2014 - 98th Ronde van Vlaanderen, 259km, Sunday 6th April (1.UWT)

[Netserk]

Cancellara played it perfectly.

Yes. Both being the strongest and the smartest in the final, he deserved the win.

Still annoying to see Vanmarcke being played

 

[De Snelle Duif]

There's nothing GVA could do... He really did his best...

Yes, his tactics were great for once, but Cancellara his sprint was just amazingly strong. Cancellara was a lot less strong on the bergs though, he climbed Paterberg only 2 secs faster than GvA

 

[movingtarget]

There's nothing GVA could do... He really did his best...

Hopefully his best will win him a big race soon.

 

[Netserk]

Tactically, from Cancellara that was the best performance I have ever seen.

Never panicked, always knew which moves to close down and which ones to take easily on. Didn't panick when he was isolated - like Sagan did. Didn't attack 30k out - like he did in 2011. Was very calm, took his pulls, bided his times.

Attacked at the right time on the Kwaermont, didn't try to shake Sep off when he realized he couldn't. When the winning group formed, he was the calmest off the lot, didn't burn his matches at any point, when Vandenberg attacked, he took a real risk not going 100% on his pull, and it paid off.

Then geniusly worked himself into the correct position for the sprint and bided his time on the back till the right distance marker came, and bam.

Totally agree. I blame brain doping

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Hands down to Cancellara- for him to win in a small sprint among a better sprinters is a premium. Gotta love the man- no matter how predictable his victories are- he just delivers

I wouldn't exactly call the others better sprinters than Cancellara. He was for sure the favorite going into that sprint.

 

[Afrank]

Agree with Hitch, that was played to perfection by Cancellara.

 

[woodenswan]

nerves of ****in steel.. hooooly ****

 

[classicomano]

Why do OPQS send VDB to join the break? Whats he ever gonna do when it goes all the way to the finish?

 

[Miburo]

There's nothing GVA could do... He really did his best...

The story of his cycling life

 

[ILovecycling]

Totally agree. I blame brain doping

Me too.The biggest difference between Sagan and Cancellara.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Cancellara himself just said he was almost dropped a couple of times when the others attacked (I guess referring to Vanmarcke/Van Avermaet). It was a harder race then ever for him

 

[Kwibus]

Awesome race. Fantastic race...

Cancellara won and didnt steal anything. Just a very smart tactical race.
Vanmarcke once again showed he is getting better and belonga with the best, a bit more experience and Cancellara wouldnt have played him.
Van avermaet...wow what a race. Would have loved to see him win this one, but it is not meant to be for him. He rode fantastic today though.

 

[The Hitch]

Vanmarcke shot himself in the foot again

Don't ****ing close the gap for Canc. He should've played it cool there.

I think you forget that just because your desire in this race was - anyone but Canc win, doesn't mean that was Vanmarke's desire. He wanted to win the race, if he doesn't win it doesn't make a difference to him whether Canc wins or not, unlike to you.

Having Stijn and GVA ride away 2k to go would be the end of the race for him. He had to pull. Cancellara was already pulling for the first 20 seconds and then it was Vanmarke's turn. That's how a group of 2 works at the end of the race, otherwise they lose the race.

What you are suggesting, Vanmarke doesn't pull, Stijn and GVA suddenly have a 10 second gap, they have the 1 2 locked up and Canc and Vankmarke are sprinting it out just like they did only for the last podium place instead of for the win.

At least he gave himself a chance of winning, and also gave himself experience in that kind of sprint, which will serve him in good stead as he competes for the monuments over the following decade.

 

[dlwssonic]

The story of his cycling life

Lol don't doubt him. He is still very young and hasn't reached his peak yet. Boonen and Fabian are slowly fading away. And I haven't really been impressed by Sagan as a long distance classics winner
Watch our for GVA in pr, he was one of the strongest last year when he didn't have a great showing in rvv.

 

[Bushman]

In the end it looks like Cancellara played Vanmarcke very well when Vandenbergh and GVA had a small gap. He looked like he could not close the gap, but he was actually in control and wanted Vanmarcke to close the gap. Very exciting finish.

 

[ILovecycling]

Why do OPQS send VDB to join the break? Whats he ever gonna do when it goes all the way to the finish?

Nobody knows.I think Teprstra,Stybar and Boonen were almost as strong as VM.Their positioning before Kwaremont due their 'Im not riding we have VDB at front' lost them the race (or better result)

 

[Netserk]

I think you forget that just because your desire in this race was - anyone but Canc win, doesn't mean that was Vanmarke's desire. He wanted to win the race, if he doesn't win it doesn't make a difference to him whether Canc wins or not, unlike to you.

Having Stijn and GVA ride away 2k to go would be the end of the race for him. He had to pull. Cancellara was already pulling for the first 20 seconds and then it was Vanmarke's turn. That's how a group of 2 works at the end of the race, otherwise they lose the race.

What you are suggesting, Vanmarke doesn't pull, Stijn and GVA suddenly have a 10 second gap, they have the 1 2 locked up and Canc and Vankmarke are sprinting it out just like they did only for the last podium place instead of for the win.

At least he gave himself a chance of winning, and also gave himself experience in that kind of sprint, which will serve him in good stead as he competes for the monuments over the following decade.

It was quite clear Canc held back when he pulled. Yes Vanmarcke should've pulled, but not closing it for him, and not so fast. Canc played him.

edit: lol, why did you delete your post?

 

[ILovecycling]

Indeed great race,good parcours!

 

[Christian]

Why do OPQS send VDB to join the break? Whats he ever gonna do when it goes all the way to the finish?

I think they never expected that break to last, of course they couldn't know how strong Van Avermaet was

 

[movingtarget]

Lol don't doubt him. He is still very young and hasn't reached his peak yet. Boonen and Fabian are slowly fading away. And I haven't really been impressed by Sagan as a long distance classics winner

BMC should be riding for him instead of Gilbert. Gilbert just does not have it at the moment. Sagan just can't seem to handle the tough races.

 

[Christian]

 

[Parrulo]

Nobody knows.I think Teprstra,Stybar and Boonen were almost as strong as VM.Their positioning before Kwaremont due their 'Im not riding we have VDB at front' lost them the race (or better result)

Nope, all got dropped because they simply could go with Canc and SVM.

Boonen looked the crappiest i have ever seen him look on a berg.

 

[movingtarget]

I think they never expected that break to last, of course they couldn't know how strong Van Avermaet was

Would have a made a huge difference if he broke a way with someone sharing the work equally, he may have stayed away.

 

[melkemugg]

Great and intense race. I think everyone in the front group did everything they could and impressive Cancellara wi. He just got better cards to play in the end.

Great to see Kristoff so far up as well.

 

[dlwssonic]

BMC should be riding for him instead of Gilbert. Gilbert just does not have it at the moment. Sagan just can't seem to handle the tough races.

For what type of races?? Gilbert isn't even participating in the cobbled classics this year. And GVA might be too tired by the time of the Ardennes classics