2016 Liège Bastogne Liège, April 24th, WT 253 km

[trucido]

Last chance saloon for Etixx (discounting Brabantse-Pijl and Scheldercrash for a team of their stature).

 

[CheckMyPecs]

IF the apocalyptic weather materialises, I'm not sure Bala's the favourite anymore. He really doesn't like cold.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Valverde, Gasparotto, Dan Martin and Alaphilippe have to be favorites based on what we saw.

 

[SevenTimeTdfChamp]

Re:

IF the apocalyptic weather materialises, I'm not sure Bala's the favourite anymore. He really doesn't like cold.

not gonna change anything. valverde has won in difficul weater conditions before

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re: Re:

IF the apocalyptic weather materialises, I'm not sure Bala's the favourite anymore. He really doesn't like cold.

not gonna change anything. valverde has won in difficul weater conditions before

He's also faltered in bad weather before.

 

[Akuryo]

I probably won't make a lot of money but my bet is on Valverde in front of Alaphilippe. There could be a huge fight for the 3rd spot on the podium but those two should be penciled in.

 

[jaylew]

I just wonder if Martin and Ala will truly work together in an effort to beat Bala. I think they've got a really good shot if they play their cards right. Valverde needs a strong Moreno but I'm not sure where his form is as I didn't see him up there today. No idea how he finished.

 

[DFA123]

Surely the other teams have got to try something different, the other favourites have got to actively do something to isolate or trouble Valverde. He's so dominant right now; won his last three Ardennes races and looks in as good form as ever. The likes of Sky, Katusha, Orica have got to try and do what Etixx did at PR, just gamble and make it an unusual and unpredictable race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

Valverde, Gasparotto, Dan Martin and Alaphilippe have to be favorites based on what we saw.

And Poels if it isnt too cold

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Valverde, Gasparotto, Dan Martin and Alaphilippe have to be favorites based on what we saw.

And Poels if it isnt too cold

If it isn't too cold, he won't stand a chance against Balaverde anyways. No way I can see Poels challenge him, Martin and Ala seems to be the only guys capable of playing him in Liege

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Not in a sprint no. But Poels in a solo, with others looking at eachother for just a tad too long, that could happen. Most of his wins are solo wins on a hilly course.

 

[SafeBet]

Re: Re:

If it isn't too cold, he won't stand a chance against Balaverde anyways. No way I can see Poels challenge him, Martin and Ala seems to be the only guys capable of playing him in Liege

Gaspa is in the shape of his life, he had never performed so well on Huy. I think he has a legitimate chance.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

Not in a sprint no. But Poels in a solo, with others looking at eachother for just a tad too long, that could happen. Most of his wins are solo wins on a hilly course.

Possible, but more likely Valverde does what he did last year with Moreno and chases him down before it's too late.

 

[Hakkapelit]

When has Bala done good in cold/wet ?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

When has Bala done good in cold/wet ?

Played games with Katusha last year in the exact same race, fx

 

[SevenTimeTdfChamp]

Re:

When has Bala done good in cold/wet ?

LBL 2015 was wet

 

[Hakkapelit]

Ok, apparently goldfishlevel memory on my side... but more prone to struggle when not sunny although?

 

[Jagartrott]

250+ kms with sleet and wind - bring it on!

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Liège Bastogne Liège, April 24th, WT 253 km

I think it wont be that easy for valverde. If it snows the race will probably be very hard and chaotic and under this circumstances its aleays difficult for a favorite to win.

 

[DFA123]

I wonder if Sky are tempted to bring Landa as a replacement for Henao. He's on great form right now and is the kind of rider who could make it a very interesting race.

 

[jens_attacks]

Gaspa looks the strongest.
But he will be isolated.

 

[roundabout]

Re: Re:

If it isn't too cold, he won't stand a chance against Balaverde anyways. No way I can see Poels challenge him, Martin and Ala seems to be the only guys capable of playing him in Liege

Gaspa is in the shape of his life, he had never performed so well on Huy. I think he has a legitimate chance.

I am already looking forward to Fiat Gaspa showing Valvere who is the boss.

 

[roundabout]

Re:

I wonder if Sky are tempted to bring Landa as a replacement for Henao. He's on great form right now and is the kind of rider who could make it a very interesting race.

He won a 1 climb stage in a race with 3 WT teams.

Liege is a different level of racing.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I wonder if Sky are tempted to bring Landa as a replacement for Henao. He's on great form right now and is the kind of rider who could make it a very interesting race.

He won a 1 climb stage in a race with 3 WT teams.

Liege is a different level of racing.

Lol.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

I wonder if Sky are tempted to bring Landa as a replacement for Henao. He's on great form right now and is the kind of rider who could make it a very interesting race.

He won a 1 climb stage in a race with 3 WT teams.

Liege is a different level of racing.

And in Pais Vasco he won a hilly stage, beating most of the best climbers in the world. Like I said, he's on very good form.

Not saying he would win, but he has more chance of animating the race than 95% of riders that are currently on the startlist.