95th Ronde van Vlaanderen - April 3 2011

[maltiv]

He looked okay. Although in that chase group with Boonen, Pozzato, and Boom he seemed completely cooked, not taking a single pull.

Indeed. But I think he could've been top 10 with a more defensive ride, bridging up to Chavanel took a lot of energy. I think both Boom and EBH proved today that they have the talent to win races like this in the future.

In P-R I don't think either of them has a chance though but we'll see.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Id like to take a moment to make a special, "We were right, you were Wrong" pitch for me and roundabout who said Cancellara would get caught immediately after the attack, against the flurry of "game over" posts


I know it might sound egomaniacal to do this but then, i could have made a thread out of it, and at the time it really did seem like us vs the world.

Anyway here is the hall of fame from the first couple of minutes after the attack.


Against.


Nicely done boys.

Nicely done

Shame you didn't use that foresight to pick Nicky Nuyens in the CQ game

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

He looked okay. Although in that chase group with Boonen, Pozzato, and Boom he seemed completely cooked, not taking a single pull.

Yes, but he wasn't droped up the hill and then took a pull shortly after the peloton caught them up, and showed well later on when the decisive split came, only just missing it as noted above.

If I was EBH in the company he was keeping in that group, I wouldn't be falling over myself to pull riders of that quality to the bottom of bergs either.

 

[theyoungest]

Can anyone see what it says on Nuyens' arm?

It says "Storm" and "Sterre", which are his kids' names, I guess. Although Storm is more a name that I'd give to my dog.

 

[Arnout]

Is all the Cancellara slating based on him being a good bike rider...?

No, for being part of Leopard True Racing and for his acts in the Tour of 2010.

 

[Flamin]

Back from the race. Incredible atmosphere on the Muur. I’m still baffled Cancellara somehow lost the race, probably because he forgot to eat/drink(?). What a truly epic win that would have been.

I’m happy for Nuyens, after all he has been through and all critics he got. He rode the perfect race. Definitely not the strongest of the pack, but he only showed up at that one moment he really needed to. After the Kwaremont, when I saw Devolder and Nuyens without any teammates in a second peloton at 30 sec, I even thought his race was over.

Actually I’m just glad that no QS-er won. I can’t believe what they did after I heard Boonen after the race. “Chavanel was the strongest man in the race; When I attacked on the Leberg, I immediately felt I wasn’t that good.” Well, why on earth did QS forbad Chavanel to work with Cancellara then??? Not full, with reserves. And let Canc do most of the work. Maybe Canc would have dropped him on the Muur, maybe not (I would say probably not, given how strong Chavanel was today). If not, Chavanel is faster in the sprint. Otherwise, Chavanel would be a good 2nd.

Seriously, Boonen himself said he didn’t have a good feeling (I suppose he told Wilfried Peeters the same). After 215k! Why keep counting on a sprint, with the Muur and the Bosberg still to come, while your best rider is at the front?
Djeez.

 

[boomcie]

It says "Storm" and "Sterre", which are his kids' names, I guess. Although Storm is more a name that I'd give to my dog.

This correct and I would also call my dog Storm

 

[User Guide]

one of sisters ferrets is called storm

 

[Arnout]

Back from the race. Incredible atmosphere on the Muur. I’m still baffled Cancellara somehow lost the race, probably because he forgot to eat/drink(?). What a truly epic win that would have been.

I’m happy for Nuyens, after all he has been through and all critics he got. He rode the perfect race. Definitely not the strongest of the pack, but he only showed up at that one moment he really needed to. After the Kwaremont, when I saw Devolder and Nuyens without any teammates in a second peloton at 30 sec, I even thought his race was over.

Actually I’m just glad that no QS-er won. I can’t believe what they did after I heard Boonen after the race. “Chavanel was the strongest man in the race; When I attacked on the Leberg, I immediately felt I wasn’t that good.” Well, why on earth did QS forbad Chavanel to work with Cancellara then??? Not full, with reserves. And let Canc do most of the work. Maybe Canc would have dropped him on the Muur, maybe not (I would say probably not, given how strong Chavanel was today). If not, Chavanel is faster in the sprint. Otherwise, Chavanel would be a good 2nd.

Seriously, Boonen himself said he didn’t have a good feeling (I suppose he told Wilfried Peeters the same). After 215k! Why keep counting on a sprint, with the Muur and the Bosberg still to come, while your best rider is at the front?
Djeez.

