2018 Tour of Flanders

[Brullnux]

Van aert should stay back for a bit.

 

[alspacka]

Sagan looks great to me

 

[portugal11]

this is the critical part of the race

 

[Vino's Mum]

This is too easy for Sagan.

 

[portugal11]

sagan is over.
edit: he isn't because roelandts is racinf for GVA

 

[Alexandre B.]

Will Sagan take the wind once before he attacks?

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Sagan. go now, don't rely on Oss

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Sagan looks great to me

Yeah, looks like he's just saving himself for one decisive attack on the Kwaremont or Paterberg. Kristoff and Demare still being there must be a bit of a concern though.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Anyone else shocked by Nibali?

I'm not, he's shown in the past that he can ride cobbles.

Yeah but the issue with Ronde is more the hills and the narrow roads rather than technique.

 

[jaylew]

Moscon has such a distinctive style on the bike. So easy to pick him out.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Re:

Sagan. go now, don't rely on Oss

Shows me...

 

[red_flanders]

Re:

Will Sagan take the wind once before he attacks?

Why would he?

 

[DFA123]

Some half hearted attacks by Terpstra and Stybar so far. I wonder if having too many potential leaders is actually harming them in the biggest races. No-one prepared to truly risk sacrificing themselves for the team.

 

[Irondan]

Re: Re:

Anyone else shocked by Nibali?

I'm not, he's shown in the past that he can ride cobbles.

Yeah but the issue with Ronde is more the hills and the narrow roads rather than technique.

Okay, Nibali has proven in the past that he can ride cobbles, hills and narrow roads. I'm not surprised he's doing so well.

 

[alspacka]

Anyone spotted if Trentin is up there?

 

[phanatic]

Re:

Sagan looks great to me

I thought I saw him attacking the bottle while following GVA’s attack.

 

[trucido]

Only Sagan would fancy a sprint vs Demare and Kristoff. The others need to do something soon.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Anyone else shocked by Nibali?

I'm not, he's shown in the past that he can ride cobbles.

Yeah but the issue with Ronde is more the hills and the narrow roads rather than technique.

Okay, Nibali has proven in the past that he can ride cobbles, hills and narrow roads. I'm not surprised he's doing so well.

Not been the most selective race so far either. The top 20 or so favourites all still in contention. It would be surprised if Nibali had been dropped by this point.

 

[spalco]

Re:

This is too easy for Sagan.

I'm concerned he could fall asleep on the bike.

 

[tomorrow]

Sagan, gva and vanmarcke after the kwaaremont

 

[jaylew]

How many QS there? 4?

 

[Durden93]

Who's the sky rider up front? Moscon?

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Anyone else shocked by Nibali?

I'm not, he's shown in the past that he can ride cobbles.

Yeah but the issue with Ronde is more the hills and the narrow roads rather than technique.

Okay, Nibali has proven in the past that he can ride cobbles, hills and narrow roads. I'm not surprised he's doing so well.

I agree, but Nibali struggles on really steep, short hills. He's been good here, though, apart from the paterberg.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Re:

Some half hearted attacks by Terpstra and Stybar so far. I wonder if having too many potential leaders is actually harming them in the biggest races. No-one prepared to truly risk sacrificing themselves for the team.

I think it is a few things. Everyone is ready to go for this race. Those sharp-peakers are at their best, where they may not have been a week and two ago. Also, everyone is here. Not just in terms of the standard riders, but how often have Kristoff, Terpstra, Stybar, Demare, and Niabli been together in those other classics? Not to mention their teammates that may have been dispensed elsewhere around the continent.

I think the QS are as strong as they were and riding with intent, but there are more of, and stronger competitors than the early classics.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Only Sagan would fancy a sprint vs Demare and Kristoff. The others need to do something soon.

You don't want to take three or four Quickstep riders into the last 10km, however good a sprinter you are. Sagan will certainly try to do something on the Kwaremont or Paterberg if he has the legs.