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

[Carols]

Also he needs to be careful, given that he just come from Trentino and the workload acumulated he can't go very deep otherwise he may do too much work which is not optimal for his preparation for Giro, which is all he is thinking atm he is not thinking about winning LBL specially after winning Trentino, he can now control the efoorts for the perfect prepraration

Nibali quotes after Trentino win:

“Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a huge goal of mine,” Nibali said on Friday. “This Trentino win gives me a lot of morale heading towards it.”

“I didn’t think about win the stage and taking the overall today,” he said. “To be honest, my mind was on Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I just didn’t want to spend too much energy today. However, [sports director] Alexandr Shefer told me to go for it, given the situation.”

Sounds to me like he wants LBL a lot more than the Trentino win, but was pushed by management. He will most likely pay for the effort in Trentino....

 

[The Hitch]

Because he is in great form right now, was 6th in AGR and 2nd in FW, and because the Ardennes are a target of his this season. And there isn't really a clear cut favorite for the race that is at a much higher level than everyone else (like Gilbert 2011), that benefits him.

I don't see why you rate Froome higher than him. I ask again, what's Froome done in any hilly race that says he is more of a potential winner than Henao?

If theres one rider who doesn't need to be good at something before to be good at it now, its froome. That said, this isnt an mtf where he can just softpedal 4 hours then drop everyone. I think he'll be like Contador 2010 and show some form + finish in a good group.

 

[Ferminal]

Where is vino attacks? What's the final word on Iglinskiy... quiet all season waiting for this day or just not good enough?

 

[The Hitch]

What's Froome done in any hilly race that make you think LBL suits him? He'll probably be working for Henao in LBL, that would be the smart thing to do.

Working how? Henao like everyone else is probably gonna follow wheels until the selection. Chances are some other team will do the pacing and Froome can sit back with Henao. If Sky need to do the work, they have others who will do it and Froome can sit back with Henao.

Some people see every race like a gt. Twas like when BMC "announced" Phinney would be "joint" leader in PR and everyone cried of joy like this was some massive revelation.

How many teams use up all their domestiques in a classic?

If froome does work for Henao, it will be one of those symbolic ones, Froome showing he can do some domestique work for the cameras, etc.

 

[Pippo_San]

The Astana guys look like the only team who can lose, because they have endless opportunities. They can go in berserker attack mode with every single rider (and what a roster they have for Vino-attacks), and in the end Gasparotto wins the sprint.

Sky surely can go in a similar and probably more effective full attack mode, but they can't afford to get to a sprint, which they'll probably lose.

The other teams don't really have those many chances.

Bah **** me. JTL to destroy everyone. Let me spell it: D E S T R O Y E V E R Y O N E

 

[Ferminal]

If theres one rider who doesn't need to be good at something before to be good at it now, its froome. That said, this isnt an mtf where he can just softpedal 4 hours then drop everyone. I think he'll be like Contador 2010 and show some form + finish in a good group.

In 2009 Froome was the 3rd highest finisher under the age of 24, based on that he should become a 4x L-B-L champion.

 

[movingtarget]

Valverde
Gerrans
Gilbert

I think Gerrans and Valverde will finish ahead of Gilbert. I don't think Sky will have a rider on the podium. I thought Gilbert was disappointing at Fleche and I don't see him improving enough to win here. Astana have the most options. Sky just don't convince me in the classics. Would not surprise me to see someone unexpected win, like Kreuziger winning Amstel.

 

[HiCadence]

The Astana guys look like the only team who can lose, because they have endless opportunities. They can go in berserker attack mode with every single rider (and what a roster they have for Vino-attacks), and in the end Gasparotto wins the sprint.

Sky surely can go in a similar and probably more effective full attack mode, but they can't afford to get to a sprint, which they'll probably lose.

The other teams don't really have those many chances.

