2013 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, 21/04/13 257km

[Bushman]

I wouldn't be surprised to see another strong showing from Kwiatkowski here. He said himself that this race is the one (of the Ardennes classics) that suits him the most and he seems to be in very good shape. He also seems to have a very good engine, so the lenght of the race should not hurt him too much despite his age.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Top10 of Amstel, FW and LBL are always quite similar.

Valverde clearly seems favourite Nr 1, I guess that´s obvious.

Good Liege in sight also for

Kreuziger
D. Martin
Kwiatkovski
Mollema
Rodriguez
Gilbert.

Waiting for the big stories again, should Valverde win. Just like the Vino stories: won LBL, doping suspension, came back and won LBL.

Valverde won LBL twice already, 2006 and 2008, it´s his race, like Roubaix is to Boonen.

 

[SafeBet]

Nibbles looked better than expected in Trentino today.

 

[Netserk]

Top10 of Amstel, FW and LBL are always quite similar.

Valverde clearly seems favourite Nr 1, I guess that´s obvious.

Good Liege in sight also for

Kreuziger
D. Martin
Kwiatkovski
Mollema
Rodriguez
Gilbert.

Waiting for the big stories again, should Valverde win. Just like the Vino stories: won LBL, doping suspension, came back and won LBL.

Valverde won LBL twice already, 2006 and 2008, it´s his race, like Roubaix is to Boonen.

 

[Climeon]

Suprised no-one's mentioning Froome as a possible winner, an explosive, strong rider bound to turn up in form and with an excellent team

 

[Bushman]

Suprised no-one's mentioning Froome as a possible winner, an explosive, strong rider bound to turn up in form and with an excellent team

although he does seem quite explosive when riding uphill, he doesn't have the best track record with very hilly stages and riding a classic is way different than mountain stags in GTs in terms of endurance, positioning and so on.

But SKY seems to be in good form and their numbers could prove an advantage.

 

[benzwire]

Hey guys, I am going to be in Brussels this weekend and I would like to travel down to see LBL in person. Any suggestions on where best to watch the race? I'll probably go to the start then go somewhere on course. La Redoute? I've heard that can be a madhouse. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Miburo]

Contador is gonna win this.

Doing a rope a dope today, he'll win And be praised by everybody.

Who gives a **** about FW anyway.

 

[Afrank]

After the last 2 races I'm thinking this one won't be taken by one of the top favorites. If it is, then I would say it would be either Valverde or Nibali. Hopefully Gilbert can at least make the podium so his Ardennes campaign wouldn't be a total failure. But I'm not too sure about his chances. I could see Betancur, Dan Martin, Weening, Rui Costa (if his crash at AGR hasn't hurt his chances too much and if he picks the right move), Kwiatkowski (he'll be in the top 10 at least for sure), and Kreuziger (of course he will likely be marked more, so that could hurt his chances) contending for the win.

I also expect the Colombians to be right up there at the head of the race, be it Henao, Uran, Betancur, or even Quintana (hoping he's up there, even if he wasn't there in the last 2), I expect them to effect the outcome.

 

[Jelantik]

After the last 2 races I'm thinking this one won't be taken by one of the top favorites. If it is, then I would say it would be either Valverde or Nibali. Hopefully Gilbert can at least make the podium so his Ardennes campaign wouldn't be a total failure. But I'm not too sure about his chances. I could see Betancur, Dan Martin, Weening, Rui Costa (if his crash at AGR hasn't hurt his chances too much and if he picks the right move), Kwiatkowski (he'll be in the top 10 at least for sure), and Kreuziger (of course he will likely be marked more, so that could hurt his chances) contending for the win.

I also expect the Colombians to be right up there at the head of the race, be it Henao, Uran, Betancur, or even Quintana (hoping he's up there, even if he wasn't there in the last 2), I expect them to effect the outcome.

Henao seems to be progressing. 6th amstel, 3rd FW, maybe 1st LBL. But I hope some other colombians give him the run for his money

 

[Jelantik]

Suprised no-one's mentioning Froome as a possible winner, an explosive, strong rider bound to turn up in form and with an excellent team

maybe because unlike stage race, this race is long, hilly and full throttle from the start? So no start slowly and easy in to the race maybe? He hasn't been in the racing since the Crit. Dunno how he can find the racing rhythm with a brutal tempo? Porte was in the back of peloton 2 mountains before finish today.

