2017 Liège-Bastogne-Liège - April 23rd - 258k

[Velolover2]

Re:

Kwiatkowski was much better than Valverde last Sunday (there was no reason not to follow his jump). Why the assumption this has changed by now?

Liege is harder with longer and more brutal climbs. It suits Valverde much better.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re:

Apparently Jungels is not riding this... i am sure he would be a good addition for Quick-Step, especially to cover attacks from far out from Rosa, Yates, Van Avermaet etc.

Is he injured or something? Seems pretty weird not to include him.

 

[Mongolian Torque]

Re:

I feel like Kwia has to be almost as big a favorite as Bala. In any case, Sky has a really strong team and needs to try something between he, Henao, and Rosa.

I'll be curious to see what Orica does. They have an interesting lineup with Albasini, Yates x 2, Kreuziger, and Gerrans. Ok, Gerrans is probably past it but if they don't try any serious attacks it'll be pathetic.

A shame about the QS injuries. Their lineup would have been lethal.

I'm wondering if that Woods guy from Cannondale might have a go at podium or top 10.

He's sneaky and flying under the radar for sometime now.

A bit old at 30 but who knows...

 

[KyoGrey]

Yes, Jon Izaguirre is taking another step this year, this time in the classics. A very progressive and coherent career for a guy now nearing his peak of capabilities.

 

[loge1884]

*** Valverde
** Henao, Kwiatkowski, Dan Martin
* Albasini, Bardet, Costa, Izagirre, van Avermaet

potential for an upset; Barguil, Dumoulin, Kreuziger, Rosa, Teuns, Wellens, Yates1, Yates2

 

[Brullnux]

Clearly Formolo will win

That extra day sacrificing a top 5 place will be crucial

 

[therhodeo]

Re:

Clearly Formolo will win

That extra day sacrificing a top 5 place will be crucial

:lol:

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Formolo ahead of Denifl, Mendes, Caruso and Villela then, as they all didn't start in Alps today

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Kwiatkowski was much better than Valverde last Sunday (there was no reason not to follow his jump). Why the assumption this has changed by now?

And Valverde was much better on Wednesday, it has already changed

 

[Tank Engine]

My head says Alex Greendale, my heart says Mike Flowers (but my head says he's the most obvious rival).

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

I feel like Kwia has to be almost as big a favorite as Bala. In any case, Sky has a really strong team and needs to try something between he, Henao, and Rosa.

I'll be curious to see what Orica does. They have an interesting lineup with Albasini, Yates x 2, Kreuziger, and Gerrans. Ok, Gerrans is probably past it but if they don't try any serious attacks it'll be pathetic.

A shame about the QS injuries. Their lineup would have been lethal.

I'm wondering if that Woods guy from Cannondale might have a go at podium or top 10.

He's sneaky and flying under the radar for sometime now.

A bit old at 30 but who knows...

Woods started cycling late as he was a distance runner, but due to injuries started cycling. I think he was like 24/25 or something?
He improved quite fast over the years, but it seems he stagnated last year. It happens to a lot of riders in that team unfortunately.

 

[Pantani_lives]

So who are the most likely riders to come with a meaningful attack from 20K or more before the finish? Wellens, Kwiatkowski, Bardet, the Yates brothers?

 

[klintE]

I give the final results, top ten:

2.Valverde
1.Kwiato
3.Martin
4.Teuns
5.Ulissi
6.Henao
7.Barguil
8.Albasini
9.Uran
10.Dumoulin

[;

 

[Pantani_lives]

That's a high expectation for Teuns. After all he was the one who had to let Valverde go.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

I give the final results, top ten:

2.Valverde
1.Kwiato
3.Martin
4.Teuns
5.Ulissi
6.Henao
7.Barguil
8.Albasini
9.Uran
10.Dumoulin

[;

Sneaky bastard

 

[klintE]

Re: Re:

I give the final results, top ten:

2.Valverde
1.Kwiato
3.Martin
4.Teuns
5.Ulissi
6.Henao
7.Barguil
8.Albasini
9.Uran
10.Dumoulin

[;

Sneaky bastard

Well, in this small trick i smashed possible charges of rating someone higher than Valverde

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

A bully? That is REALLY not my impression - clinic issues aside, I have heard nothing suggesting he shouldn't be a class act.