Bah **** me. JTL to destroy everyone. Let me spell it: D E S T R O Y E V E R Y O N E

this.....THIS X 10!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Although not appointed to me, I hope you and AFrank won't mind.
Froome is tactically very weak rider, and LBL's composition isn't exactly his cup of tea. He doesn't have the experience, too.
Strategy and experience make 50% of every successful Classic attempt. The other half is form and compatibility.
In Froome's case we can only agree about the form, and even that is only a presumption.

Well, Froome has done LBL three times, Henao only one. So if anything, Froome has the most experience of the two. That said, Henao will for sure be better than Froome today.

 

[jens_attacks]

hopefully this time he will wait for la redoute.last year he was one of the strongest.i see him escaping with alberto and froomey.
i hope astana will be as strong as last year too. it will be a great race

 

[greenedge]

I think Gerrans and Valverde will finish ahead of Gilbert. I don't think Sky will have a rider on the podium. I thought Gilbert was disappointing at Fleche and I don't see him improving enough to win here. Astana have the most options. Sky just don't convince me in the classics. Would not surprise me to see someone unexpected win, like Kreuziger winning Amstel.

I don't know, he still could surprise and cannot be discounted.

All he needs to do is play some poker/ let other teams pull and use Burghardt and GVA as late as possible. Then it will be about his legs.


True about Astana, but also true for Movistar and maybe even OGE.

 

[HiCadence]

It's all about the sensations at the end of the day whoever has the best sensations wins.

 

[The Hitch]

hopefully this time he will wait for la redoute.last year he was one of the strongest.i see him escaping with alberto and froomey.
i hope astana will be as strong as last year too. it will be a great race

hate to be the one to tell you this Jens, but sometimes your predictions are a bit crazy.

 

[LaFlorecita]

hate to be the one to tell you this Jens, but sometimes your predictions are a bit crazy.

That is why we love him right?

 

[iZnoGouD]

Nibali quotes after Trentino win:

“Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a huge goal of mine,” Nibali said on Friday. “This Trentino win gives me a lot of morale heading towards it.”

“I didn’t think about win the stage and taking the overall today,” he said. “To be honest, my mind was on Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I just didn’t want to spend too much energy today. However, [sports director] Alexandr Shefer told me to go for it, given the situation.”

Sounds to me like he wants LBL a lot more than the Trentino win, but was pushed by management. He will most likely pay for the effort in Trentino....

Then he shouldn't have done Trentino, he should have done Pais Vasco or something and then rest some before LBL, the top 10 candidates for victoy are all fresh so he will have problems today

 

[SingeBx]

Anyone for Ryder Hesjedal for at least one spot on the podium?

Not been following him that closely this season but would guess it might be a nice win before the Giro for him which I believe is his main aim.

 

[taiwan]

I think he can get 2 spots or more

 

[manafana]

ryder has looked strong enough and did well also riding for the giro last season, I think martin has said he will play more for Ryder here.

Have say I like how OPQS now have a man for these races in Kwia.

 

[Orbit501]

Leukemans to be today's surprise winner I wonder?

 

[jens_attacks]

hate to be the one to tell you this Jens, but sometimes your predictions are a bit crazy.

isn't he in the race?

 

[Savant12]

A LBL without a Weening attack would be just sad. Needs to be the triple Ardennes classic posting of the now infamous Weening picture.

 

[ebandit]

off

we're off..............my money is on lucky 7....................team sky will

be active until their on tv then viewers will wonder if they ever started

alberto will join the final selection on la redoute........that

small group will split on cote de st nicholas with 2 or 3 riders contesting the

finish...........we will see? as always lets see a great race

Mark L

 

[burning]

hate to be the one to tell you this Jens, but sometimes your predictions are a bit crazy.

He hit a jackpot with gaudin though, lets hope he can hit the jackpot this time

 

[LaFlorecita]

isn't he in the race?

He is.

 

[jens_attacks]

jerome was up there on the galiber with the green armada...you just lost this race guys


now seriously what a lame start...will they give them 15 minutes?