2014 Dwars door Vlaanderen, March 26, 200.8km, 1.HC

[hiero2]

what the hell?

Concur. Pretty dramatic finish, afaic.

 

[therhodeo]

Maybe you don't recognize the photo. See my post in the Clinic in the Omega Pharma thread.

Referring to that past win doesn't = referring to that past wins likely doping connection. Not everyone outside the clinic is insinuating things all the time.

 

[Netserk]

Maybe you don't recognize the photo. See my post in the Clinic in the Omega Pharma thread.

Thanks, I do know the photo pretty well. Still horse**** to say that it's a doping reference in this case.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I do know the photo. I was a little boy cheering in front of my television when it happened.
It is a perfect reference to OPQS having by far the strongest team on the cobbles.

 

[hiero2]

Referring to that past win doesn't = referring to that past wins likely doping connection. Not everyone outside the clinic is insinuating things all the time.

Quite true, quite true. However, in this case, I don't think there can be a question about a reference. That "likely" connection is, I'm pretty sure, a "known" connection. Edit: This was the 1996 Paris-Roubaix finish. I had to look it up, and I can't find a reference, but this is the first race that I recall EPO use being acknowledged for. But I can't find the reference - so it must remain "alleged" for the moment. The references are out there - I just can't find them on short notice.

I had to repost my reply in the Clinic - idk what happened to the 1st one. **** - ether - vanished.

 

[RownhamHill]

Quite true, quite true. However, in this case, I don't think there can be a question about a reference. That "likely" connection is, I'm pretty sure, a "known" connection. Edit: This was the 1996 Paris-Roubaix finish. I had to look it up, and I can't find a reference, but this is the first race that I recall EPO use being acknowledged for. But I can't find the reference - so it must remain "alleged" for the moment. The references are out there - I just can't find them on short notice.

I had to repost my reply in the Clinic - idk what happened to the 1st one. **** - ether - vanished.

Hiero, no offence, but to this reader it seems like the only person trying to insist on bringing doping into this thread is you. Maybe leave your clinic posts in the clinic?

 

[Afrank]

Quite true, quite true. However, in this case, I don't think there can be a question about a reference. That "likely" connection is, I'm pretty sure, a "known" connection. Edit: This was the 1996 Paris-Roubaix finish. I had to look it up, and I can't find a reference, but this is the first race that I recall EPO use being acknowledged for. But I can't find the reference - so it must remain "alleged" for the moment. The references are out there - I just can't find them on short notice.

I had to repost my reply in the Clinic - idk what happened to the 1st one. **** - ether - vanished.

While anything from that era can be made out as a clinic reference, in this case I don't think that was the intent.

Postmanhat said this, which I see mostly just as a comment on how strong OPQS is.

They're so strong. Maybe they'll just have a rock, scissors, paper championship the night before to decide who will win each race

And Buffalo Soldier responded with this, as a reference to a dominate performance of the past. And as he says a example of how strong OPQS are in these races.

Would't be their first time.

No harm, no foul here I think. This reference is fine I think, as it's mostly about their strength from a racing aspect of things. Let's keep the doping references in the clinic form here on out though.

 

[hiero2]

Hiero, no offence, but to this reader it seems like the only person trying to insist on bringing doping into this thread is you. Maybe leave your clinic posts in the clinic?

Let it be noted that I did move a conversation on this topic there.

While anything from that era can be made out as a clinic reference, in this case I don't think that was the intent.

Postmanhat said this, which I see mostly just as a comment on how strong OPQS is.



And Buffalo Soldier responded with this, as a reference to a dominate performance of the past. And as he says a example of how strong OPQS are in these races.


No harm, no foul here I think. This reference is fine I think, as it's mostly about their strength from a racing aspect of things. Let's keep the doping references in the clinic form here on out though.

No harm, no foul is fine by me. Intent is important. I'll stand down, with the caveat that I have one more comment that I will add in the Clinic OPQS thread.

 

[VeloHuman]

Terpstra, Stybar, Boonen; something tells me we'll hear those names a lot on Friday, in conjunction with the word "attacks!" Cannondale and Trek will have their hands full.

 

[thehook]

Great Job today by Niki!
Overall OMPQ did a great team job! Boonen with the bluff attack far out. Niki 10k later.....CYA

And the Icing on the cake! S-Works delivers again!

 

[gerundium]

Got to say i found Valverde's ride today to be pretty damn good. As can be seen on the home page he's going to be starting in E3 on friday. I expect him to perform well there too now.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

E3 is of a different level though.

 

[oliveira]

Valverde got the cobbles bug! Freeway for Quintana at 2015 Tour as Valverde focus on trying to win all the 5 Monuments in the same year.

 

[jens_attacks]

can't wait to watch all of this.

bravo niki beast!

