2017 Tour of Flanders / Ronde Van Vlaanderen - April 2, 260k

[Red Rick]

Re:

Keukeliere must be really strong.

He didn't even start

 

[rei_da_montanha]

Re:

Keukeliere must be really strong.

Keukeleire didn't start.

 

[deValtos]

Re: Re:

The other teams should let Bora and BMC chase.
Why is Astana working ffs?

What.

This isn't the middle of a 21 day race where saving riders could actually be useful ...

I can't believe people actually think like this.

Let BMC and Bora work, the attack in the climbs or in the flat when the group is small.

What a terrible idea for those teams. Then the gap would be 1minute+ and the race would be over for them and their doms would get dropped by Sagan/GVA anyways when they try to bridge. Literally makes zero sense.

 

[Billie]

Re:

I have a greater chance of finding the meaning of life than understanding why Orica is working right now.

Durbridge has been one of the strongest for 2 weeks

 

[Velolover2]

Boonen going nuts. They have gained a few secs.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Re: Re:

Keukeliere must be really strong.

Keukeleire didn't start.

Oh, so why is Orica pulling so strong?

 

[Irondan]

On the Kwaremount now, this should liven things up...

 

[Andro]

Gap probably still too big for Sagan and GVA to bridge the gap on Kwaaremont.

 

[Vroome.exe]

Re: Re:

I dont think Stybar is in the peloton, so if this group gets caught then quickstep has only terpstra.

Lampaert is definitely in the peloton. And I don't see why Stybar wouldn't be there.

Stybar was caught in a crash and lampaert had like 5 mechanicals

 

[Saint Unix]

Why the hell is Tornado retiring? Dude is still stronger than 99% of the peloton.

 

[Velolover2]

Gilbert is insane.

 

[rei_da_montanha]

Gilbert is just insane.

 

[TMP402]

QS closing the gap to Boonen. Boy oh boy.

 

[WheelofGear]

PhilGil in brutal shape.

 

[Forever The Best]

Gilbert extremely strong.

 

[Andro]

Re: Re:

I dont think Stybar is in the peloton, so if this group gets caught then quickstep has only terpstra.

Lampaert is definitely in the peloton. And I don't see why Stybar wouldn't be there.

Stybar was caught in a crash and lampaert had like 5 mechanicals

Lampaert had 2 mechanicals early in the race and he was sitting right next to Terpstra 10 minutes ago.

 

[Irondan]

Gilbert looking very strong!

 

[TomLPC]

Degenkolb, ebh, Stannard, Stybars positioning is vital because if this comes back togetheryou would think the counter attack from Sagan and gva is going to be brutal.

Saying that, Gilbert is going absolutely nuts

 

[portugal11]

2011 Gilbert is back!!!

 

[Red Rick]

I must go

My planet needs me

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

Lol. Bunch sprint in thd womens race

Really good race to get to that point though. Sure, if you only see the last 5 mins it looks lame to see it finish in a bunch kick, but it was a very good race and got to that point with a real tough battle. Last three climbs were really tough and hard-fought, although I wanted the quartet to stay away.

And if the racing is becoming less selective among the women's races, in some respects it's a good thing because it's showing that more of the péloton can handle the difficulty and we can get tougher races rather than some of the patronizing parcours the women's péloton has been given in the past (note: not by Flanders Classics, this route is beefed up a little from last year. But distances are getting longer and the decisiveness of small obstacles is getting less as professionalism improves).

Well, +15 or even 20 riders in the finish after Kwaremont + Paterberg combo is pretty disappointing isn't it?

I think it was a good race.
The shots from Kwaremont were telling so, at least.

35 came in a sprint for 2nd after Devolder in 2009.

Sure, it's a bit disappointing to have a sizable group duke out what's historically been a very selective race, but last year the duo only just survived. But it definitely wasn't a "lol"-worthy race. They didn't get to the sprint because they raced like cowards, like Rivera is some kind of female Gerrans. Certainly it can hardly be argued that Niewiadoma (attacking 3 climbs from home), ELB (stringing everybody out on the last few climbs), van Vleuten (destroyed herself over and over to get back to the break, and then came 4th in the bunch kick) and van der Breggen (answered every attacking move for the last 40k) raced timidly. They got to the sprint because a couple of key teams missed the break, and one of those in the break had enough backup behind not to contribute to the chase.

Laughing about the finish being a sprint like there was no racing going on or this somehow justifies a negative outlook on women's racing is just outright unfair given the way the race unfolded. This sure as hell wasn't København, which I can't make any justifications for other than to say that the men's race also sucked.

 

[Saint Unix]

Gilbert is riding for the win here.

 

[Irondan]

Gilbert going for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Forever The Best]

Phil is going mad! <3

 

[Saint Unix]

Jeebus... That's a massacre.