2018 La Fleche Wallonne

[Oliver]

Other teams will bring everything back and Valverde will win. Can't believe this.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Is moreno racing?

He's with EF Education First. Don't know if he's in the race or not.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Lotto and Sky really should have made that group, huge mistake - if they had, no way the peloton would get back with the state Movistar was in. Landa put in a huge shift today just keeping that gap around 45 sec and inviting other teams to help again.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Lotto lol. Why just why. Wellens is never going to beat Valverde in a mur sprint. FFS

edit: why is Sky even working? Henao???

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

Lotto being losers again.

Why ? Landa and kwia won`t bring it back. What should they do if they want to win ?

Half of the people on this thread are judging teams and riders not by whether they maximize their own chances but by whether they minimize Valverde’s chances. There’s no point in engaging.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Lotto being losers again.

Why ? Landa and kwia won`t bring it back. What should they do if they want to win ?

ATTACK before the Mur de Huy, not ride tempo in the peloton.

 

[Frankschleck]

Re: Re:

Is moreno racing?

He's with EF Education First. Don't know if he's in the race or not.

He isnt here just checked. Thats sad, would have liked to see what he could have done.

 

[DFA123]

All for Valverde...in the end a podium is still a huge result for Lotto or Quickstep so they ride for second place.

I don't think they're riding for 2nd place. With no-one in the break,and with the break too far ahead for a solo attack to work; their only chance of 1st place is to close the gap as part of the peloton. So they are riding for first place really - even if it's a long shot.

It's possible that Valverde makes an error as well. Unlikely, but possible. He could get boxed in, or mess up a gear change, or mis-judge his effort. And in that case it's better to have the win on the line, rather than 8th place.

 

[burning]

In the unlikely case of someone attacking in Cherave, they need to reduce the gap to break. However, I don't think Wellens is going to attack on Cherave.

 

[El Pistolero]

Can't wait to see Wellens get smoked by Valverde.

 

[Velolover2]

If he is strong.. Nibali needs to attack on the top of the penultimate climb and go full gas downhill.

 

[Gigs_98]

This race could be over by now if those guys who are chasing had attacked instead. They had Valverde exactly where they wanted them but now teams which have 0 chance to beat Valverde on the Huy are about to hand the race back to him. This is as pathetic as it gets.

Edit: Maybe these teams will attack on Cherave. If they are successful that way, I take everything back. But I have the feeling that's not what they are planning to do.

 

[deValtos]

You can't attack when the gap is 50s and they're working well up front with riders like Nibali. It's suicide.

Bring it back to 20s then attack on the hill before the mur.

 

[Rollthedice]

The question is, how deep have the guys in front been going. Nibali is probably still relatively relaxed and will still have quite a lot left. Kwiatkowski chasing now though, that could be crucial

I wonder if Nibali could solo from Cherave. I don´t think so.

Would be a big surprise.

 

[Red Rick]

This race stops me from questioning the intelligence of riders and DS´s

I´m not questioning anymore

 

[Koronin]

All for Valverde...in the end a podium is still a huge result for Lotto or Quickstep so they ride for second place.

I don't think they're riding for 2nd place. With no-one in the break,and with the break too far ahead for a solo attack to work; their only chance of 1st place is to close the gap as part of the peloton. So they are riding for first place really - even if it's a long shot.

It's possible that Valverde makes an error as well. Unlikely, but possible. He could get boxed in, or mess up a gear change, or mis-judge his effort. And in that case it's better to have the win on the line, rather than 8th place.

The other teams would much rather be racing for the win and a shot at the podium than for 8th.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

Lotto being losers again.

Why ? Landa and kwia won`t bring it back. What should they do if they want to win ?

ATTACK before the Mur de Huy, not ride tempo in the peloton.

They should keep Vanendert with Valverde and send someone on the attack before that.

 

[Poursuivant]

Come on Nibali

 

[Frankschleck]

Honestly thing Kangert or Haig would win over nibali.

 

[Velolover2]

Lotto is killing it right now.

20 secs to the break.

 

[Climbing]

Gratz Valverde, nice win.

 

[DFA123]

This race could be over by now if those guys who are chasing had attacked instead. They had Valverde exactly where they wanted them but now teams which have 0 chance to beat Valverde on the Huy are about to hand the race back to him. This is as pathetic as it gets.

It's not pathetic. They did keep trying to attack, but Movistar spent about 10-15km putting in huge efforts reeling in every single attempt, until one finally got away. Which is why they have had no domestiques left for the last hour.

Now the only chance Lotto, Sky, DD and everyone else who missed the break has of winning, is to help close the gap. That's racing. You give yourself any chance to win, you don't just throw in the towel because Valverde is the favourite on the final climb.

 

[Frankschleck]

Kreziguer, Fulsang or an gasparotto should try to bridge.

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

This race stops me from questioning the intelligence of riders and DS´s

I´m not questioning anymore

You're not sticking to your own signature

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Honestly thing Kangert or Haig would win over nibali.

Kangert is faster in a flat sprint, no idea what would happen on the Mur.
Haig should beat him, but it would probably come down to who has more left in the tank.