 

[postmanhat]

While anything from that era can be made out as a clinic reference, in this case I don't think that was the intent.

Postmanhat said this, which I see mostly just as a comment on how strong OPQS is.



And Buffalo Soldier responded with this, as a reference to a dominate performance of the past. And as he says a example of how strong OPQS are in these races.


No harm, no foul here I think. This reference is fine I think, as it's mostly about their strength from a racing aspect of things. Let's keep the doping references in the clinic form here on out though.

Correctly interpreted Afrank. Cheers

Nothing untoward meant by my comment. A tinge of bitterness perhaps, as I was hoping Stannard could build on Omloop. But I think OPQS could blow everyone away this year, except Cancellara.

Hardly ever visit the clinic these days as always feel the need for a shower afterwards

 

[eagleofditchling]

Well gone to Terpstra. Thats the first one I've got right all year.

E3 start list looks amazing: Boonen,Stybar, Terpstra, cancellara, Sagan, Vanmarcke, Van Avermaet and Valverde. Should be some race And tahts even before we get to the Ronde!

 

[ILovecycling]

Well gone to Terpstra. Thats the first one I've got right all year.

E3 start list looks amazing: Boonen,Stybar, Terpstra, cancellara, Sagan, Vanmarcke, Van Avermaet and Valverde. Should be some race And tahts even before we get to the Ronde!

great lineup indeed!
Do you believe Tommeke can win a Ronde or Roubaix?
As for me, I dont, in his good year he always have a good spring right from the start.Imo he cant reach a sagan-terpstra-canc-vanmarcke level comes april

 

[ILovecycling]

btw. what happened to Oss?
he abandoned

 

[search]

btw. what happened to Oss?
he abandoned

nothing I guess, it was his first proper race after coming back from his knee injury

 

[Kwibus]

E3 is of a different level though.

I dont think Valverde will win E3, but I did predict him to win Dwars door Vlaanderen. A bit of a wild guess, but it wasnt that unlikely looking back at it. I dont really see why valverde cant ride the flanders classics. He is clearly 1 of the more powerful climbers and he is very explosive. He lacks experience though, which will hurt him since experience is very useful in the cobble races regarding positioning which is crucial ofcourse.
Valverde is an very versatile rider so him doing well on the cobbles wouldnt surprise me. Roubaix will be too hard for him probably since he really could use some extra kgs for that race.

 

[ILovecycling]

nothing I guess, it was his first proper race after coming back from his knee injury

Thanks for this.I forgot it

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I dont think Valverde will win E3, but I did predict him to win Dwars door Vlaanderen. A bit of a wild guess, but it wasnt that unlikely looking back at it. I dont really see why valverde cant ride the flanders classics. He is clearly 1 of the more powerful climbers and he is very explosive. He lacks experience though, which will hurt him since experience is very useful in the cobble races regarding positioning which is crucial ofcourse.
Valverde is an very versatile rider so him doing well on the cobbles wouldnt surprise me. Roubaix will be too hard for him probably since he really could use some extra kgs for that race.

I agree. I also don't understand why Valverde doing good at Dwars door Vlaanderen caused some people to claim that "cobbled races are overrated".
1)It's only Dwars door Vlaanderen
2)It's Valverde

 

[icefire]

I agree. I also don't understand why Valverde doing good at Dwars door Vlaanderen caused some people to claim that "cobbled races are overrated".
1)It's only Dwars door Vlaanderen
2)It's Valverde

The guy is well known for having been caught repeatedly in the wrong place of the bunch at the wrong time of the race

My choice is (1). Or maybe he's another rider since the weekend he spent racing in Italy earlier this month.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I dont think Valverde will win E3, but I did predict him to win Dwars door Vlaanderen. A bit of a wild guess, but it wasnt that unlikely looking back at it. I dont really see why valverde cant ride the flanders classics. He is clearly 1 of the more powerful climbers and he is very explosive. He lacks experience though, which will hurt him since experience is very useful in the cobble races regarding positioning which is crucial ofcourse.
Valverde is an very versatile rider so him doing well on the cobbles wouldnt surprise me. Roubaix will be too hard for him probably since he really could use some extra kgs for that race.

On the right team with a few more races under the belt he could probably win one of these cobble races. I noted he was alone with 50-60km to go. He had some people around him earlier. It wasn't a problem in this race, but it could have a big impact in E3.

P-R no chance imo.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

The guy is well known for having been caught repeatedly in the wrong place of the bunch at the wrong time of the race

My choice is (1). Or maybe he's another rider since the weekend he spent racing in Italy earlier this month.

He has some riders in his team who did RvV before who could guide him a bit.
Also, DdV isn't the most complicated race. There's three choke points: Taaienberg, Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg. Just start those as one of the first 20 of the peloton, and you should be fine.
In RvV, there's at least 10 of these points.