85th/24th La Flèche Wallonne, April 21st, 2021

[triley36]

Was a little surprised by the lack in confidence amongst the posters for Ala. Certainly he is not in peak form, but he made it deep into Flanders and Amstel, and I think with the shorter distance and predictable nature of the race, the fact that the style of the race fits Ala perfectly is more important than peak form.

 

[tobydawq]

@Koronin

https://twitter.com/x/status/1384875825846173698

View: https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1384875825846173698

But ONLY Spanish Races!!

 

[Sciatic]

If Alaphilippe is on top form, there's nothing to do here. If he's not on absolute top but just a little below like he probably was today, he is beatable, but you need a harder race and a harder pace on the Mur.

I've also noticed while the majority of other contenders had their teammates helping them with positioning in the last 30km, Roglič was always alone and did a couple of sprints by himself to get in good position. Maybe that was the plan, but I don't think it was a good plan.

Same for Valverde (working into position on his own)

 

[Luthor]

But ONLY Spanish Races!!

But Fleche ain't a spanish race, or is it ?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

But ONLY Spanish Races!!

Of course, but we'll have to wait and see how many of these races actually survive, if he doesn't ride them this year.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Quickstep rode really well today with Knox marshalling things going in to town and Honore going on the attack on the approach to the mur, while all the time making sure Ala was well positioned.
Ineos had as many numbers but after being at the front for a long time managed to to get Pidcock well out of position, not that it would have mattered in the end.

 

[BlueRoads]

Was a little surprised by the lack in confidence amongst the posters for Ala. Certainly he is not in peak form, but he made it deep into Flanders and Amstel, and I think with the shorter distance and predictable nature of the race, the fact that the style of the race fits Ala perfectly is more important than peak form.

Great. Couldn't you have said that before the race and in the prediction's thread?

 

[johnymax]

It looked like he thought he was alone and was surprised when JA suddenly appeared

He was like: "Wtf, they said Tadej is not riding what is he doin...wait, that's Ala?! Ah ok, I just need to keep in touch, he'll celebrate too early and let me win."
Ala:"Not this time young fella! You wait for your turn on Sunday."

 

[SafeBet]

Was a little surprised by the lack in confidence amongst the posters for Ala. Certainly he is not in peak form, but he made it deep into Flanders and Amstel, and I think with the shorter distance and predictable nature of the race, the fact that the style of the race fits Ala perfectly is more important than peak form.

He just set the new record time on Mur de Huy so perhaps he's hitting peak form now.

 

[jmdirt]

AvdB puts the rainbow on top of the box!
JA puts the rainbow on top of the box!

 

[Luthor]

Was a little surprised by the lack in confidence amongst the posters for Ala. Certainly he is not in peak form, but he made it deep into Flanders and Amstel, and I think with the shorter distance and predictable nature of the race, the fact that the style of the race fits Ala perfectly is more important than peak form.

Peak Ala would've been there in the finals for Flanders/Amstel. Today he just equaled the best climbing time and he went quite early comparing to other editions. He is the man to beat in LBL.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Movistar really bad, Valverde was nowhere near the front at the start of the Mur and had to do lots of work. Jumbo weren't perfect either, but nowhere near as bad as Movistar.
Pidcock was really strong after having to chase, but Ineos playing the waiting game instead of sending at least one rider to attack earlier on the Mur was a bit stupid.

 

[Red Rick]

But ONLY Spanish Races!!

Valverde is so old he remembers the low countries being Spanish territory.

 

[topcat]

*** Alaphillipe, Bala
* Screw everyone else

I'm not one of those people who say I told you so, but ...
As if Roglic could best the greatest cyclist in the world on the Mur. Bala used to own this hill, now Ala owns it.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

Alaphillipe showing off his inner Dennis Taylor at the finish...

 

[Lequack]

Alaphilippe and Roglic break the Huy record (by 1 second from Valverde)!

Alaphilippe and Roglic break the Huy record!

Mur de Huy 2021:1 km@11,1%---2:40---average speed 22.50 km/h(Alaphilippe-Roglic)-RECORD 2020:1 km@11,1%---2:45---average speed 21.82 km/h(...

www.climbing-records.com

Mur de Huy
2021:1 km@11,1%---2:40---average speed 22.50 km/h(Alaphilippe-Roglic)

 

[Sciatic]

Amazing how certain riders are just made for this climb (or this climb is just made for certain riders?): since 2004 , just 3 riders (Rebellin, Valverde, Ala) have accounted for 11 wins in 17 editions.

 

[Rackham]

I'm not one of those people who say I told you so, but ...
As if Roglic could best the greatest cyclist in the world on the Mur. Bala used to own this hill, now Ala owns it.

Nice hyperbole.

We'll see where your so-called greatest cyclist in the world is when they're finishing at Luz Ardiden in the third week of the Tour de France 2021.

 

[Red Rick]

Alaphilippe and Roglic break the Huy record (by 1 second from Valverde)!

Alaphilippe and Roglic break the Huy record!

Mur de Huy 2021:1 km@11,1%---2:40---average speed 22.50 km/h(Alaphilippe-Roglic)-RECORD 2020:1 km@11,1%---2:45---average speed 21.82 km/h(...

www.climbing-records.com

Mur de Huy
2021:1 km@11,1%---2:40---average speed 22.50 km/h(Alaphilippe-Roglic)

They say it was an easier route in 2014 but I don't remember what was different?

 

[Fernandez]

These are the best 3 minutes of the entire season.

 

[Leinster]

We said the same thing last year though, but he should definitely not be underestimated.

Woods was a miler, want he? So the Mur is actually a minute too short for him. If someone could add another 500m on the end there, he’d have won this race 2 or 3 times by now.

 

[Sciatic]

These are the best 3 minutes of the entire season.

I actually thought the last 10-12km were better than usual, but maybe I was just more awake this year

 

[Eeslliw]

Nice hyperbole.

We'll see where your so-called greatest cyclist in the world is when they're finishing at Luz Ardiden in the third week of the Tour de France 2021.

Am I think he meant as the best in the world on that perticular climb Mur (not as overall best)

 

[Fernandez]

Woods was a miler, want he? So the Mur is actually a minute too short for him. If someone could add another 500m on the end there, he’d have won this race 2 or 3 times by now.

Well, by the way he climbed that last wall of the WCs in 2018 Id say you are right.

 

[tobydawq]

The 2018 and 2019 editions were both quite good with interesting late attacks. This edition sucked. Maybe because too many teams had riders thinking they could win from a bunch sprint?

It's probably better for the race if Alaphilippe is the only conceivable winner beforehand. But then the sprint itself would of course be less interesting.