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

[Flamin]

Re:

Orica was the team which messed this up...

Why Orica in particular? They had at least an aggressive Kreuziger, both on Redoute and Roche. What about QS and Sky?

 

[Rollthedice]

Class act, Alejandro, tears and dedication to Scarponi.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re:

Well at least he's giving all his prize money to Scarponi's family.

Kwiatko played that one all wrong, hung around at the back and then got caught out near the end when it split.

Martin's attack had to be the one to follow. The only serious effort up till then were Wellens, Woods? and Formolo. Hardly obvious challengers. But the likes of Kwiatek, Matthews, Costa, Albasini had to follow Martin. But maybe Valverde was the only one with the legs.

Bala tearing up in the interview speaking of Scarponi. It's a lot of years in the peloton together...

 

[Velolover2]

If Matthews had won, the forum would have crashed for hours.

The final is so terrible. A waiting game in an industrial wasteland.

 

[Red Rick]

 

[jaylew]

Re:

So, Valverde, surely leaps above GVA and Gilbert as rider of the year so far.

No question.

Not his fault if the other teams ride to his strengths.

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Class act, Alejandro, tears and dedication to Scarponi.

Yep, very classy giving his respect to Michele Scarponi.

 

[BigMac]

Win dedicated to Michele, he was a ''great friend''.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

The guy has been 10 meters in the wind for the whole race.

The same can be said about guys like Kwiat/Martin or Matthews though. Should he attack for no reason so you are happy?

Everyone was bitching about Gerrans in 2014. Everyone is praising Valverde today. There's almost no difference between both wins.

I don't blame Matthews for following in this particular race, but we're talking about freakin' Valverde here.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

Class act, Alejandro, tears and dedication to Scarponi.

Indeed. He is a very nice guy. Very happy that he won since he will be giving the prize money to Scarponi's family.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Orica was the team which messed this up...

Why Orica in particular? They had at least an aggressive Kreuziger, both on Redoute and Roche. What about QS and Sky?

Yeah, Sky were terrible - awful use of a really talented squad. I blamed QS as well, but, thinking about it, I'm not sure what more they could do - without Alaphilippe and Gilbert. Martin was never going to get in a break and win solo, and he did about as much as possible. If Valverde didn't exist, he'd probably have won about 7 or 8 classics by now!

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Orica was the team which messed this up...

Why Orica in particular? They had at least an aggressive Kreuziger, both on Redoute and Roche. What about QS and Sky?

Kreuziger and Henao rode well but Martin and Valverde were expected to fight it out.

 

[KyoGrey]

Not Valverde's fault the others dont challenge his last km mightiness.

Crying for Scarponi in the interview. The feeling is that he didnt even give his 100% on the ending.

 

[frisenfruitig]

So how many wins has Valverde got now? 14? Has he ever started the season better than this?

 

[TommyGun]

Didn't like the race, but bravo to Valverde. Very class act.

 

[Põhja Konn]

The DS's of Valverde's every single serious rival should be fired on the spot. :razz: By serious rivals I mean those with winning aspirations themselves.

For all the faults in the design of the course (and specially the overbeefing of the finale) only riders and their DS's are to blame for repeating the losing scenario from last years (Valverde obviously excluded).

Having said that, Valverde was imperious and the others needed to handle him like they did to Sagan in the cobbled classics to have a chance.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

If Matthews had won, the forum would have crashed for hours.

The final is so terrible. A waiting game in an industrial wasteland.

No, not if you ask me. He actually rode on the front on Redoute, that's more than Valverde, Martin, Kwia etc etc

 

[GraftPunk]

And the spring classics finish with a whimper. Ah well...

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re: Re:

The guy has been 10 meters in the wind for the whole race.

The same can be said about guys like Kwiat/Martin or Matthews though. Should he attack for no reason so you are happy?

Everyone was bitching about Gerrans in 2014. Everyone is praising Valverde today. There's almost no difference between both wins.

I don't blame Matthews for following in this particular race, but we're talking about freakin' Valverde here.

The difference being that this was a larger group and the other top guys weren't riding in the wind either. Gerrans could be in a group with 2 other guys and still refuse to ride. Valverde doesn't just wheelsuck when he is in a small group with other strong guys.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Anyone not named Valverde or Martin who waits until Ans is a moron. At the bottom of that hill there are only two guys who can win. If your gameplan involves arriving there with both of them you have already lost. The only guy there I feel sorry for is Martin, because he's the only guy who lost who rode to maximise his chances.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

That's also the definition of practice

 

[meat puppet]

Valverde catching Martin knowing full well he was superior to him and then outsprinting him with such ease was just cruel to watch.

The peloton got the beating they deserved. Guess they will never learn.

 

[WheelofGear]

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Orica was the team which messed this up...

Why Orica in particular? They had at least an aggressive Kreuziger, both on Redoute and Roche. What about QS and Sky?

Yeah, Sky were terrible - awful use of a really talented squad. I blamed QS as well, but, thinking about it, I'm not sure what more they could do - without Alaphilippe and Gilbert. Martin was never going to get in a break and win solo, and he did about as much as possible. If Valverde didn't exist, he'd probably have won about 7 or 8 classics by now!

True they missed firepower but they were killing Devenyns and De Plus on the run-in to Roche, chasing the break. They could've used them better on or after Roche.

 

[KyoGrey]

Lets not compare Gerrans with Valverde. Because the double rush acceleration that Valverde showcasted in 2015 and today against Moreno and Martin is unreachable for the australian. Please.