2018 La Fleche Wallonne

[Laplaz]

Break has 5 minutes:

Romain Hardy - Fortuneo-Samsic
Romain Combaud - Delko Marseille Provence KTM
Anthony Perez - Cofidis, Solutions Credits
Patrick Muller - Vital Concept Club
Cesare Benedetti - Bora-Hansgrohe
Anthony Roux - Groupama-FDJ
Kevin Van Melsen - Wanty-Groupe Gobert
Antoine Warnier - WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic

 

[Blanco]

Re:

I hope Wellens is smarter than Aerts. Jesus Christ. You know when some forumers deride people who complain about conservative racing by saying stuff like "they know what they're doing, they do what maximizes their chances of winning, do you think they're stupid?"? Well...

edit: Some year Valverde won't be as good or he'll be unlucky or whatever and they'll beat him (might even be today, who knows), and the worst part is they will think that vindicates them, without a second thought for all the races they've already lost to him.

Well, apparently he is: "I think it will be necessary to anticipate. Few will be confident to ride to the finish together with Valverde. My exact tactics will depend on how the race develops."

 

[Flamin]

Wellens tried to go from 'far' in 2016. It was a useless move since barely anyone was interested in joining him, so might as well go toe-to-toe and see what you're worth.

Unless some strong guys decide to attack.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Wellens tried to go from 'far' in 2016. It was a useless move since barely anyone was interested in joining him, so might as well go toe-to-toe and see what you're worth.

Unless some strong guys decide to attack.

Exactly.He won't go solo, I think that's sure. But in a strong group he'll be more than willing to go.

 

[Netserk]

Maybe we'll see a little bit of crosswinds on the top after Huy?

Gilbert is my outsider.

 

[Blanco]

That is a best place for attack imo, but the pace on the Mur before that must be very high.

 

[Frankschleck]

I am going to go with Uran for a second place. Can't see valverde not winning.

 

[Jagartrott]

Re: Re:

Wellens tried to go from 'far' in 2016. It was a useless move since barely anyone was interested in joining him, so might as well go toe-to-toe and see what you're worth.

Unless some strong guys decide to attack.

Exactly.He won't go solo, I think that's sure. But in a strong group he'll be more than willing to go.

Actually plenty of very strong riders here. Imagine a group: Nibali, Caruso, Kwiatkowski, Gilbert, Barguil, Fuglsang, Oomen and Wellens.

But OK, chances that a Chinese spacestation falls on your head are probably slightly bigger than this happening.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Chances of the break making it?

 

[Frankschleck]

Re:

Chances of the break making it?

if you mean the break that formed in the begining, i would say 1%, a late break would of course have a bigger chace.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Re: Re:

Chances of the break making it?

if you mean the break that formed in the begining, i would say 1%, a late break would of course have a bigger chace.

Yes, original break. How much time would they need for an inspired chase from main bunch?

 

[can3478]

Kwiatkowski said “But for sure we will try to do our best to open our race beforehand and isolate him(Valverde), because everybody knows that if Valverde is there 200 metres before the finish, he’s going to win. Let’s be confident about our possibilities to try to win it in a different way."

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

Kwiatkowski said “But for sure we will try to do our best to open our race beforehand and isolate him(Valverde), because everybody knows that if Valverde is there 200 metres before the finish, he’s going to win. Let’s be confident about our possibilities to try to win it in a different way."

Trying to win Fleche in a different way is like trying to win in Champs Élysées in a different way: only for the likes of Vino

 

[Gigs_98]

Sorry, wrong thread

 

[Nirvana]

Re:

Who are Baharin riding for? Gasparotto and Gorka Izagirre are both explosive enough to wait for the Mur.

But Nibali and brother Ion really aren't.

Gasparotto but he said that he could also try to go on Cherave.
Ion also said that he could try something before Huy.

 

[El Pistolero]

Lol, UAE doing all the work again. I just can't take these races seriously anymore.

Dan Martin is going to get Yamcha'd by Valverde and it will be great to see.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Who are Baharin riding for? Gasparotto and Gorka Izagirre are both explosive enough to wait for the Mur.

But Nibali and brother Ion really aren't.

Gasparotto but he said that he could also try to go on Cherave.
Ion also said that he could try something before Huy.

7 man Bahrain attack on Cherave. 1994 was nothing

 

[Laplaz]

TotA delivered today, hopefully also FW now, altough i'm not too optimistic.

 

[Netserk]

Nice for old man Valverde to have 15 doms

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Lol, UAE doing all the work again. I just can't take these races seriously anymore.

Dan Martin is going to get Yamcha'd by Valverde and it will be great to see.

Talks like Goku, wrecked like Yamcha

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Nice for old man Valverde to have 15 doms

Funny thing is that Dan Martin will probably start the final climb around 40th position

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Lol, UAE doing all the work again. I just can't take these races seriously anymore.

Dan Martin is going to get Yamcha'd by Valverde and it will be great to see.

Talks like Goku, wrecked like Yamcha

Glad someone got the reference.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

Lol, UAE doing all the work again. I just can't take these races seriously anymore.

Dan Martin is going to get Yamcha'd by Valverde and it will be great to see.

Talks like Goku, wrecked like Yamcha

Glad someone got the reference.

Valverde is a Saibaman?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

Lol, UAE doing all the work again. I just can't take these races seriously anymore.

Dan Martin is going to get Yamcha'd by Valverde and it will be great to see.

Talks like Goku, wrecked like Yamcha

Valverde is more like Saitama.. one punch man

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Who are Baharin riding for? Gasparotto and Gorka Izagirre are both explosive enough to wait for the Mur.

But Nibali and brother Ion really aren't.

Gasparotto but he said that he could also try to go on Cherave.
Ion also said that he could try something before Huy.

Not a bad idea. They should all go before the Mur except Gorka who they can save for a top 5/10 spot if anything goes wrong.