2017 Flèche Wallone - April 19th - 200.5km

[jaylew]

Mods? Sticky, please?

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

Unsurprisingly Albasine the leader for Orica - Surprisingly neither of the Yates.

Albasini can get over stuff that are steeper than Gerro, right?

The usually the less sprinter (not anymore?), but the better climber.

Albasini has finished top 10 six times and on the podium twice - Kreuziger is on the start list but better suited to LBL - Both have peaked for Ardennes and Tour of Romandie.

 

[GraftPunk]

Re:

Is Kreuziger racing / injury-free?

Doubtful, he crashed out of AGR, though I'm not sure of the extent of his injuries.

 

[klintE]

*** Henao, Valverde, Albasini
** Villermoz, Martin, Wellens
* Izagirre, Pantano, Uran, Sanchez

 

[Mr.White]

I think only Kwiat can create carnage if he attacks from a far (2nd Huy, or Cherave, although second is not that far, but for this race it is ). He could also go early on the last Mur to put pressure on Bala, with Henao waiting. Other attacks, not including him, are doomed. Wellens would be a good company...

 

[rghysens]

My favorites for the Grote Maasprijs:

***** Valverde
*** Henao, Martin
** Albasini, Kwiatkowski, Wellens
* Hermans, Jungels, Meintjes, Pantano, S.Sanchez

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re:

*** Henao, Valverde, Albasini
** Villermoz, Martin, Wellens
* Izagirre, Pantano, Uran, Sanchez

Seems pretty silly to put Henao and Albasini up there with Valverde considering how unbeatable he has looked here the past 2 years imo. Wasn't even close or anything, he just demolished everyone easily.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

My favorites for the Grote Maasprijs:

***** Valverde
*** Henao, Martin
** Albasini, Kwiatkowski, Wellens
* Hermans, Jungels, Meintjes, Pantano, S.Sanchez

Yeah, that nobody on four stars thing seems all too accurate to me.

 

[klintE]

*** Henao, Valverde, Albasini
** Villermoz, Martin, Wellens
* Izagirre, Pantano, Uran, Sanchez

Seems pretty silly to put Henao and Albasini up there with Valverde considering how unbeatable he has looked here the past 2 years imo. Wasn't even close or anything, he just demolished everyone easily.

It's my right to be silly.
Or see things different than you (or different than everybody else).
For the clarity: I didn't estimate riders. I estimated chances to win in this particular race.

IMO, there will be Kwiato-Henao vs. Rojas(or else Movi)-Valverde tactical duel.
Sorry, cycling is a team sport.
And Valverde never had to face up those two in F-W.

If I was sure they all get together to final climb I could even agree with you, but i see possible other scenarios.
Albasini? Ok, maybe little misplaced, will see.

 

[WheelofGear]

Naming Rojas as a major player on the Mur.. :lol:

 

[ThePirate81]

***** Valverde
**** Henao,Dan Martin
*** Kwiatkowski,Albasini
** Woods,Uran,Vuillermoz,Bardet
* Wellens,Ion Izagirre,Rui Costa,Pantano,Meintjes,Barguil,Samu Sanchez

Kawasaki ftw!

 

[klintE]

Naming Rojas as a major player on the Mur.. :lol:

Nice catch. Herrada or Soler sounds better? But still...

 

[Velolover2]

Interestingly, Rosa is named in the Sky rooster for FW. Helper for Henao and Kwai in Flèche Wallone for sure but co-leader in Liege?

 

[The Hegelian]

Kwiatkowski.

His first attack in AGR to bridge to the leaders was ridiculously strong - on a steep bit of a hard climb. Valverde, GVA + the climbers couldn't go with him.

 

[hfer07]

only 3 names come to mind when thinking of FW:

1-) Valverde
2-) Valverde
3) Valverde


then there is Henao, DMartin & perhaps Kwait...

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Lobato (the king of Hatta) for the win

 

[Velolover2]

Lobato (the king of Hatta) for the win

250m vs. 1.3km of climbing is a bit different.

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Lobato (the king of Hatta) for the win

250m vs. 1.3km of climbing is a bit different.

I was joking but who knows he is quite an odd rider, in the Amstel he was at the wheel of GVA and Valverde climbing the Keutenberg.

 

[Velolover2]

Lobato (the king of Hatta) for the win

250m vs. 1.3km of climbing is a bit different.

I was joking but who knows he is quite an odd rider, in the Amstel he was at the wheel of GVA and Valverde climbing the Keutenberg.

He has been very anonymous in recent years but I wouldn't be surprised if he can pull of a top 20 or even 15 in a race like this. Not a top 10 though.

I think is going to dom for Gesink. De Tier/Martens are better bets too.

 

[meat puppet]

Re:

Kwiatkowski.

His first attack in AGR to bridge to the leaders was ridiculously strong - on a steep bit of a hard climb. Valverde, GVA + the climbers couldn't go with him.

Agreed. However, in FW I think MK must go early and drop Valverde more than 150m to go. Of course I could be wrong and MK just outkicks the ole Don.

 

[Akuryo]

Going to root for Kwiatkowski or Dan Martin but somehow I think Valverde will take this (as always in recent years)...

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re:

Kwiatkowski.

His first attack in AGR to bridge to the leaders was ridiculously strong - on a steep bit of a hard climb. Valverde, GVA + the climbers couldn't go with him.

The Mur is much harder though and it takes a different kind of effort imo. Valverde has looked 'meh' in the AGR before yet still won the FW and LBL. I don't know if I've ever seen Kwiatkowski win (or come close) on a finish like this before.

 

[DFA123]

Struggling to get too excited about this race, despite it being one of the most prestigious, imo. Alaphilippe and Gilbert are both big absences, because they were real wildcards who could have made the outcome much more unpredictable. Now it looks like either a Valverde win or a breakaway, and the problem for a breakaway is that the three strongest teams - Quicktep, Sky and Movistar - are the ones in the best position for a sprint up the Mur.

I wonder if some other teams will try to go with Wellens late attack this year and work with him; it would surely make sense for a lot of teams. He made it to the foot of the Mur last year and perhaps if he went a bit earlier, with a couple of strong allies, there is a chance they could stay away - especially if the bunch leave all the chasing to Movistar.

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Kwiatkowski.

His first attack in AGR to bridge to the leaders was ridiculously strong - on a steep bit of a hard climb. Valverde, GVA + the climbers couldn't go with him.

Agreed. However, in FW I think MK must go early and drop Valverde more than 150m to go. Of course I could be wrong and MK just outkicks the ole Don.

Why would Kwiat have to drop Valverde early? More like the other way around. Anyway, tactics hardly matter. The strongest will win.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Kwiatkowski.

His first attack in AGR to bridge to the leaders was ridiculously strong - on a steep bit of a hard climb. Valverde, GVA + the climbers couldn't go with him.

The Mur is much harder though and it takes a different kind of effort imo. Valverde has looked 'meh' in the AGR before yet still won the FW and LBL. I don't know if I've ever seen Kwiatkowski win (or come close) on a finish like this before.

I would say that second in Flèche Wallonne in 2014 was pretty close on a finish pretty similar to today's.