2015 Ardennes: 79th La Fleche Wallonne - Mur de Huy - 205.5k

[SeriousSam]

I won't lie, Froome being there makes this race even more exciting than it usually is. Brings the potential of head shaking hilarity in more ways than one

 

[Jspear]

Re:

It's going to be a boring snoozefest. Froome will win by at least 5 seconds maybe 10 without even trying. Didn't you guys see the first and second stage of the Tour 2014? It sucks that he is going to win these races he doesn't even care about, but it's the reality. Dan Martin and the rest of the riders who have trained hard for these races will be left empty-handed and disappointed.

Froome won't finish in the top 10.

 

[SyroboiII]

Re: Re:

What makes you say that, Jspear? It is almost certain that he will on a climb like this unless he is sick or completely out of shape.

He is always in near peak shape around Romandie. The only funny thing about this race is the shock that it will bring in the cycling world.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Re: Re:

... unless he is sick or completely out of shape.

That's exactly what Froome has shown most recently...

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re:

My money on Kwiato. last year, he went a bit too early. he repeated the mistake thrice.
in AGR, he seemed to have learned from his mistake.

Dan Martin is a bigger fav though. He has been in good shape. He will remember his last year's near win.

Piti, more than JRod, would want to win here. but with piti, 2nd place is more like the norm ;-)

i know Sky gives orgasm to some like our ES commentators, but plz be realistic. Unless our discussion shud be in clinic, impossible for CF to win this. not his kind of finish.

I think Martin, Kwia, Piti, JRod, Gerrans

Gerrans is not racing, Albasini who has a number of decent finishes is the team leader like he is every year.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

It's going to be a boring snoozefest. Froome will win by at least 5 seconds maybe 10 without even trying. Didn't you guys see the first and second stage of the Tour 2014? It sucks that he is going to win these races he doesn't even care about, but it's the reality. Dan Martin and the rest of the riders who have trained hard for these races will be left empty-handed and disappointed.

What exactly did froome do in the first two stages of last years tour?
And even if froome had been extremely good in that two stages that doesn't mean everything for tomorrow

 

[happytramp]

Re: Re:

It's going to be a boring snoozefest. Froome will win by at least 5 seconds maybe 10 without even trying. Didn't you guys see the first and second stage of the Tour 2014? It sucks that he is going to win these races he doesn't even care about, but it's the reality. Dan Martin and the rest of the riders who have trained hard for these races will be left empty-handed and disappointed.

What exactly did froome do in the first two stages of last years tour?
And even if froome had been extremely good in that two stages that doesn't mean everything for tomorrow

That post was a joke. Someone's alt account by the looks of things.

 

[ILovecycling]

I hope Sky will fully support Henao, he is by far their best chance.
He is bigger favourite than Piti imo.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

I hope Sky will fully support Henao, he is by far their best chance.
He is bigger favourite than Piti imo.

I agree, I hope they give Henao the best chance possible.

 

[SeriousSam]

Henao more likely to win than Valverde? You have to be joking.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

Henao more likely to win than Valverde? You have to be joking.

I was agreeing with Henao being Sky's best chance, I see Henao as 3rd favourite just behind Purito and Piti.

 

[ILovecycling]

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Henao more likely to win than Valverde? You have to be joking.

I hope not, 50euros would be a bad joke then

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Henao more likely to win than Valverde? You have to be joking.

I was agreeing with Henao being Sky's best chance, I see Henao as 3rd favourite just behind Purito and Piti.

henao 45% piti 40% murito 15% imho

 

[Brullnux]

I'm not sure that Purito and Henao are in such great form, compared to Valverde and Kwiatowksi and even Gilbert. I would've thought that they would have at least tried to go for the win, but they didn't really do anything special at all. I know that Henao and Purito beat Kwiat at Pais Vasco, bu that was only by 1:15 on a course that didn't suit Kwiatowski that much. Up the Alto de Aia they were st. Rodriguez and Henao were unable to chase down a tired Kwiatowski until the last kilo. Just my opinion. I might be wrong, but they were just so unspectacular at Amstel, that maybe they are being over-hyped.

 

[Mr.White]

Cauberg has nothing in common with Mur de Huy. Henao and Rodriguez will be good. In fact Alto de Aia is similar to Mur de Huy, although little harder. I think they will do better than Kwiatkowski and Gilbert

 

[Tank Engine]

Valverde, Murito and Danny boy to be up front

 

[Bushman]

Re: Re:

Henao more likely to win than Valverde? You have to be joking.

I was agreeing with Henao being Sky's best chance, I see Henao as 3rd favourite just behind Purito and Piti.

henao 45% piti 40% murito 15% imho

I think you are severely overrating Henao here. He was slightly better than Purito uphill in PV but not enough to distance him. However, Purito has won the race twice already. He definitely has the advantage of experience.

For me Purito is the top favourite with Valverde and Henao just behind.

 

[Bushman]

Re:

I'm not sure that Purito and Henao are in such great form, compared to Valverde and Kwiatowksi and even Gilbert. I would've thought that they would have at least tried to go for the win, but they didn't really do anything special at all. I know that Henao and Purito beat Kwiat at Pais Vasco, bu that was only by 1:15 on a course that didn't suit Kwiatowski that much. Up the Alto de Aia they were st. Rodriguez and Henao were unable to chase down a tired Kwiatowski until the last kilo. Just my opinion. I might be wrong, but they were just so unspectacular at Amstel, that maybe they are being over-hyped.

AGR and Fleche Walloon are nothing alike, though. You won't see guys like Matthews, Van Avermaet, Gilbert (except 2011 shape) and Gerrans fight for the win in Flèche Wallone.

 

[SeriousSam]

Did Henao really make a case for being a better shot than Kwiat and Dan Martin?

 

[HelloDolly]

SKy backing Henao & Nordaug.....Froome just there for recce for Tour as expected

 

[The Barb]

Re:

Did Henao really make a case for being a better shot than Kwiat and Dan Martin?

I think so. Pais Vasco was littered with so many short sharp climbs and he was consistently stronger than Rodriguez and Quintana on them. Although Rodriguez beat him convincingly in the time trial, by my watch (and it was difficult because the camera shots were so inconsistent) they were virtually even up the last climb.

For FW that's pretty good form.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Did Henao really make a case for being a better shot than Kwiat and Dan Martin?

I think so. Pais Vasco was littered with so many short sharp climbs and he was consistently stronger than Rodriguez and Quintana on them. Although Rodriguez beat him convincingly in the time trial, by my watch (and it was difficult because the camera shots were so inconsistent) they were virtually even up the last climb.

For FW that's pretty good form.

Not really. Actually it was only on the "longer" Arrate-climb, that Henao managed to get a gap (and even in that instance Rodriguez deliberately chose not to chase him partly because Zakarin was up front and partly because he knew he would win an eventual sprint finish). When pure strength really mattered (in the time trial), Rodriguez was clearly stronger. That is the pattern I expect to see continuing tomorrow. But Henao might come 3rd - that's not unlikely

 

[Velolover2]

A battle between Valverde, Martin, Purito and Henao in the final.

But what about Quintana, Froome (I've never seen him attacking from way far out) and Nibali in an early break together? Could be fun to watch.

 

[manafana]

Anyone know how Mollema is from his crash in PV and his quiet showing in AG?

Dan Martin for me considering how involved he was in AG, hes been so close here before and he keeps improving.

 

[Bushman]

Re:

Did Henao really make a case for being a better shot than Kwiat and Dan Martin?

Definately better shot than Kwiatkowski. Dont know about Martin, they are probably pretty equal.