75th La Fleche Wallonne 201km Wednesday April20nd 2011

[dlwssonic]

Start:Charleroi
Finish:Huy

Are you ready for

The incredibly steep lactic acid producing MUR DE HUY!
Who will be victorius on the queen of hills, the most terrifying name in the whole of Wallonne.
Startlist:http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjE1NDM=
Main Contenders:AG2R La Mondiale: Roche (IRE), Gadret (FRA);Cofidis, le Crédit en Ligne: Moncoutié (FRA), Taaramäe (EST); Euskaltel-Euskadi: Antón, S. Sánchez (SPA); FDJ: Fédrigo, Geslin (FRA); HTC-High Road: Martin (GER), van Garderen (USA); Katusha Team: Di Luca (ITA), Rodríguez (SPA), Ivanov, Kolobnev (RUS); Lampre-ISD: Cunego (ITA); Liquigas-Cannondale: Basso (ITA); Landbouwkrediet: B. Scheirlinckx (BEL); Movistar Team: Kiryienka (BLR), López García (SPA); Omega Pharma-Lotto: Gilbert, Van Den Broeck (BEL); Pro Team Astana: Di Gregorio (FRA), Vinokourov (KAZ); Quick Step Cycling Team: Pineau (FRA); Rabobank Cycling Team: Gesink, Mollema (NET), L. L. Sánchez (SPA); Saur-Sojasun: Coppel, Hivert (FRA); Saxo Bank-Sungard: Contador (SPA); Skil-Shimano: Geschke (GER); Sky Procycling: Gerrans (AUS), Lövkvist (SWE); Team Garmin-Cervélo: Hesjedal (CAN), Le Mével (FRA), Vande Velde (USA); Team Leopard-Trek: A. Schleck, F. Schleck (LUX); Team RadioShack: Brajkovič (SLO), Horner (USA); Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator: Steurs (BEL); Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team: De Gendt, Devolder (BEL); Veranda’s Willems-Accent: S. Scheirlinckx (BEL)

 

[luckyboy]

If AC gets over his cold then he will win. It'll be someone Spanish anyway.

 

[Ryaguas]

I wouldn't say main contenders... I would say Team leaders... main contenders 5 or 6...

Contador
Purito
Il Principe
Samu
Fuji

TJVG as "main contender" is an insult to the guys in that list...

 

[mulletCobra]

I wouldn't say main contenders... I would say Team leaders... main contenders 5 or 6...

Contador
Purito
Il Principe
Samu
Fuji

TJVG as "main contender" is an insult to the guys in that list...

nevermind, google answered

 

[pmcg76]

I was in Huy a few weeks back, had lunch and a beer on the nice Grand place and then had a walk up the Mur which is even tough for walking.

Managed to see this race in 08, great place to watch as it passed three times plus the womens race although I am not sure if this is still the format.

I would reccomend getting to Huy early, enjoy a beer on the Grand Palce and then head up the Huy to see the race. Oh yeah, then back to the Grand Place for post race dissection and more beer.

 

[Lanark]

Tough race to predict. Contador, Rodriguez and Anton all look OK, but none of them look ready to win this. Maybe Samuel Sanchez? But it takes Sanchez about half a climb to find his rythm nowadays.

I'll go with Andy, was 2nd here once before, and appears to be in better shape than last year.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Conti or Sanchez in my book

 

[The Hitch]

Doupt Samu. I think Anton will do better but him neither. Its between The Great One, Purito and maybe Little Price

 

[Cobblestoned]

Without seeing last years replay I remember that huge Klöden-attack
Should work this year, since he has a better season and knows the Mur better now.
No, not really think that he can win that. Not enough punch and needs a break now. Is he even starting there ?

Anyway, I guess Contador will do it, since he also learned to know the Mur and has the perfect uphill punch.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Doupt Samu. I think Anton will do better but him neither. Its between The Great One, Purito and maybe Little Price

I'll throw in Gesink as well.

I know most short steep climbs don't suit him. But he has proven in the past, the Muur de Huy does suit him...
Not for the win maybe (there'll always be one better), but podium is definately possible

 

[roundabout]

I want the old course back with the Cote d'Ahin as the penultimate climb. I know it'll still be a sprint up the Mur but one climb in the last 30 k before the final just doesn't seem right.

 

[forumlurker]

Doupt Samu. I think Anton will do better but him neither. Its between The Great One, Purito and maybe Little Price

gretzky is riding?!

 

[Ryaguas]

I'll throw in Gesink as well.

I know most short steep climbs don't suit him. But he has proven in the past, the Muur de Huy does suit him...
Not for the win maybe (there'll always be one better), but podium is definately possible

I think that He can make top 10... I would bet that He will make an early attack ala Fuji Last year on Huy to prove his legs... if He can make top 10 would be a great achivement for him on a finish like that...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think that He can make top 10... I would bet that He will make an early attack ala Fuji Last year on Huy to prove his legs... if He can make top 10 would be a great achivement for him on a finish like that...

he was 9th when he was a 20 year old neo.. he was 4th when he was 21 year old... after that he missed an edition and last year he was sick

if he doesn't top 10 then he is worse than when he was 20.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Without seeing last years replay I remember that huge Klöden-attack
Should work this year, since he has a better season and knows the Mur better now.
No, not really think that he can win that. Not enough punch and needs a break now. Is he even starting there ?

Anyway, I guess Contador will do it, since he also learned to know the Mur and has the perfect uphill punch.

The Mur is about timing. Klöden's attack last year was huge, but ultimately non-threatening because it was so soon it was inevitable that he would tire on a climb like that. Evans was the strongest in 2008, but he mistimed his jump and that allowed Kirchen to take him. Contador similarly made that mistake last year.

I think this one's J-Rod's year.

 

[greenedge]

i would say Tondo as dark horse, is he racing? Contador is the favourite. Maybe Brajkovic.

 

[auscyclefan94]

2010 Fleche wallonne

Last 7 km of the 2010 Fleche Wallonne! YOU LITTLE RIPPA CADEL!

 

[The Hitch]

Anyone bored can try out the Wheres Wallie challenge in that video.

It has a "Dirk Hoffmans motorhoms" sign.

I found it.

Can you?

 

[Ryaguas]

Last 7 km of the 2010 Fleche Wallonne! YOU LITTLE RIPPA CADEL!

That was a great finish... He beat Contador but massive respect for him... also was more awesome that He did that in the rainbow jersey! is always great to see the WC taking wins like that...

 

[jobiwan]

Stinks that Evans won't be in it, but I think Contador would win anyway.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think that He can make top 10... I would bet that He will make an early attack ala Fuji Last year on Huy to prove his legs... if He can make top 10 would be a great achivement for him on a finish like that...

based on his previous performances here I suspect top ten isn't the ac achievement he is looking for

tough one to predict.
maybe ac.

 

[theswordsman]

Contador's press release said he started antibiotics today to shake the cold. Last year he had the major road trip just to get there because of the ash. The biq question for me is how fit is he right now. Last year he had reached his spring beak for the stage races and this was an add-on before his vacation. Right now the Giro is three weeks away, and he wants to race into shape there. It will be tough to beat guys who are at a high level of their fitness now.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Jurgen VDB.
Of course....

 

[dlwssonic]

God Damn it! if Contador wins I will put a pistol shot avatar of contador

 

[Lanark]

Changed my prediction. I had my doubt about Rodriguez, but it's clear he's ready for the Fleche.