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

[Red Rick]

From what I've gathered from Strava, Roglic penultimate Cauberg was about 4s slower than van Aert and Pidcocks, so pretty damn fast still while not really trying to get a gap himself.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Because that would be strange...
Hey, @CyclistAbi, you know there are races between now and the Tour, right? Surely you wouldn't wanna miss those.

I have a hunch that he/they mostly supports riders, who won't ride many races before the Tour. That could be the reason.

 

[Red Rick]

So anyway what's the presumed ETA?

 

[Rackham]

Some Covid drama from La Flamme Rouge Twitter: La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) / Twitter

Uno-X won't start in #TotA due to a Coronavirus positive. SpazioCiclismo also report a Coronavirus positive in UAE's team for #FlecheWallonne. Still unclear if rider or staff and if team is starting.

 

[SafeBet]

UAE is out.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1384782929122021383

View: https://twitter.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/1384782929122021383?s=20


They have two positive tests (Ulissi and a staff member). Both of them were reportedly vaccinated with Sinovax.

 

[Red Rick]

Poggers not winning my first correct prediction in about 3 years

 

[Blanco]

Any particular reason why Philippe 'King of the Ardennes' Gilbert is listed at the bottom?

King of the Ardennes is not named Philippe, but Alejandro

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Covid madness. UAE have been vaccinated already in januari.
They tested negative before leaving. Then had 1 positive test in Belgium, but afterwards 3x negative. So it seems to have been a false positive.

Too bad the covid tests are still so unreliable and dodgy

 

[Lequack]

UAE is out.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1384782929122021383

View: https://twitter.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/1384782929122021383?s=20


They have two positive tests (Ulissi and a staff member). Both of them were reportedly vaccinated with Sinovax.

Darn. No Pogacar vs Roglic duel. Also I wasn't expecting this since UAE were one of the few (if not only) teams who all got vaccinated a few months ago.

 

[Lequack]

Covid madness. UAE have been vaccinated already in januari.
They tested negative before leaving. Then had 1 positive test in Belgium, but afterwards 3x negative. So it seems to have been a false positive.

Too bad the covid tests are still so unreliable and dodgy

Wait so a bad test is going to cause Pogacar and Hirschi to not have a 1-2 win holding hands?

 

[tobydawq]

That sucks. Hirschi, Ulissi, Pogi, Costa, Formolo all out...

 

[Red Rick]

Covid madness. UAE have been vaccinated already in januari.
They tested negative before leaving. Then had 1 positive test in Belgium, but afterwards 3x negative. So it seems to have been a false positive.

Too bad the covid tests are still so unreliable and dodgy

Its too bad but still think they shouldnt be starting. Dont want to go "see tests dont matter anyway" especially when pro athletes are already getting to do way more stuff than ordinary folks

 

[ice&fire]

Vaccines prevent the development of the most severe symptoms of the illness, but not the asymptomatic infection and spread of the virus.

 

[Lui98]

UAE is out.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1384782929122021383

View: https://twitter.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/1384782929122021383?s=20


They have two positive tests (Ulissi and a staff member). Both of them were reportedly vaccinated with Sinovax.

Different studies have confirmed that is still possible to contract Covid even after having vaccinated, but is rare, they were very unlucky

 

[RedheadDane]

Different studies have confirmed that is still possible to contract Covid even after having vaccinated, but is rare, they were very unlucky

Just imagine if Gaviria ends up getting it again(again)!

Well... I guess Vingegaard will not be playing "Follow the Pog"...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

If these are indeed false positives like they appear to be, I guess there will be no case against them riding LBL.

 

[tobydawq]

Vaccines prevent the development of the most severe symptoms of the illness, but not the asymptomatic infection and spread of the virus.

To some degree it certainly does!

 

[sir fly]

Live images!

 

[Eeslliw]

I almost can't believe they would expelled whole team based on results of one test. It has been shown and talked about false positive tests, and as I understand they should confirm that positive result with at least another one.

 

[cen]

Whole team MIA because 1 out of 5 tests was positive, no symptoms. It is insanity.

 

[Wvv]

Roglic voodoo.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Weird to see the Mur without any Boels logos.

 

[BlueRoads]

Schachmann voodoo. Roglic will be next.

 

[BlueRoads]

Is it one positive or two?
If two it's hardly false positive.

 

[sir fly]

Weird to see the Mur without any Boels logos.

I suppose the barriers are still theirs.