2014 Liege-Bastogne-Liege, 1.UWT (262 Km's)

[Cult Classics]

For 15km yeh, nothing like 2010 though.

2010 and 2012 saw the attacks in pretty much the same spot... Down and on the false flat of Roche aux Faucons

 

[hrotha]

Jesus those race results are outright depressing.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Obviously you have never watched many races won by Valverde and many other riders who do exactly what Gerrans did.

Yes, Valverde has won many races in his patented "sprint at the top of the climb" style.

And there have been many other unpopular winners. However, the thread took a turn for the angry as people spat feathers about Gerrans winning, because while he is an utterly appropriate winner for a race that was raced the way it was, it was an awful edition of the race won by an unpopular, dull rider, so the reaction was visceral as the posters turned on the winner AND the race. A bit like how many races have had unpopular winners but still been quite entertaining (like Gerrans' San Remo win or Valverde in Roma Maxima), and many races have been dull but won by popular riders which has meant people aren't too bothered by it. But Levi taking the Tour de Suisse from Cunego at the last was the perfect storm of fan annoyance, and similarly the only guys who were willing to have a go in this race being caught on the last bend and overtaken by Simon freaking Gerrans was the perfect scenario to make the forumites turn on the race.

 

[roundabout]

Yes, because Gerrans wins way more wins than Valverde.

Without actually bothering to check, I'd guess that Valverde is the winningest non-sprinter of this generation.

I wonder if Gerrans has more wins than podiums, while it's the opposite for Valverde?

 

[Fzotrlool]

The best part was Pozzovivo at least got a fifth place. The best rider today imo. Part of the two most decisive attack. What a pity that midgets can't sprint.

 

[movingtarget]

Pozzovivo was probably the ride of the day.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Incredible how Gerrans manages to win 2 monuments in his career. Just by being under the radar everytime and just hoping for that 1 day somebody or some group is actually stupid enough to take him to the finish line

 

[BigMac]

Wow.... Rui Costa is old news, there you have the new portuguese champion. Also Lampre fails top10 yet again!...

Great! Not to mention this was his first time racing here. This is the proof Tiago was affected by being in RSNT aka The team where anyone but Cancellara performs.

And well deserved for Lampre. Ridiculous treacherous bunch of brats.

 

[Afrank]

Dani Moreno

AGR: 9
LW: 9
LBL: 9

Who says you need to win races to become a legend.

 

[Afrank]

Well, at least it wasn't Levi Leipheimer.

New punchline to the 'Why did Andy Schleck abandon?' joke:

- because this race ****ing sucked.

I like that one, I'm going with that for a reason from now on. This race is now below him.

 

[roundabout]

If you think Gerrans, who ended up beating Valverde, Kwia, Gilbert, Kreuziger etc, was on the red "the entire race" when he was in a 50 man group with the likes of Tiago Machado, Denifl and Reichenbach than you are delusional.

Woah. Hey. Woah. Let's not say things we can't take back.

 

[whittashau]

What the hell was Astana doing in this race? A team packed full of talented climbers yet they made no effort whatsoever to make the race difficult? Simon Gerrans didn't win. Teams like Astana and Lampre gave it to him by racing with zero intelligence. Same with OPQS etc

 

[Roude Leiw]

Horrible race. I hope all those self proclaimed climbing gods and their DS learn something from this. It is called a race. I have to check if the winner of yesterdays cycle edition did not post a faster finishing time

 

[Afrank]

Ha! Awesome!

Why the hate for Gerrans on here?
Educate me.

More a hate of the racing I'd say, and he didn't show his face until 200 meters.

Edit: and also what Libertine said.

 

[Ferminal]

2010 and 2012 saw the attacks in pretty much the same spot... Down and on the false flat of Roche aux Faucons

Ah you're right, for some reason I thought it was a lot earlier. See, even I've overrated the Ardennes Three

 

[movingtarget]

Yes, Valverde has won many races in his patented "sprint at the top of the climb" style.

And there have been many other unpopular winners. However, the thread took a turn for the angry as people spat feathers about Gerrans winning, because while he is an utterly appropriate winner for a race that was raced the way it was, it was an awful edition of the race won by an unpopular, dull rider, so the reaction was visceral as the posters turned on the winner AND the race. A bit like how many races have had unpopular winners but still been quite entertaining (like Gerrans' San Remo win or Valverde in Roma Maxima), and many races have been dull but won by popular riders which has meant people aren't too bothered by it. But Levi taking the Tour de Suisse from Cunego at the last was the perfect storm of fan annoyance, and similarly the only guys who were willing to have a go in this race being caught on the last bend and overtaken by Simon freaking Gerrans was the perfect scenario to make the forumites turn on the race.

I still don't get the hate for Gerrans. He is not doing anything new but obviously fans have their favourite riders. Gerrans might win ugly but he gets paid to win just like Valverde and others. Levi winning the TDS was not unexpected as Cunego can't time trial but you are right it was very unpopular.

 

[Netserk]

Kreuziger was really strong, but also really dumb.

 

[Fzotrlool]

Pozzovivo was probably the ride of the day.

We thought the same thing in the exact same minute. Nice.

 

[Arredondo]

If you think Gerrans, who ended up beating Valverde, Kwia, Gilbert, Kreuziger etc, was on the red "the entire race" when he was in a 50 man group with the likes of Tiago Machado, Denifl and Reichenbach than you are delusional.

I'm talking about a normal LBL. Gerrans knows that the only thing he has to do then is to hang on and counting on his sprint.

This edition was ****ed. It was way to easy, so indeed Gerrans was not on his max. But it's not Gerrans responsibility to attack on Roche aux Faucons or Saint Nicolas.

While Valverde knows he can't be sure to beat Gerrans in a sprint finish. And Valverde is strong enough to drop him on the Saint-Nicolas. He doesn't try, which disappoints me (however, you know based on the last years he always makes mistakes in the biggest races).

 

[Akuryo]

OPQS said on twitter, that Kwiatkwski did not win because of damn Dan Martin

Kwiato had to go around D. Martin on the ground in the final corner and close a bit of a gap. Great work today Michal and #OPQS! #LBL

 

[Nathan12]

More a hate of the racing I'd say, and he didn't show his face until 200 meters.

Not Gerrans' fault, he took advantage of the race not being selective enough. If Valverde and co had pushed it enough on La Redoute he'd have been shelled. Maybe no-one has the legs to do that any more, who knows why...but cleaner racing is more boring racing.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm sad Martin crashed but it didn't look to me like he would have won. Going to re-watch.

He was perfectly placed to launch his sprint. He had bike lengths on Gerrans, he could have made it very difficult at least. Look at the overhead shot.

 

[movingtarget]

We thought the same thing in the exact same minute. Nice.

The race was one km too long for Pozzo and Caruso but they added some interest to a dull race.

 

[ILovecycling]

and who is your winning pick for today?my is gerrans @ 25/1
...

I'm a rich man. (ok,a bit )

 

[hfer07]

I couldn't watch the race due to an inconvenient power outage
but appears to be that I didn't quite miss anything special

man- when I read Gerro won- I could easy picture the biggest wheel socking ever up until the last few meters...