64th E3 Saxo Bank Classic: 25 March, 2022

[Mayomaniac]

I just have one question about Jumbo's antics:

Why couldn't it have been Affini taking part in the fun? Don't these guys know I have a very important CQ Classics game to... not finish dead-last in?

Affini always gets the short stick and has to do the donkey work early on when they are riding a one day race...

 

[Mayomaniac]

Speaking of Pozzato, do you guys remember that spring campain where Pozzato's only objective was to sit on Boonen's wheel? Lmao, good times, and what a rider (when he really wanted to).

A fair weather rider who didn't like training hard too much, but one can't deny that he had tons of class. In his final Rvv he still finished 8th despite getting caught behind everytime an important move happened.
Also remember when he rode to make Ballan not win the Rvv?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Affini always gets the short stick and has to do the donkey work early on when they are riding a one day race...

What else is there for him to do? He's not an elite TT'er, he can't get over a molehill, i doubt he can sprint. The only other option for him is to go in the early break i think.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

thank *** for VDP being back in time for the classics. I think without him and Pogacar Jumbo would just roll over RVV and PR and stomp win with ease

 

[Pantani_lives]

That was a good impression of Hinault and LeMond on l'Alpe d'Huez.

 

[Mayomaniac]

What else is there for him to do? He's not an elite TT'er, he can't get over a molehill, i doubt he can sprint. The only other option for him is to go in the early break i think.

You're not wrong, I have to admit that. He has a better sprint than Ganna, but he's probably not fast enough for the cobbled classics.
Maybe he can do more in Roubaix, but that's about it.

 

[AlfaLum]

I think Affini has the role he deserves within the team that he is riding for. Other riders just way better.

 

[tobydawq]

It can't have happened too often than an African and a South American both make their way into the top 6 of a Belgian cobbled classic.

 

[RedheadDane]

I think Affini has the role he deserves within the team that he is riding for. Other riders just way better.

This isn't about other riders!
This is about Affini!
And my CQ game.

 

[AlfaLum]

This isn't about other riders!
This is about Affini!
And my CQ game.

Your CQ game was Affinito the moment you decided to pick Edoardo.

 

[skippo12]

It can't have happened too often than an African and a South American both make their way into the top 6 of a Belgian cobbled classic.

Only because the great Dayer Quintana didn´t start. I miss the good old Movistar day. These days they actually have a couple of decent guys for the classic. Was more fun when they send a bunch of 55kg climbers.

 

[Lequack]

Photo finish. It was pretty close at then end.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1507388700522651669

View: https://twitter.com/MarcHerShe/status/1507388700522651669

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Photo finish. It was pretty close at then end.

Looks like Laporte celebrated too soon. Classic mistake.

 

[gunara]

Only because the great Dayer Quintana didn´t start. I miss the good old Movistar day. These days they actually have a couple of decent guys for the classic. Was more fun when they send a bunch of 55kg climbers.

Like Imanol and The Seven Dwarves? Don't know exactly when that ever happenned though, they're never good but I don't think they were ever Euskaltel bad. Always had some kids to put with guys like Erviti, Amador, Ventoso, or Guttierez, at least half of them would finish.

 

[Wvv]

Who is this WVV you keep referring to?

 

[JosefK]

Photo finish. It was pretty close at then end.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1507388700522651669

View: https://twitter.com/MarcHerShe/status/1507388700522651669

Looks like Wout just nipped Christophe with a better bike-throw at the line.

 

[Billie]

The last 85 kms of this race are perfect. Not sure you can make a better final 85 km in the flemish ardennes. Congrats to the organisers

 

[Billie]

Van Aert easily won E3 and apart from a mechanical for Van der Poel at the wrong time I don't really see how he he (Van Aert) can win de Ronde.

 

[tobydawq]

Van Aert easily won E3 and apart from a mechanical for Van der Poel at the wrong time I don't really see how he he (Van Aert) can win de Ronde.

That's a peculiar conclusion.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

That's a peculiar conclusion.

yeah, I mean both looked imperious and both, no matter how strong they are, are capable of losing monuments.

This year WVA now has a strong team. MVDP still does not. I’m not at all sure if Wout is mentally capable of just sitting on Mathieu’s wheel, but if he is Jumbo do have cards to play to weaken MVDP’s position.

 

[Oldermanish]

That's a peculiar conclusion.

Honestly watching this whole race it warmed my heart as an example of great team/individual planning and dedication. Almost every JV effort produced an impact on the pack based on where they applied the power. They were in the right place and didn't waste energy doing much but attacking to a controlling position when the roads narrowed and then turned the screws.
WVA on the cobbled climbs was a relentless metronome that even his teammates struggled to keep contact with. Really good tactical race and full dedication to manipulating the break and then delivering a 45km TT on roads that were suited for that strategy. Didn't we just see that recently?
They did it right and Wout was the predictable element that made his DS's work relatively easy on that parcours. I did love the uphill corner where he was pushing the pace and going hard enough to overcook the right turn; then fortunately found a gravel berm on the outside line to bank into the descent. Lucky and stylish!