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

[topcat]

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.

Best on the Mur, best to watch. I say we just call him the best.

 

[Red Rick]

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.

I think there were just less guys of good quality wanting to try.

Attacking the penultimate climb is stupid, I think any "long" range attack should take off on the penultimate Mur.

 

[pink_jersey]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1384879998184706048

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1384879998184706048


Ala was insanely strong today, best form this year. Roglic was strong as well, he would've won if peak Ala wouldn't been there.

Still think about that Gilbert time. He stoped from what? 100m to go?

 

[Red Rick]

Still think about that Gilbert time. He stoped from what? 100m to go?

He rode about 150m in the final 100m

 

[jaylew]

Just watched the women's race. I liked the men's race but the women's was terrific. Attacks by most of the favorites well before the Mur and several splits in the bunch unlike in the men's race. Not sure what AVV was thinking going so hard for so long before the finale. That had to have taken something out of her legs for the Mur.

 

[Sciatic]

He rode about 150m in the final 100m

The ultimate outlier season. Not to take away from the overall impressiveness of his career, but still ... I loved how a few days later he enjoyed having a coffee-ride chat with Andy and Frank before leaving them to take LBL

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Just watched the women's race. I liked the men's race but the women's was terrific. Attacks by most of the favorites well before the Mur and several splits in the bunch unlike in the men's race. Not sure what AVV was thinking going so hard for so long before the finale. That had to have taken something out of her legs for the Mur.

She knew she wasn't going to win in a sprint against van der Breggen or Vollering, so trying to get away or tiring the opponents was her only option. She probably would have finished on the podium if she had been less agressive though.

 

[Red Rick]

The ultimate outlier season. Not to take away from the overall impressiveness of his career, but still ... I loved how a few days later he enjoyed having a coffee-ride chat with Andy and Frank before leaving them to take LBL

For as much as Gilbert was an Ardennes guy, he was in the running for winning LBL and Fleche only twice

 

[davidsonduke]

Quotation from Niewiadoma. I would expect a similar one from Roglic.

"I have no regrets with how I raced the Mur," Niewiadoma said on a team Twitter post after the race. "Our team did great and I was feeling confident to finish it off. I truly believed I could follow her [Van der Breggen's] last attack but then I just couldn’t. Anna’s achievement is impressive. I have to be satisfied with second, and a podium."

 

[Panda Claws]

Sadly the race was 60k too long for Gilbert.

 

[Breezy1985]

He let Roglic go early, which is equally daring

He was just trolling Rog

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I'm sorry for whoever expects a thrilling Giro. Allow me:

1/ Alaphilippe out of form, gets dropped in every classic like a bad habit
2/ Alaphilippe goes training with Evenepoel
3/ Alaphilippe kicking ass and taking names

I rest my case

 

[JosefK]

Quotation from Niewiadoma. I would expect a similar one from Roglic.

"I have no regrets with how I raced the Mur," Niewiadoma said on a team Twitter post after the race. "Our team did great and I was feeling confident to finish it off. I truly believed I could follow her [Van der Breggen's] last attack but then I just couldn’t. Anna’s achievement is impressive. I have to be satisfied with second, and a podium."

Yes, I just saw a short interview with Roglic on today's race/outcome. Basically, no regrets or second-guessing himself. He said Julien was just stronger today and deserved the win. -- Was basically happy with how he performed; wanted to win, but the stronger guy got the win.

 

[IndurainsTdF1994]

Roglic's first La Fleche. Next year. I wonder what the dynamics would have been with Pog around.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Great win by Ala. Rohrlich just a monster, beating previous record. Very, very stronger rider

 

[sir fly]

Well done by Alaphilippe.
Rogla took off too early it seemed, but I'm sure he and JV team thought it's the way to maximize chances.

The organizers must be happy to see the Rainbow jerseys grace their event.
Emblematic.

 

[Escarabajo]

I wrote earlier that Roglic took off early and that was the reason for his loss. Having said that, there was a new record by Ala on the climb, which means that Roglic's strategy would have worked had not been by Ala's spectacular performance. Which means that Roglic probably did the right strategy. If he had gone with Ala at the end, He would have lost as well IMHO.

Ala owns this climb now!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

He can at best timeshare it with van der Breggen.

I have realised that at one point we were this close to having an attack trio (well, counterattack, Winder was still off the front at that point) of Niewiadoma, Cille and Vollering. I would have marked out so unbelievably hard for that in a manner not seen from me since Pooley and Lichtenberg were still active.

 

[RedheadDane]

Ala owns this climb now!

There is only one owner of the Huy. And she does not share power!

 

[Anybody_but..]

F..k him.
He will never win it again.

 

[Cannavaro]

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

They added the Côte Chemin des Geuses (Wikipedia has a list of climbs in 2014). I do not think that this makes a real difference.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

2021:

2014:

So the current route is harder but not by much.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Julian Alaphilippe: I wasn't 100 per cent confident before Flèche Wallonne

Timing makes the difference as world champion beats Roglic on Mur de Huy

www.cyclingnews.com

Congratulations to Julian Alaphilippe for taking the win.

Mur de Huy didn't disappoint. Roglič pretty much did what i expected him to do and the performance was on another level. It's just that today Alaphilippe was better. The way Alaphilippe bridged that gap. Today he had Mur de Huy under control and he deserved to win.

 

[JosefK]

Julian Alaphilippe: I wasn't 100 per cent confident before Flèche Wallonne

Timing makes the difference as world champion beats Roglic on Mur de Huy

www.cyclingnews.com

Congratulations to Julian Alaphilippe for taking the win.

Mur de Huy didn't disappoint. Roglič pretty much did what i expected him to do and the performance was on another level. It's just that today Alaphilippe was better. The way Alaphilippe bridged that gap. Today he had Mur de Huy under control and he deserved to win.

Yes, on reflection, and after reading plenty other posts and re-watching the finale, I don't think it would have made a difference if Roglic waited another 100 meters to take off. It was going to be Alaphilippe (today).

 

[Sciatic]

Nah, it's Anna's hill. She just lets him ride on it

Timeshare?