 

[Cimber]

maybe because unlike stage race, this race is long, hilly and full throttle from the start? So no start slowly and easy in to the race maybe? He hasn't been in the racing since the Crit. Dunno how he can find the racing rhythm with a brutal tempo? Porte was in the back of peloton 2 mountains before finish today.

Yep he looked really bad in that long and hilly TA stage where Nibila won. Porte have been in top shape for a while. In FW it seemed as if he needs a break now.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Yep he looked really bad in that long and hilly TA stage where Nibila won. Porte have been in top shape for a while. In FW it seemed as if he needs a break now.

porte just can't handle short steep explosive climbs and all the turning and positioning

 

[jflemaire]

Hey guys, I am going to be in Brussels this weekend and I would like to travel down to see LBL in person. Any suggestions on where best to watch the race? I'll probably go to the start then go somewhere on course. La Redoute? I've heard that can be a madhouse. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

If they would have ridden Roche of Faucons this year I may have suggested this, since it's much closer to Liège. But I guess it's hard to beat La Redoute for the atmosphere.

 

[The Hitch]

porte just can't handle short steep explosive climbs and all the turning and positioning

He did pretty well on that short steep explosive climb in Pais Vasco a few k from the end of the stage he won

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

He did pretty well on that short steep explosive climb in Pais Vasco a few k from the end of the stage he won

yes but that stage is nothing like fleche wallonne. the hills are much shoter in fleche and like I said constant turning and positoning. in pais vasco you don't have 100 riders trying to be first on every climb

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Too bad of De Ghendt's knee problems. He would've been the perfect outsider.

 

[ILovecycling]

Ryo Hazuki;1203441]yes but that stage is nothing like fleche wallonne. the hills are much shoter in fleche and like I said constant turning and positoning. in pais vasco you don't have 100 riders trying to be first on every climb

I agree with Ryo in this case,generaly Sky riders(except henao) arent good in positioning during one day races

 

[Izzy eviel]

I found some footage of the 1980 edition if anyone's interested: http://www.sonuma.be/archive/liège-bastogne-liège-bernard-hinault-sous-la-neige

 

[ebandit]

outstanding!

I found some footage of the 1980 edition if anyone's interested: http://www.sonuma.be/archive/liège-bastogne-liège-bernard-hinault-sous-la-neige

outstanding! izzy...........i had only seen still pics previously

a day for heros

Mark L

 

[staubsauger]

If Big Phil isn'T able to show sth at Luik I doubt we will see anything big from him until the Vuelta.

We all now in Spain you still can go loco, so he should be back on fire there.

 

[hfer07]

Officially I am going with my man BETANCUR ftw. Liege-as all the Ardenness classics are simply a gamble-but a worth one taking if the form is good-so by the impressive demonstration of power & courage shown in F-W, I cannot think of a better rider prepared to surprise the world other than BETANCUR....
Of course he'll be marked & there are others with the pedigree to outshine him, but I'm so pleased by his performance, that I put him above my other compatriots Uran, Henao & even QUINTANA for this one, since I believe Carlos is far more skillful for the Ardenness than the others....

Good luck to all of them

 

[Duartista]

Officially I am going with my man BETANCUR ftw. Liege-as all the Ardenness classics are simply a gamble-but a worth one taking if the form is good-so by the impressive demonstration of power & courage shown in F-W, I cannot think of a better rider prepared to surprise the world other than BETANCUR....
Of course he'll be marked & there are others with the pedigree to outshine him, but I'm so pleased by his performance, that I put him above my other compatriots Uran, Henao & even QUINTANA for this one, since I believe Carlos is far more skillful for the Ardenness than the others....

Good luck to all of them

Only thing is, Betancur said he wouldn't go too hard this week because he doesn't want to hit top form before the Giro. So don't be surprised if he disappears like in Amstel.

 

[hfer07]

Only thing is, Betancur said he wouldn't go too hard this week because he doesn't want to hit top form before the Giro. So don't be surprised if he disappears like in Amstel.

I quite don't believe he would just "drift away" in Liege while being in position to race FTW just to "save" his form for Il Giro- since I believe Pozzo is the main man for it, regardless his recent accident...
anyhow-we'll see, but i'm confident he'll be there...

 

[Duartista]

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=61225

Belgian police threatening to prevent 20 riders from starting due to littering in last year's race.