The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
I think this is more of a problem with the term 'hilly classics' and 'cobbled classics'. I mean, there's not many hilly classics: AGR, FW, LBL, San Sebastian and Lombardia. And there are all very different to each other.Anderis said:There was once a funny discussion on this forum about cobbled classics specialists vs hilly classics specialists.
Seeing Wellens and Teuns in top5 today and a fairly average 61 kg hilly classics specialist Alex Howes, in his first ever cobbled classic, being 2nd best finisher of his team packed with experienced cobbled classics specialists, doesn't fit the agenda that cobbled classics specialists are somehow superior.
As far as I remember, that was basically just El Pistolero trolling.Anderis said:There was once a funny discussion on this forum about cobbled classics specialists vs hilly classics specialists.
Seeing Wellens and Teuns in top5 today and a fairly average 61 kg hilly classics specialist Alex Howes, in his first ever cobbled classic, being 2nd best finisher of his team packed with experienced cobbled classics specialists, doesn't fit the agenda that cobbled classics specialists are somehow superior.
boneshaker said:Congratulations to Stybar.
It is very strange that this is his first victory in a classic after the Strade Bianche in 2015.
Robert5091 said:Chapeau Stybar & QS (so that's QS1 - CCC 0)! good race to start the season.
GvA tried his darnest to drop guys but just didn't have it. Maybe some team help would have helped - though they had a spate of mechanicals/punctures.
RedheadDane said:Right, everybody, I know this is technically off-topic, but here's the plan!
We need to get Scarponi drunk! Then make him place a bet, and we'll know the winner of the K-B-K tomorrow.
It's as if everything either of them does, always has to be in relation to how the other will do.Flamin said:Not sure about that at all. He didn't look good. Basically what he's looked like all winter. I hope he can still turn things around but for now it looks like MVDP will smoke him on the road as well.
Logic-is-your-friend said:It's as if everything either of them does, always has to be in relation to how the other will do.Flamin said:Not sure about that at all. He didn't look good. Basically what he's looked like all winter. I hope he can still turn things around but for now it looks like MVDP will smoke him on the road as well.![]()
He was 13th today, and finished in the same bunch as Van Baarle, Matthews, Jungels, Trentin, Naessen, Lampaert... within 20 seconds of Stybar, and ahead of the bunches with Terpstra, Colbrelli, Valgren, Roelandts, Teunissen, Stuyven, Vanmarcke... If that's bad, then all those other guys can just pack it up and go home for the rest of the season. Also, all the guys finishing ahead of him, were older.
It's his first race since his CX season ended about a month ago. If anything, i found his performance quite promising. Especially compared to his CX season.
Logic-is-your-friend said:Again, most of the other guys have had some racing in their legs. Last year his CX season was also different than this year. There was clearly a build-up towards march. This year, he pretty much maintained the same (disappointing) level throughout the winter. I already predicted weeks if not months ago, that he would suffer to match last year's results (or performances), but i don't consider yesterday's performance to be indicative of that.
It's also possible, that last year the stretch was too long, from januari to april, so he now might be trying to peak a bit later, with RVV and PR in mind. We'll know soon enough.