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

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

Cheeky bet on Froome if his racing legs turn up he'll be up there.

Up there where?

Tour contenders have done quite well at FW at times. Evans beat Contador in a sprint. The Schlecks weren't far off victory a couple times.

It would still be hilarious if Froome somehow won this, though. The forum would explode.

Usually punchier guys though. Contador made the same mistake in 2010 that Evans did in 2008. On the Mur in 2008 Evans had the legs but he went too early and faded allowing Kirchen to come back and take it. The guys you're talking about - Evans, Rodríguez, Valverde, Cunego, Andy Schleck - have been good in the short, steep ascents all the way through. Froome is good on steeper ascents, but mainly on mid-length ones (Peña Cabarga 5,6km @ 9,4%, Planche des Belles Filles 5,8km @ 8,5%); the most memorable thing he's done on a Mur de Huy style climb is still his Bologna-San Luca meltdown in 2009.

I'm not saying he won't be decent at this, but timing is very important on the Mur de Huy and Froome hasn't shown anything in this type of race before; for Sky, Henao is far more proven at this type of event. But then, Froome has previous history of suddenly discovering skills nobody knew he had of course.

Perhaps he will use Henao as his "lead-out" and will just follow his wheel to take it from a sprint

 

[Rollthedice]

Froome and Fleche. Even mentioning these together is wrong.

 

[Sasquatch]

Re: 2015 Ardennes: 79th La Fleche Wallonne - Mur de Huy - 20

Why didn't CCC get an invite? You would have thought a 3 time winner would be invited.

 

[KubaWinter]

Rebellin is an ex-doper, who is becoming bigger and bigger balast for CCC. The same goes to Schumacher. Italian helped to get some good results in the past in smaller races, but now... They even don't want him at RCS races.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re:

Rebellin is an ex-doper, who is becoming bigger and bigger balast for CCC. The same goes to Schumacher. Italian helped to get some good results in the past in smaller races, but now... They even don't want him at RCS races.

expalin then how they are invited to the giro?

 

[murali]

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

 

[Kwibus]

I'm curious what the new climb at 6km from the finish will do. There will be attacks, but will they last.

And because there will be attacks they will have to ride that climb rather fast and the climb is almost as hard as the Mur with the same length and an verage gradient of somewhere in the 8%. It should make the race more interesting normally....... Watch the last 6km instead of the final 1km

 

[Kwibus]

Nibali to attack on the cote d'ereffe and he will get a rider with him that just sits in his wheel to defend it's teamleaders 7th final position.


If i was going to bet I would split my money between Purito and Henao.

 

[ebandit]

winner

Froome and Fleche. Even mentioning these together is wrong.

like expecting a successful long break.................pros did not need to watch last years womens event

aye! those lasses have a lot to learn

Mark L

 

[KubaWinter]

Re: Re:

Rebellin is an ex-doper, who is becoming bigger and bigger balast for CCC. The same goes to Schumacher. Italian helped to get some good results in the past in smaller races, but now... They even don't want him at RCS races.

expalin then how they are invited to the giro?

It's an open secret that they received the wild cards for MSR, Giro and Lomabrdia under the condition that Schumacher and Rebellin will not appear at the start line. Before MSR Rebellin was silently complaining about not riding this race.

What's more, CCC daughter brand Sprandi is sponsoring some of RCS races.

 

[happytramp]

ABV......... (Anyone but Valverde)

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

ABV......... (Anyone but Valverde)

Every anti post makes me hope that rider wins more.

Actually would love it if Froome wins. So much hate for him, makes me like him more and more.

It's not entirely true though. I still don't hope that Gerrans wins

 

[Sasquatch]

Re: 2015 Ardennes: 79th La Fleche Wallonne - Mur de Huy - 20

As much as I love Purito, I don't think he'll be winning this.

Oh and Gerrans won't be OGE's guy. That will be Albasini. He'll probably top 5 again.

 

[Jagartrott]

I'm looking forward to the new finale. I think there will be disappointed riders from AGR that will attack on the second-to-last climb. Guys like Fuglsang, Wellens, etc.

 

[DFA123]

Re: 2015 Ardennes: 79th La Fleche Wallonne - Mur de Huy - 20

As much as I love Purito, I don't think he'll be winning this.

Oh and Gerrans won't be OGE's guy. That will be Albasini. He'll probably top 5 again.

They have said that Simon Yates will be joint leader. He could do better than Albasini based on recent form. Doubt he'll win though.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

I'm looking forward to the new finale. I think there will be disappointed riders from AGR that will attack on the second-to-last climb. Guys like Fuglsang, Wellens, etc.

I think it'll be too late to attack by then. The pace will be so high that anyone that does put out enough power to get away will then blow up on the Mur de Huy.

