but that's down to his ability to just show up and be invincible on a hill like RaF from one week to the next.

 

[Velolover2]

Aren't Huy and RaF (not the rising part after the climb) fairly similar in terms of length and gradient? I know MdH has steeper gradients while RaF is more of a regular hard effort.

 

[ppanther92]

That's because he was slowed down by Pog.

I don't think that made all the difference. Ala in peak shape would have closed it.

 

[Panda Claws]

Dread from it run from it Belgium still arrives.

 

[Red Rick]

Aren't Huy and RaF (not the rising part after the climb) fairly similar in terms of length and gradient? I know MdH has steeper gradients while RaF is more of a regular hard effort.

RaF is slightly longer, but the bigger difference is in the amount of fatigue going into the climb, the amount of speed going into the climb, and how aggressively the climb is raced from the start.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

McNulty will replace him.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1517805756816449536

View: https://twitter.com/TamauPogi/status/1517805756816449536

 

[yaco]

Michael Matthews will finish 4th or 11th.............

Wait until Romandie next week - Reckon he can win a stage.

 

[yaco]

I posted two days ago that Pogacar was in doubt for LBL - Family comes first !

 

[Lequack]

With Pogacar not riding, now Mohoric will have to win.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Understandable that Pogacar choses not to ride at this point. Very human decision.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Nibali vs Valverde showdown in Liege?

Makes no sense that formolo is not riding .

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It will change the race for sure, but to be honest, at this moment i didn't have him pegged as the big favorite anymore. He's been on form since UAE and a good Pogacar would always have podiumed in Huy, imho. I think he would still have been a contender, but not the Pogacar that was going to drop anybody and everybody when and where he pleased. Could be that made his decision not to ride a bit easier.

 

[Velolover2]

McNulty will replace him.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1517805756816449536

View: https://twitter.com/TamauPogi/status/1517805756816449536

Very understandable decision.

I can't believe that the 42 year old man has an actual chance now. I still think Wout will win this tho.

 

[Lequack]

Bahrain photographer makes everyone look weird

 

[Red Rick]

Bahrain photographer makes everyone look weird

For real though Hirschi vs Luis Leon who has the sickest jawline?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Liege nowadays is all about Roche aux faucons. That's why I don't see WVA or Remco winning. WVA can not follow the most explosive attacks there, and remoc will be dropped.


I also don't see Alaphilippe, in 3 days, suddenly gaining the legs to drop the best climbers there. Valverde also probably won't decide the selection.

So it probably comes down to whether Alaphilippe or Valverde can follow the strongest attacks on that climb .

If I had a really strong climber in my team, I would focus on bringing him into the Faucons as fresh as possible. Ineos have Martinez. Bora have Vlasov. Bahrain has cards here with Teuns, Poels and Landa. Vingegaard also could do something. All those riders have the chance of going solo.

My prediction: Romain Bardet attacks from the chaos over Roche aux Faucons and win solo. Valverde sprints to 2nd behind ahead of Valsov

 

[CyclistAbi]

Considering no Rogla and Pogi. Likely for van Aert and Mohorič to get in a breakaway and to fight off at the finish line.

 

[AlfaLum]

Considering no Rogla and Pogi. Likely for van Aert and Mohorič to get in a breakaway and to fight off at the finish line.

Likely?

 

[CyclistAbi]

Likely?

Unless they again make the same mistake as at the Paris-Roubaix. When somebody else just rode away and took the win. That is instead of the duo that was the most active in the peloton and did most of the work through the whole race.

 

[Bolder]

IDK what kind of shape McNulty is in but this race could suit him. Sorry to hear about Pogacar's family issues but it seems like he's doing the right thing.

 

[Velolover2]

For real though Hirschi vs Luis Leon who has the sickest jawline?

I thought Rojas won the GigaChad category. That jawline is made of steel and bricks.

 

[AlfaLum]

Unless they again make the same mistake as at the Paris-Roubaix. When somebody else just rode away and took the win. That is instead of the duo that was the most active in the peloton and did most of the work through the whole race.

I think that there are so many possible scenarios tomorrow that none of them deserves the label likely to be fair.