2014 Gent-Wevelgem, March 30th, (1.UWT)

[Lanark]

A bad race. On the other hand, I'm glad that Degenkolb won. He deserved that win after Sanremo. That race is also the last one he has to win to have won all sprinter classics (Sanremo, Wevelgem, Hamburg and Tours), like Freire did before him.

 

[Roderick]

A bad race. On the other hand, I'm glad that Degenkolb won. He deserved that win after Sanremo. That race is also the last one he has to win to have won all sprinter classics (Sanremo, Wevelgem, Hamburg and Tours), like Freire did before him.

You forgot the biggest of them all, the Scheldeprijs

 

[VeloHuman]

What a messy, messy finish. Poor Greipel, making it over those climbs and in sight of a bunch sprint only to be crashed.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well that was boring, but expected with this weather.

At least Devolder (especially), Dillier and Amador caused some sort of excitement in the final 20k

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Vanmarcke 4th, he is definitely on super shape.

He was great in all one day races which he rode this year, i think he was the strongest in Omloop and Kuurne, but he was dropped badly in Oude Kwaremont in E3

 

[Marco Pantani]

The upcoming forces of Degenkolb, Demare and others should push Sagan to some harder racing. I like this a lot.

 

[Peccio89]

Pretty boring edition with respect to usual Gand-Wevelgem, guess we need those 30 kms along the coast back, and some wind too of course.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Just saw Stannard crashed, any reports on the damage?

 

[contessador]

2013 was way more interesting. Very sorry for the crash victims.

Congratulations to John Degenkolb

 

[manafana]

plenty crashing so not that easy a day at the races for all.

Demare had his chance but just couldn't come past, degenkolb is one of the best from far out just keeps motoring, decent run in as break had chance but got reeled in.

 

[JRanton]

Just saw Stannard crashed, any reports on the damage?

Doesn't sound good:

After the race, Doctor Phil Riley was able to shed some light on Team Sky's casualties, but admitted it would take more time for the full extent of the riders' injuries to be known.

He said: "CJ [Sutton] has a nasty flesh wound to his left knee which has been cleaned and dressed and he’s going to fly home to Spain and have it reassessed in a few days’ time.

"Ian has had CT scans which have confirmed a back injury. He will stay in hospital on tonight and will also be reassessed tomorrow before we decide whether or not he has to go home.

"Geraint is fine. Our physiotherapist Nathan Thomas checked him over after the race and G also confirmed that to me over the phone."

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,30353_9241078,00.html#0AKjI47dWoPVv0qf.99

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Doesn't sound good:



http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,30353_9241078,00.html#0AKjI47dWoPVv0qf.99

Ouch, not really what I wanted to read. Thanks for the info.

 

[ILovecycling]

oh f..k,back injury ,that sounds horrible.Hope he will be ok asap.

 

[podunavac]

I don't know if someone has already written a comment about Giant-Shimano's ubiquity in sprint finishes this season, but it's very prominent. I can't remember a sprinting power house like they are in recent history.
HTC-Highroad franchise was winning piles of sprints, but mostly relying on one man, and shortly on the other.
Besides mutual sporting background and philosophy, they seem to be sharing the same business approach as well.
Hopefully Giant-Shimano will last longer and develop their team through the all aspects of cycling.

I see Degenkolb is looking forward to De Ronde... I'll be wholeheartedly behind him. The annual attention on eternal favorites has tired me a bit. Degenkolb, Kristoff, Roelandts... these are the men I'll be supporting this year.

 

[VeloHuman]

I don't know if someone has already written a comment about Giant-Shimano's ubiquity in sprint finishes this season, but it's very prominent. I can't remember a sprinting power house like they are in recent history.
HTC-Highroad franchise was winning piles of sprints, but mostly relying on one man, and shortly on the other.
Besides mutual sporting background and philosophy, they seem to be sharing the same business approach as well.
Hopefully Giant-Shimano will last longer and develop their team through the all aspects of cycling.

I see Degenkolb is looking forward to De Ronde... I'll be wholeheartedly behind him. The annual attention on eternal favorites has tired me a bit. Degenkolb, Kristoff, Roelandts... these are the men I'll be supporting this year.

They've done an excellent job of keeping all of them busy, too. Kittel is the sprinter for the real flat days, the one to challenge Cavendish. Degenkolb gets the classics. Mezgec gets to take home victories in the weeklong stage races. Plenty of victories to go around for these guys.

Unrelated but it seems like Farrar might have been the first one to go down in the crash today. I guess that wouldn't be particularly surprising.

 

[classicomano]

They've done an excellent job of keeping all of them busy, too. Kittel is the sprinter for the real flat days, the one to challenge Cavendish. Degenkolb gets the classics. Mezgec gets to take home victories in the weeklong stage races. Plenty of victories to go around for these guys.

Unrelated but it seems like Farrar might have been the first one to go down in the crash today. I guess that wouldn't be particularly surprising.

Greipel did mention that Farrar caused the crash.

 

[Jspear]

Greipel did mention that Farrar caused the crash.

Hopefully Griepel heals quickly. How long does it usually take for a collar bone to heal? I wonder if he'll be ready for the Giro.

 

[VeloHuman]

Hopefully Griepel heals quickly. How long does it usually take for a collar bone to heal? I wonder if he'll be ready for the Giro.

Depends on rider but Giacomo Nizzolo was back on the bike after only 1 month when he fractured his this season. However, Greipel apparently has some torn ligaments as well, could delay his recovery a bit. July's Tour is still a few months away, but the Giro... not sure.

 

[ILovecycling]

Guys,I've got a question.

What do you think about Kristoff and Degenkolb chances in De Ronde?

 

[Netserk]

Very good chances for top-10.

Neither will contend for the win.

 

[Panda Claws]

Boonen claims that he would have won by two bike lenghts, if not for poor positioning/ a positioning mistake.

 

[kingjr]

Boonen claims that he would have won by two bike lenghts, if not for poor positioning/ a positioning mistake.

That has always been his problem in the sprints. He hasn't learned it till today and he never will.

 

[Afrank]

Nice with for degenkolb, good to see him grab himself one of the cobbled one days for his palmares. He's looking in good form, will be interesting to see what he can do at RVV and PR.

Hope that Stannard will be okay. Would be horrible if he had to stop cycling because of his injury. He's one of the few true cyclists and a true hardman in the peloton that just likes to suffer and make other people hurt.

 

[Jspear]

Nice with for degenkolb, good to see him grab himself one of the cobbled one days for his palmares. He's looking in good form, will be interesting to see what he can do at RVV and PR.

Hope that Stannard will be okay. Would be horrible if he had to stop cycling because of his injury. He's one of the few true cyclists and a true hardman in the peloton that just likes to suffer and make other people hurt.

What do you mean my "true cyclist and hard man?" I'm trying to understand that statement. I agree with you - there is obviously certain riders who are tougher than others....I guess I would just say that there a very large number of such riders....not just a few. What other riders would you classify as such?

 

[Afrank]

What do you mean my "true cyclist and hard man?" I'm trying to understand that statement. I agree with you - there is obviously certain riders who are tougher than others....I guess I would just say that there a very large number of such riders....not just a few. What other riders would you classify as such?

I basically mean he's a rider that doesn't complain or whine, doesn't refuse to work with others, and always gives it his all in all conditions. A hardman of cycling that just goes to the front without complaint and makes everyone hurt. The reason these types of riders ride and race I think is purely for their love of cycling.

Perhaps more a better word then true cyclists, would be a true racer.

A few others: Voigt, Hansen, Hoogerland, Magni.