2012 Tour de Wallonie (2.HC) 21st - 25th July

[Geraint Too Fast]

1. Danilo Napolitano (Acqua e Sapone)
2. Davide Appollonio (Team Sky)



When will Tommeke pull out of the race? The road race is in five days.

Boonen will pull out after tomorrow and GVA will join him.

 

[togo95]

I've mapped final 55 kilometers of stage 3 and you can have a closer look on the profile here.

 

[daveinzambia]

yeah had a look at the profiles for this race last week and was really hoping something could happen to dislodge the sprinters. But i had stage 2 as the best bet and the fact that Napolitano has won that means i hold out no hope for the rest of the race.

tomorrow is there only chance but think there will be a reasonable sized bunch towards the end and will be decided by time bonuses.

which sucks

 

[daveinzambia]

I've mapped final 55 kilometers of stage 3 and you can have a closer look on the profile here.

nice, looked at this after posting my comments. given me slightly more hope that someone can jump off that 8% section near the end and hold on over the other too little hills.

 

[togo95]

We have live pictures
http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-5.php

 

[togo95]

Betancur looks really good this season, wonder what is he capable of today

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Boonen will pull out after tomorrow and GVA will join him.

Disrespecting blah blah race blah meh.

 

[El Pistolero]

Disrespecting blah blah race blah meh.

No, Boonen wanted to finish the race, but Belgian Olympic team leaves for London on Tuesday. They had no choice.

 

[Machu Picchu]

Live coverage for those interested.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

No, Boonen wanted to finish the race, but Belgian Olympic team leaves for London on Tuesday. They had no choice.

I hope you realise that is a very weak excuse. I presume they didn't wait until the race had started to tell Tom.

But I really don't care a fig, so meh.

 

[Machu Picchu]

I hope you realise that is a very weak excuse. I presume they didn't wait until the race had started to tell Tom.

But I really don't care a fig, so meh.

Seems a rather reasonable reason to me, Boonen gets a few days racing, they get the Belgian national champion for a few stages.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Seems a rather reasonable reason to me, Boonen gets a few days racing, they get the Belgian national champion for a few stages.

I don't doubt everyone involved is pleased, but it does make very very clear that this is a minor and unimportant event.

I can imagine people getting upset if other riders had done something similar.

 

[El Pistolero]

I hope you realise that is a very weak excuse. I presume they didn't wait until the race had started to tell Tom.

But I really don't care a fig, so meh.

Boonen wanted more race days, so no it's not an excuse. They tried to fight the rule, but didn't work out. That's not an excuse as Boonen never used any excuses when abandoning a race without some sort of injury(Tour de Suisse for example).

 

[Mellow Velo]

Nice to return to some "normal" racing.

 

[Machu Picchu]

I don't doubt everyone involved is pleased, but it does make very very clear that this is a minor and unimportant event.

I can imagine people getting upset if other riders had done something similar.

Well obviously you’re not pleased but then it must come as a shock to find out that the Tour de Wallonie is not seen as being as important as the Olympic road race.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Nice to return to some "normal" racing.

could do with an extraordinary Betancur though!

 

[fluffkitten]

Nice having a live feed for this. "Unimportant" races are so often the most fun.

 

[Mellow Velo]

These uphill crashes are becoming commonplace.
I reckon Boonan looks as if he could become a handy domestique for Cav.

 

[Machu Picchu]

could do with an extraordinary Betancur though!

Well he is trying for you

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Well he is trying for you

Yes I agree - I'm glad to see him shining.
Does it seem to you that Betancur and Di Luca are working together in competition?

 

[dlwssonic]

Goooo GVA......
Get to the finish with the group and the victory is yours.

Bloody vaconsoleil

 

[Mellow Velo]

Devolder failing again.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Stybar racing!

 

[dlwssonic]

holy cow stybar!

lol steve morabito attacking.

 

[Machu Picchu]

Yes I agree - I'm glad to see him shining.
Does it seem to you that Betancur and Di Luca are working together in competition?

Sadly for me I'm only getting fleeting glances and no commentary but yes hopefully they can arrange something between them, would also like to see Stybar do well.