 

[Jagartrott]

One can only hope. With the old parcours, you knew what you would get. Now, I'm quite sure some riders will try something. Probably they'll fail, but at least it's a change from the old routine.

 

[DBotero]

Re: 2015 Ardennes: 79th La Fleche Wallonne - Mur de Huy - 20

Valverde vs J.Rod should be a funny battle,ending with Valverde win of course.I'm curious about Henao i think he's good enough to challenge too.
With Froome i don't know what to expect,at least some crazy attack if he's got some decent form.As much as i love Valverde a Froome win here will be priceless,the level of hate towards him will reach new heights,too bad that the chances for this are zero.

 

[Dedelou]

Re: 2015 Ardennes: 79th La Fleche Wallonne - Mur de Huy - 20

Valverde vs J.Rod should be a funny battle,ending with Valverde win of course.I'm curious about Henao i think he's good enough to challenge too.
With Froome i don't know what to expect,at least some crazy attack if he's got some decent form.As much as i love Valverde a Froome win here will be priceless,the level of hate towards him will reach new heights,too bad that the chances for this are zero.

Love to see what in saw in my dream: CF in the mixt at the wall as Nibali battle Valverde for second behind a triumphant Dan Martin

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: 2015 Ardennes: 79th La Fleche Wallonne - Mur de Huy - 20

I fear the new course will change exactly nothing. the last agr editions had an more difficult finish and there were no big attacks too

 

[HelloDolly]

I hope there a few long range attacks , etc ...so all the action isn't kept till the Muir de Huy... I expect Simon Clarke will be off attacking and Nibali too ....

Froome is riding this race only because of the parcours of the Tour de France ...So I expect he will want very good positioning coming into the final climb and will go for it ...just to test himself so come July he doesn't lose time....Henao is probably Skys' best bet but they have a very good team where anyone of them could do well....In the breakaway , a late attack or if positioned well on the last climb ...but I can't see it being Froome who is their top on the day

The winner will be the one from the usual suspects who is positioned best and measures their attack....Kwai, Martin, Valverde, J-rod, Moreno, Henao, etc

Wonder if Betencur can but in a performance.... final climb suits him or at least used to

 

[Jspear]

1. Martin
2. Valverde
3. Jrod

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I hope there a few long range attacks , etc ...so all the action isn't kept till the Muir de Huy... I expect Simon Clarke will be off attacking and Nibali too ....

Froome is riding this race only because of the parcours of the Tour de France ...So I expect he will want very good positioning coming into the final climb and will go for it ...just to test himself so come July he doesn't lose time....Henao is probably Skys' best bet but they have a very good team where anyone of them could do well....In the breakaway , a late attack or if positioned well on the last climb ...but I can't see it being Froome who is their top on the day

The winner will be the one from the usual suspects who is positioned best and measures their attack....Kwai, Martin, Valverde, J-rod, Moreno, Henao, etc

Wonder if Betencur can but in a performance.... final climb suits him or at least used to

I don't wonder if he'll do well. I just wonder if he'll even be able to finish the race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He looked reasonable in AGR. Even at the last finish he was still trying to pass people even if it was for 50th place

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Re:

Cheeky bet on Froome if his racing legs turn up he'll be up there.

Up there where?

Tour contenders have done quite well at FW at times. Evans beat Contador in a sprint. The Schlecks weren't far off victory a couple times.

It would still be hilarious if Froome somehow won this, though. The forum would explode.

Usually punchier guys though. Contador made the same mistake in 2010 that Evans did in 2008. On the Mur in 2008 Evans had the legs but he went too early and faded allowing Kirchen to come back and take it. The guys you're talking about - Evans, Rodríguez, Valverde, Cunego, Andy Schleck - have been good in the short, steep ascents all the way through. Froome is good on steeper ascents, but mainly on mid-length ones (Peña Cabarga 5,6km @ 9,4%, Planche des Belles Filles 5,8km @ 8,5%); the most memorable thing he's done on a Mur de Huy style climb is still his Bologna-San Luca meltdown in 2009.

I'm not saying he won't be decent at this, but timing is very important on the Mur de Huy and Froome hasn't shown anything in this type of race before; for Sky, Henao is far more proven at this type of event. But then, Froome has previous history of suddenly discovering skills nobody knew he had of course.

I think you're right, timing is extremely important on the Muur. One thing I don't get is why those that really, really, want to win there don't simply find out in training what pace allows them to do their personal best ascent time. I guess you cannot allow a lot of riders to pass you even if in a time trial, you would pass them back and win anyway because the risk of getting boxed in would be just too high.

I would be utterly, utterly shocked if Froome has s.t. as the winner. He has shown absolutely nothing in one day races. Top 10 a few seconds down, though, I can see happening.