2024 La Flèche Wallonne Femmes (not in LA), April 17

[Samu Cuenca]

She's actually done quite well considering how new she is to road and that she rides a ton of CX races unlike Shirin and Puck who rode very short CX programs. Fem even raced more CX races after winning Worlds. She did pick up a win last year, had several top 10s, and was 11th in the Giro.

To be fair, Shirin got injured, and Puck did a full MTB campaign beforehand.

 

[Didinho]

KASIAAA!!

 

[KZD]

Finally Kasia wins!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Yeeessss

 

[jaylew]

Finally!

 

[Tim Cahill]

A long time coming for Niewsioghaihgiaheguih!!!!

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, that was a neat surprise!

 

[Izzyeviel]

Libertine, are you still with us? How's the heart rate?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Just to clarify, this time i actually voted before the race.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Just to clarify, this time i actually voted before the race.

Some people make sure the polls close before the finish.

 

[Netserk]

Why didn't Kopecky pace in the beginning of the climb?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Rooijakkers getting 6th is pretty crazy.

 

[Didinho]

Canyon again.

 

[pastronef]

yes! wow, 2 races in the matter of hours won by the riders I wanted to win. wow!

 

[jaylew]

To be fair, Shirin got injured, and Puck did a full MTB campaign beforehand.

True enough but Shirin is a FAR more experienced road rider and was never going to ride a big cross program anyway and the MTB season ends way before the CX season so Fem has to take a break before her road season. I think just like last year, she'll get better as the season progresses. I do expect her to be a big player at some point. 8th today is not bad at all.

 

[theyoungest]

Have you ever seen an explanation of why her CX dominance doesn't translate into results on the road? Maybe it is just my expectations, but I expected to see her in the top 5 regularly.

Van Empel has very little experience. Like, really very little. She only took up cycling seriously just 4 years ago. Pieterse and Van Anrooij are way ahead of her in that regard. As for this spring, I think it's been ruined by two bouts of illness in succession which took away quite a bit of her fitness. Her form is okay but nothing special.

 

[pastronef]

it's snowing during the podium ceremony

 

[Samu Cuenca]

True enough but Shirin is a FAR more experienced road rider and was never going to ride a big cross program anyway and the MTB season ends way before the CX season so Fem has to take a break before her road season. I think just like last year, she'll get better as the season progresses. I do expect her to be a big player at some point. 8th today is not bad at all.

And Shirin's injury might also have been a blessing in disguise since she was struggling in the CX races she did do.

 

[Winnen]

Rooijakkers ended up 6th! Strong, after the efforts she made earlier.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Van Empel has very little experience. Like, really very little. She only took up cycling seriously just 4 years ago. Pieterse and Van Anrooij are way ahead of her in that regard. As for this spring, I think it's been ruined by two bouts of illness in succession which took away quite a bit of her fitness. Her form is okay but nothing special.

And Vos is obviously also going to be the leader in the races she's in, so that's also costing Van Empel result wise.

 

[Izzyeviel]

This is all of us right?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Where the *** is the men's race thread? Am I blind? And sorry for posting here

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Where the *** is the men's race thread? Am I blind? And sorry for posting here

I assume you have Ilmaestro on ignore, but he made the thread on a bender.

 

[theyoungest]

And Vos is obviously also going to be the leader in the races she's in, so that's also costing Van Empel result wise.

So far it hasn't really. In the few races she's done she was already dropped before the finish, and not because she did a lot of work.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I assume you have Ilmaestro on ignore, but he made the thread on a bender.

Yes

Thanks!