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

[T-Nielsen]

Breschell is in hospital again.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Great to see Cancellara really ride a smart race. That attack on Kwaremont (I think) was just about perfect, and I thought he was throwing it away in the finale, but it played out according to his plan. The ghosts of PR 2011 laid to rest.

Say what you will about Vanmarcke, he rides with guts. Can't believe how much work he did. And chapeau to GVA and Vandenergh for hanging tought after dangling off the front for so long. Kristoff shined in the finale, too--can't wait to see what he does in future editions.

Good edition, all around.

Bummed that we probably won't get to see another Boonen/Cancellara clash, though.

 

[jaylew]

Canc now shares joint Ronde record

And now 11 straight monument podiums

OPQS should have had Terpstra in front. Wrong bet

Yes; I actually thought they were saving Terpstra as he wasn't working much at all in the group. I missed Canc's attack so I didn't see why no stepper went with he and Sep but I guess Niki just didn't have the legs?

Totally agree. I blame brain doping

You have to admit your sig is looking more and more ridiculous, although at this point I guess it's more of a forum joke

 

[benpounder]

As long as OPQS doesn't win, i'm happy. Great ride for Cance, Sagan should have done better

But he didn't... or couldn't.

As Hitch points out, Spartacus won because he was the smartest amongst the strongest. Sagan, Boonen, and all the other pre-race favorites, bar Van Avermaet, were left behind.

It was a great race.

 

[melkemugg]

Sagan just can't seem to handle the tough races.

I think they should ease up on Sagan and just put him on the cobbles for experience. You need experience when it comes to the tough races. They might be burning him up expecting him to win everything at this age.

 

[pastronef]

Great win for Fabian, and OPQS not even on the podium

Peloton returns

and I saw Wiggo in the peloton before the last Kwaremont, when the 2 groups regrouped (almost)
not bad

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

And now 11 straight monument podiums

Yes; I actually thought they were saving Terpstra as he wasn't working much at all in the group. I missed Canc's attack so I didn't see why no stepper went with he and Sep but I guess Niki just didn't have the legs?



You have to admit your sig is looking more and more ridiculous, although at this point I guess it's more of a forum joke

Terpstra can't go with Cancellara at full speed. He should have gone after GVA earlier isntead of Vandenbergh, that's where Terpstra is best in, anticipating, long attacks.

 

[Gloin22]

Cancellera didn't win his first big classic until he was 26.

Sagan is 24.

 

[Netserk]

You have to admit your sig is looking more and more ridiculous, although at this point I guess it's more of a forum joke

Not as long as people keep overrating him. Just because he is really great doesn't mean that he isn't overrated.

Cancellara = Overrated

 

[Afrank]

Bummed that we probably won't get to see another Boonen/Cancellara clash, though.

I wonder...can we finally close the who is stronger Boonen or Cancellara debate. I'd say the answers pretty clear.

 

[saneguy]

Tactics wise I think this is the best I have seen from Cancellara. Played all the 3 guys so well towards the end. Dont think anyone else could have played it better at all.

 

[dlwssonic]

But even if terpstra when with GVA that group might have been chased down quickly by the rest

 

[Netserk]

I wonder...can we finally close the who is stronger Boonen or Cancellara debate. I'd say the answers pretty clear.

Currently or all time?

 

[Afrank]

Not as long as people keep overrating him. Just because he is really great doesn't mean that he isn't overrated.

Cancellara = Overrated

I will never understand how you can see a cyclist that won RVV-PR double last year, and RVV so far this year (tying the record) as overrated. He's performing exactly how people are expecting him to perform, better in fact.

 

[movingtarget]

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

When they do race together lately GVA usually does as well if not better after towing Gilbert around all day. I know Gilbert is not racing the cobbles. GVA will probably ride Amstel and Liege, hopefully Gilbert can do something.

 

[meat puppet]

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

Sure looked like that too, the elastic was about to snap a couple times. Vanmarcke should not have dragged him back on, but live and learn. Next year Fabu wont win.

Good racing, but quite a few nasty crashes. And bring back Kapelmuur & Bosberg. This route is way better than the 2012 one, but the older one is better still.

 

[Parrulo]

I wonder...can we finally close the who is stronger Boonen or Cancellara debate. I'd say the answers pretty clear.

The guy who still has won more cobbled races and a world champ road race?

 

[T-Nielsen]

As Cancellara seems to preferre winning his monuments in pairs, do we really need to race the P-R or should we not just hand him the cobblestone.

 

[Arredondo]

Currently or all time?

It's a pity that in the last 5 years, Canc and Boonen did only fight one year with their full strength, in 2010.

 

[Afrank]

Currently or all time?

As far as the classics are concerned, same rider for both. Definitely the same by next week.

 

[dlwssonic]

When they do race together lately GVA usually does as well if not better after towing Gilbert around all day. I know Gilbert is not racing the cobbles. GVA will probably ride Amstel and Liege, hopefully Gilbert can do something.

Gilbert is always able to get the gap on the Cauberg but with the new finish I don't see him being able to ride solo. I think the best hope for bmc in Lbl might be tejay if he is riding. I have really lost all faith in Gilbert's engine the past few years. He can't handle the distance and the difficulty of Lbl.

 

[Bushman]

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.

100% agree. He has gotten a lot cooler on his older days and as you said he did everything right in a hectic finale.

 

[Arredondo]

The guy who still has won more cobbled races and a world champ road race?

Then you can say that Canc won MSR ans multiple TT world titels

And the olympic title

 

[jaylew]

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.

Yes; great race from GvA. I really hope he gets a big win someday. I'm quite happy with that podium. Only thing that would have made it better to me is Niki in 3rd but Sep totally deserved it as he did a hell of a race.

 

[movingtarget]

I will never understand how you can see a cyclist that won RVV-PR double last year, and RVV so far this year (tying the record) as overrated. He's performing exactly how people are expecting him to perform, better in fact.

I think he means he does not win every race he enters ? But also gets plenty of places when he does not win. He looked vulnerable today but rode a very smart race and read the race better than his opposition.