2016 La Flèche Wallonne - April 20th - 196k

[Lexman]

too late for FW but good news for LBL : prevision of wet snow in the Ardennes this weekend

https://www.facebook.com/NoodweerBenelux/photos/a.373346252738178.85657.373327649406705/1073012556104874/?type=3&theater

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re:

too late for FW but good news for LBL : prevision of wet snow in the Ardennes this weekend

https://www.facebook.com/NoodweerBenelux/photos/a.373346252738178.85657.373327649406705/1073012556104874/?type=3&theater

Snow in late April? Global warming must be wrong!

</sarcasm>

 

[slosada]

Re:

This is the last Fleche Wallone I'm afraid, the Mur de Huy will be no longer after Carlos Betancur has turned it into a pancake

By jumping frenetically on the summit?

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

Tim Wellens, Adam Yates or Vuillermoz from a late break.

Isn't Vuillermoz out?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vuillermoz-suffers-cranial-trauma-after-amstel-gold-crash/

I totally missed this news. Awful.

 

[SeriousSam]

Judging from his comments, Valverde considers the Giro to be the more important objective and will likely be off his best, and indeed, departing from the schedule that saw him dominate in 2014 and 2015 is unlikely to be ideal.

I think the odds overstate his chances a bit.

I know it's only 5-10 minutes of action but the finale up the Mur de Huy is one of my favorite cycling moments of the year. I

Same here

 

[DNP-Old]

Henao FTW. His time has come.

 

[saganftw]

henao to beat the other henao to the line

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

too late for FW but good news for LBL : prevision of wet snow in the Ardennes this weekend

https://www.facebook.com/NoodweerBenelux/photos/a.373346252738178.85657.373327649406705/1073012556104874/?type=3&theater

With the bad weather protocol, the good news must be that we can skip watching this non-event

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Judging from his comments, Valverde considers the Giro to be the more important objective and will likely be off his best, and indeed, departing from the schedule that saw him dominate in 2014 and 2015 is unlikely to be ideal.

I think the odds overstate his chances a bit.

I know it's only 5-10 minutes of action but the finale up the Mur de Huy is one of my favorite cycling moments of the year. I

Same here

What a surprise...not.

I still think he is the big fav for this race....of course he's going to talk down on his chances. Martin and Henao to give him the most trouble.

 

[kingjr]

Probably my favourite race of the AGR-FW-LBL week. I pity the fools who after years of following cycling still haven't learned which parts of a race to watch, only to later complain that it was boring. Here's some advice, only watch the interesting parts. You have time schedules, race profiles and startlists at your disposal, that's all you really need tbh.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Dan Martin will finish third after coming from about twentieth position.

 

[tristecsinamigos]

Re:

Henao winning a race?
LOL

henao to beat the other henao to the line

the defeated one being Sergio, I guess...

 

[The Hitch]

Re:

Judging from his comments, Valverde considers the Giro to be the more important objective and will likely be off his best, and indeed, departing from the schedule that saw him dominate in 2014 and 2015 is unlikely to be ideal.

I think the odds overstate his chances a bit.

I know it's only 5-10 minutes of action but the finale up the Mur de Huy is one of my favorite cycling moments of the year. I

Same here

Its Valverde though. Dude has been riding ridiculous schedules at full peak for years.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Re:

Probably my favourite race of the AGR-FW-LBL week. I pity the fools who after years of following cycling still haven't learned which parts of a race to watch, only to later complain that it was boring. Here's some advice, only watch the interesting parts. You have time schedules, race profiles and startlists at your disposal, that's all you really need tbh.

Just because you found a good way to cope with a problem, doesn't mean it isn't a problem anymore.

 

[Brullnux]

The Cote de Cherave is a nice inclusion, we can at least have 10 minutes of moderate excitement before the Mur.

 

[search]

Re: Re:

Judging from his comments, Valverde considers the Giro to be the more important objective and will likely be off his best, and indeed, departing from the schedule that saw him dominate in 2014 and 2015 is unlikely to be ideal.

I think the odds overstate his chances a bit.

I know it's only 5-10 minutes of action but the finale up the Mur de Huy is one of my favorite cycling moments of the year. I

Same here

Its Valverde though. Dude has been riding ridiculous schedules at full peak for years.

José-Luis Arrieta: "Whatever the race, Valverde is always in shape. Even when he shows up on day one of a winter training camp, he’s at his best. And as usual, he’s again super motivated by this week, even though his race calendar has changed this year."

 

[Red Rick]

Think Cherave will mostly function to

increase the amount of crashes
decrease Mur ascent times by a few seconds

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Judging from his comments, Valverde considers the Giro to be the more important objective and will likely be off his best, and indeed, departing from the schedule that saw him dominate in 2014 and 2015 is unlikely to be ideal.

I think the odds overstate his chances a bit.

I know it's only 5-10 minutes of action but the finale up the Mur de Huy is one of my favorite cycling moments of the year. I

Same here

Its Valverde though. Dude has been riding ridiculous schedules at full peak for years.

José-Luis Arrieta: "Whatever the race, Valverde is always in shape. Even when he shows up on day one of a winter training camp, he’s at his best. And as usual, he’s again super motivated by this week, even though his race calendar has changed this year."

Godlike quote.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Judging from his comments, Valverde considers the Giro to be the more important objective and will likely be off his best, and indeed, departing from the schedule that saw him dominate in 2014 and 2015 is unlikely to be ideal.

I think the odds overstate his chances a bit.

I know it's only 5-10 minutes of action but the finale up the Mur de Huy is one of my favorite cycling moments of the year. I

Same here

Its Valverde though. Dude has been riding ridiculous schedules at full peak for years.

José-Luis Arrieta: "Whatever the race, Valverde is always in shape. Even when he shows up on day one of a winter training camp, he’s at his best. And as usual, he’s again super motivated by this week, even though his race calendar has changed this year."

Yep....I'm sure he's also thinking about the record amount of FW's.

 

[Tank Engine]

Alex must have regretted being in Spain when he saw the finish of Amstel. It will be harder competition tomorrow, but he has to be the favourite. I hope Danny boy is in position at the bottom of the last ascent of the Mur.

1. Alex
2. Dan
3. Sergio

 

[sir fly]

I've always liked the climax at Muur de Huy despite the vast criticism of the race.
So much miscalculated efforts and as many masterful pacings made this finish one of my favourites.

It would be nice to see the sprint of a select group, for a change... With the bunch closing from behind.
Pacing, waiting, timing, nerves... You know what I mean. We've seen it numerous times at the flats.

 

[Red Rick]

Fleche isn't the problem. It's just a problem when it's the ardennes classic with the most action

 

[May0maniac]

Ulissi finished 7th in AGR and he's usually way better in FW, he could do something.
Another Valverde win would be kinda boring, but as long as it isn't Albasini I'm ok with it.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Usually doesn't mean *** when there's 50 guys in the front group. AGR results this year mean absolutely nothing for FW and LBL imho

 

[Brullnux]

Should be fun with Bala, Purito, Henao all going for it with Martin, Alaphilippe, Wellens and Albasini trying to get in amongst the best and a few others also, like Ulissi who recently said he has a great chance of winning (I'm doubtful but we'll see). Can't watch it live do I look forward to the highlights.