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

[Vasilis]

Yeah, I don't believe they would actually cancel a Monument.

 

[Valv.Piti]

This bad weather news is bad news. Bad weather lessens the importance of maintainable w/kg and uphill sprinting abilities and instead generates chaos and unpredictability that make it less likely that the strongest rider wins.

Golden

 

[laurensde+]

It's all about Bananito now.

 

[Rollthedice]

Interesting break: Paolo Tiralongo (Astana), Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Jeremy Roy (FDJ), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), and Cesare Benedetti (Bora Argon 18) plus a Norwegian from IAM who seized the opportunity to do some cross-country skiing.

 

[BigMac]

This bad weather news is bad news. Bad weather lessens the importance of maintainable w/kg and uphill sprinting abilities and instead generates chaos and unpredictability that make it less likely that the strongest rider wins.

I was going to go on a rant about this. I never get your sarcasm at first.

 

[Vasilis]

9+ minutes for the break now. They should be careful, if they get too much of a gap and part of the course is cut, they might become a threat.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Which of the favorites benefits most from the shitty weather today? Nibali?

Unfortunately Nibali's legs are still "blocked" by the Slongo style of prepairing for GTs.

 

[PremierAndrew]

When does coverage start?

 

[F e r o x]

Wellens for the win!

 

[46&twoWheels]

on the other hand, chaos generates entertainment!

running like guinea pigs under controlled conditions is not much fun

 

[Nirvana]

From Katusha twitter
#LBL The course will be shortened by 30 km, from 45 to 75 km of racing.

 

[Laplaz]

Maybe the peloton is undervaluating the break...

 

[Vasilis]

Re:

From Katusha twitter
#LBL The course will be shortened by 30 km, from 45 to 75 km of racing.

I believe they take an alternative route between those two points, not skip it altogether.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re:

Interesting break: Paolo Tiralongo (Astana), Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Jeremy Roy (FDJ), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), and Cesare Benedetti (Bora Argon 18) plus a Norwegian from IAM who seized the opportunity to do some cross-country skiing.

De Gendt, Tiralongo and De Marchi are good guys for a breakaway. They could stay away until deep into the final.

 

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

Which of the favorites benefits most from the shitty weather today? Nibali?

Unfortunately Nibali's legs are still "blocked" by the Slongo style of prepairing for GTs.

You mean before GT Nibali can't use team car?

 

[Nirvana]

Re: Re:

From Katusha twitter
#LBL The course will be shortened by 30 km, from 45 to 75 km of racing.

I believe they take an alternative route between those two points, not skip it altogether.

Could be something like Sanremo 2013 when they stopped the race to skip Turchino.

 

[Vasilis]

Re: Re:

From Katusha twitter
#LBL The course will be shortened by 30 km, from 45 to 75 km of racing.

I believe they take an alternative route between those two points, not skip it altogether.

Could be something like Sanremo 2013 when they stopped the race to skip Turchino.

Yeah except it isn't. I think they misunderstood over at the Katusha Twitter account.

 

[trevim]

“I think experience counts and I’ve improved year by year, bit by bit,” he said. “I’ve stopped making useless efforts so I’ve got more force for the final and the battle on the Côte de Ans. It’s a race that requires patience, and I’ve adapted to that and I’ll wait for the finale.”

Bardet thinking of playing it right to finish 8th. Lovely.

 

[Pantani_lives]

It's currently hailing in Belgium.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

“I think experience counts and I’ve improved year by year, bit by bit,” he said. “I’ve stopped making useless efforts so I’ve got more force for the final and the battle on the Côte de Ans. It’s a race that requires patience, and I’ve adapted to that and I’ll wait for the finale.”

Bardet thinking of playing it right to finish 8th. Lovely.

Is there a reason why so many riders somehow think they have a chance on the final climb to Ans? A rider like Bardet would never get the idea that he could win AGR by an attack on the Cauberg but in LBL where the final ascent is even easier he somehow thinks he can win that way

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I'm not a fan of it, but I can sort of understand The extreme weather protocol in a stage race, but in a one day race it makes no sense what so ever. Just don't do the race if you can't cope with the weather.

 

[trevim]

Re: Re:

“I think experience counts and I’ve improved year by year, bit by bit,” he said. “I’ve stopped making useless efforts so I’ve got more force for the final and the battle on the Côte de Ans. It’s a race that requires patience, and I’ve adapted to that and I’ll wait for the finale.”

Bardet thinking of playing it right to finish 8th. Lovely.

Is there a reason why so many riders somehow think they have a chance on the final climb to Ans? A rider like Bardet would never get the idea that he could win AGR by an attack on the Cauberg but in LBL where the final ascent is even easier he somehow thinks he can win that way

It beats me. Even the not-so-smart Schleck brothers realized they had to go from further out in 2009 and 2011. Now all I hear is everyone claiming they'll wait because the final is too hard. It's like they don't understand it's even harder to beat Valverde in Ains.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

“I think experience counts and I’ve improved year by year, bit by bit,” he said. “I’ve stopped making useless efforts so I’ve got more force for the final and the battle on the Côte de Ans. It’s a race that requires patience, and I’ve adapted to that and I’ll wait for the finale.”

Bardet thinking of playing it right to finish 8th. Lovely.

Nutter

 

[Laplaz]

Still 9 minutes for the break.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Stream anywhere?