You're replying to Pisti.

Verbally abusing a rider after a race because his team manager made some anti-doping remarks.

What do you call that?

A bully. That's classic Armstrong behavior.

A bully? Verbally abused It's good he overcome all of this, what a trauma Seriously, what a cry baby And he waited Pereiro to retire and Valverde to be baned to say this! 5 years!

 

[jaylew]

Re:

So who are the most likely riders to come with a meaningful attack from 20K or more before the finish? Wellens, Kwiatkowski, Bardet, the Yates brothers?

Maybe GVA or Rosa? There are several teams with a few strong options who should try something serious earlier with one of their decent options - Orica, Sky, UAE (won't happen), Ag2r, Cannondale, even Bahrain and Sunweb.

I do have a feeling some strong guys will have a go earlier and we'll have a good edition this year.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Great piece about L-B-L and Bardet: https://rouleur.cc/editorial/romain-bardet-liege/

I think it’s a real shame, actually, that there has been this communication breakdown, a failure by the organizers or the media, to get that passion across. I don’t know why Liège is now less emotive for most people than Paris-Roubaix.

It's not all about the organizers, Romain!

Bardet on Ans: Yeah it’s really not very pretty! The finish has changed a few times as well, and there’s not so much history there in that current place. It is pretty anonymous, it’s this industrial area and an hour after the race there’s no-one there. It’s not like Roubaix with all the history around the velodrome.

Please notice, ASO.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

This may be slightly off topic, but does anyone familiar with the Liege area know good spots to watch the race? Preferably the sort of place where there's a bar with a bit of atmosphere showing the race where we can sit before and after the race goes by? We don't have a car or bikes with us, so somewhere accessable by public transport. There was a trip adviser thread recommending a bar in Mery where there would be a big screen outside and one of the later climbs a short walk away, but apparently that place is now shut.

I'm assuming that quite a few people here have been at the race at some point.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

Great piece about L-B-L and Bardet: https://rouleur.cc/editorial/romain-bardet-liege/

I think it’s a real shame, actually, that there has been this communication breakdown, a failure by the organizers or the media, to get that passion across. I don’t know why Liège is now less emotive for most people than Paris-Roubaix.

It's not all about the organizers, Romain!

Bardet on Ans: Yeah it’s really not very pretty! The finish has changed a few times as well, and there’s not so much history there in that current place. It is pretty anonymous, it’s this industrial area and an hour after the race there’s no-one there. It’s not like Roubaix with all the history around the velodrome.

Please notice, ASO.

There is a velodrome that could be used and is used for the U23 race. Still Liege isn't a really beauty, but there are for sure better places than Ans.

Roubaix starts off with the first sector. From there it is still 3 hrs of racing. This year it even started from Kilometer 0 and it never stopped until the velodrome. It's not gonna happen with LBL. It could be more interesting, if the race would be televised from start to finish or if they change the course, so you need to attack earlier. It is still all about the riders, also on the current course. Go on La Redoute, form a group and make Movistar work.

 

[frisenfruitig]

So, what are the expectations here? Are we going to see some open racing like in the AGR or will it be a waiting game like on Wednesday?

 

[mikii4567]

Have Astana said whether they will participate or not? Anything could happen after what happened this morning...

 

[RedheadDane]

Personally I'd love for them to ride, for Michele.
But I can understand if they decides not to.

 

[WheelofGear]

Will the riders be wearing armbands tomorrow? Not just Astana, but all of the teams. Scarponi was a big figure in the peloton. He deserves to be honored.