2013 Fleche Wallonne (17 April)

[hfer07]

I guess my man Betancur paid the price for being first timer in F-W. He could have gotten this had he held the attack halfway the climb.... nonetheless superb!! Henao just nailed him on the flat when Betancur was already spent...

 

[shalgo]

Gilbert:

 

[max_powers]

Is there anything Kwiatkowski can't do?

Yea! Polish Power

 

[Bala Verde]

Gilbert = Fail of the day.

During the interview he said he had to go because he was afraid no one else would try to get back to Betancourt. He was afraid Betancourt would distance the group of main contenders too much.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

14th, Tom jelte Slagter (who was in the lead at start of climb)
15th Gilbert

ouch Gilbert

 

[Pippo_San]

Betancur what a beast! He did an AMAZING attack, should he have waited that little bit more he would have probably won.

Dani Moreno, perfect timing!

Gilbert and Sagan definitely consumed themselves too much too soon, especially Gilbert: very positive comeback for Sagan after the Amstel, he's gonna win every classic one day, probably even this one!

 

[fezzer]

LP. Nordhaug crashed into a Cannondale rider on the second to last hill..

 

[gooner]

What the hell was Dan Martin doing at the start of the climb? Did he think it was only fair to give everyone else a headstart? There's no point in going past people like they are standing still, if you are going to do so from a position like that.

He has only himself to blame.

I couldn't believe he was making the same mistake as last year once again.

What a missed opportunity.

 

[Roude Leiw]

1. MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel 5 KATUSHA TEAM 4h 52' 33"
2. HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis 33 SKY PROCYCLING 4h 52' 36" + 00' 03"
3. BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto 193 AG2R LA MONDIALE 4h 52' 36" + 00' 03"
4. MARTIN Daniel 75 GARMIN - SHARP 4h 52' 36" + 00' 03"
5. KWIATKOWSKI Michal 61 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 4h 52' 36" + 00' 03"
6. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 1 KATUSHA TEAM 4h 52' 41" + 00' 08"
7. VALVERDE Alejandro 91 MOVISTAR TEAM 4h 52' 41" + 00' 08"
8. ANTON Igor 181 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 52' 41" + 00' 08"
9. MOLLEMA Bauke 84 BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM 4h 52' 41" + 00' 08"
10. NOCENTINI Rinaldo 191 AG2R LA MONDIALE 4h 52' 41" + 00' 08"
11. CARUSO Gianpaolo 2 KATUSHA TEAM 4h 52' 41" + 00' 08"
12. SAGAN Peter 51 CANNONDALE 4h 52' 41" + 00' 08"
13. ULISSI Diego 148 LAMPRE - MERIDA 4h 52' 46" + 00' 13"
14. SLAGTER Tom Jelte 81 BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM 4h 52' 46" + 00' 13"
15. GILBERT Philippe 21 BMC RACING TEAM 4h 52' 48" + 00' 15"
16. GALLOPIN Tony 44 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 4h 52' 50" + 00' 17"
17. KREUZIGER Roman 102 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 4h 52' 50" + 00' 17"
18. VICHOT Arthur 158 FDJ 4h 52' 54" + 00' 21"
19. HESJEDAL Ryder 71 GARMIN - SHARP 4h 52' 56" + 00' 23"
20. MARTENS Paul 83 BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM 4h 52' 56" + 00' 23"
21. ALBASINI Michael 11 ORICA GREENEDGE 4h 52' 56" + 00' 23"

 

[Bala Verde]

14th, Tom jelte Slagter (who was in the lead at start of climb)
15th Gilbert

ouch Gilbert

Don't understand why they had Slagter pulling on the front. I assumed he was one of the 2 who would be protected, given his affinity for short steep climbs.

 

[luckyboy]

Great day again for Kwiatowski. Wish Betancur held on though.

 

[SKSemtex]

Kwiatkowski - what a star !!! OPQS leader for next season.

 

[Netserk]

During the interview he said he had to go because he was afraid no one else would try to get back to Betancourt. He was afraid Betancourt would distance the group of main contenders too much.

Still = fail of the day.

If you want to win, you have to be ready to lose.

Gilbert could have gambled and tried to win, but instead he chose to lose by default.

 

[Escarabajo]

without Gilbert, Betancur may well have won that

+1.

Good job by Henao. A little sad for Betancur.

 

[Afrank]

How did Andy finish? Very good race for him, good to see him up at the front, even if he got dropped on the climb. He's showing improving form.

 

[The GCW]

"Other" won.

Dan Martin had poor position or may have taken it.

Sagan may not be suited for steep sprint finishes.

The Giro d'Italia was not won today. -Dan Martin & Ryder Hesjedal

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Moreno and Kwiatkowski will be pleased, and rightly so. The rest of the top five, Henao, Betancur and Martin will all think that they blew a chance to win.

 

[User Guide]

Still = fail of the day.

If you want to win, you have to be ready to lose.

Gilbert could have gambled and tried to win, but instead he chose to lose by default.

Not sure which scenario would of got Gilbert the win today.

 

[Lanark]

Still = fail of the day.

If you want to win, you have to be ready to lose.

Gilbert could have gambled and tried to win, but instead he chose to lose by default.

Gilbert rides like it's still 2011. Didn't look good today at all. He should hope this was just a single bad day, or Liège is going to be a real problem.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gilbert went at roughly the same distance in 2011 and blew everyone away.

Now he couldn't distance jack **** and blew himself and got passed by everyone in the last 200m. No way Gilbert even stands a remote chance of winning LBL in this form

 

[SKSemtex]

Purito did very well considering the circumstances. Magical doctor.

 

[Escarabajo]

So if Valverde is in a race as the designated leader, Quintana won't even try.
I hope that is not the case in other races

58. GADRET John 195 AG2R LA MONDIALE 4h 53' 59" + 01' 26"
59. QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 97 MOVISTAR TEAM 4h 54' 06" + 01' 33"
60. SULZBERGER Wesley 17 ORICA GREENEDGE 4h 54' 06" + 01' 33"

 

[burning]

Gilbert went at roughly the same distance in 2011 and blew everyone away.

Now he couldn't distance jack **** and blew himself and got passed by everyone in the last 200m. No way Gilbert even stands a remote chance of winning LBL in this form

Exactly, he's miles behind his 2011 form. El Pisti told in last week he's in top shape though

 

[luckyboy]

Purito did very well considering the circumstances. Magical doctor.

lol ........

 

[jens_attacks]

Anyone timed the ascent?

http://climbing-records.blogspot.ro/2013/04/dani-moreno-flies-up-mur.html

went fast