Noone expected Cancellara to stall like this. That meant it was either Cancellara or Chavanel for the win. The way to maximize Chavanel's chances at that point in the race and the then expected last hour was to do nothing and just follow Cancellara.

 

[Flamin]

Noone expected Cancellara to stall like this. That meant it was either Cancellara or Chavanel for the win. The way to maximize Chavanel's chances at that point in the race and the then expected last hour was to do nothing and just follow Cancellara.

From the minute 7 BMC's + Devolder got to the front chasing full gas, I think it wasn't such a big surprise they would get caught. Cancellara is still a human being...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

What I also noticed. Every rider interviewed after the race (either Sporza, cyclingnews or whatever source), said one thing the same.

The pace was incredibly high. There was never a quiet period, and also the groups dropped on a climb, kept coming back. In normal, or past, Flanders editions, it was often, once dropped, always dropped. But now they just kept riding.

This also made it very hard for Cancellara to stay away. Even he can't stay ahead a peloton of 40/50 men the entire finale...
And all top riders had cramps till up their ears in the final. Gilbert said he was completely dead in the sprint. Cancellara had multiple cramps, Nuyens almost broke closing the gap at the 3km attack and Flecha, Ballan and Boonen weren't exactly super in the finale either.

 

[Arnout]

From the minute 7 BMC's + Devolder got to the front chasing full gas, I think it wasn't such a big surprise they would get caught. Cancellara is still a human being...

At the foot of the Muur the gap was only reduced by 10 seconds to 50 seconds. In a normal scenario, only a few very strong guys would've been able to bridge the gap (if any). The whole peloton returning before the chapel was a huge surprise, also looking at last year.

 

[Barrus]

Great exciting race with a thrilling conclusion.

Also Garmin has been moved into my blackbook due to their strategy to not ride for the victory and just be content with a chance of getting third and because of this went home with absolutely nothing.

Great riding by Sky and by BMC, I think in terms of depth of their teams certainly the strongest teams around.

I loved the new feature with the cameras in the team cars, the footage of Riis and cohorts alone would be worth it.

 

[El Pistolero]

Lol the guy that was riding the Saxo car during the race

"I know how to beat Cancellara, we just need to hire a sniper"

 

[Flamin]

At the foot of the Muur the gap was only reduced by 10 seconds to 50 seconds. In a normal scenario, only a few very strong guys would've been able to bridge the gap (if any). The whole peloton returning before the chapel was a huge surprise, also looking at last year.

I doubt those 50 seconds at the foot were correct though.

 

[Badeend]

Where did Pozzato go??? He didnt finish ...

 

[maltiv]

Also Garmin has been moved into my blackbook due to their strategy to not ride for the victory and just be content with a chance of getting third and because of this went home with absolutely nothing.

When JV gave that order they had 2 guys left in the peloton - Hushovd and Tyler Farrar. Just moments later Hushovd was dropped. What should they have done? They were simply not strong enough, nothing to do with tactics. Unless you think Tyler Farrar should've taken pulls on the front which would lead to nothing except from dropping himself.

Their team was clearly too weakened by the loss of Vansummeren and Maaskant. Also when Hushovd clearly isn't as good as he can be and Haussler is no where near top-shape it's not going to be easy...

 

[Parrulo]

this race was amazing. i thought it was over when canc attacked but every1 decided to chase.

anyway how did boonen miss all the first groups? the one after the muur and then after the bosberg and then canc's last attack (he was right on canc's wheel a few seconds before his attack!!! . . . )

 

[Barrus]

When JV gave that order they had 2 guys left in the peloton - Hushovd and Tyler Farrar. Just moments later Hushovd was dropped. What should they have done? They were simply not strong enough, nothing to do with tactics. Unless you think Tyler Farrar should've taken pulls on the front which would lead to nothing except from dropping himself.

Their team was clearly too weakened by the loss of Vansummeren and Maaskant. Also when Hushovd clearly isn't as good as he can be and Haussler is no where near top-shape it's not going to be easy...

It has nothing to do with not taking pulls, but to be content with taking third and thus taking no chances and risks whatsoever, only counting on a sprint and nothing else. I think it is partially due to this that the Garmin riders were completely out of position when they came to the muur

 

[maltiv]

It has nothing to do with not taking pulls, but to be content with taking third and thus taking no chances and risks whatsoever, only counting on a sprint and nothing else. I think it is partially due to this that the Garmin riders were completely out of position when they came to the muur

They weren't content with anything more because they had no chance. When they get dropped without doing pulls it's quite obvious that they shouldn't have done anything.

 

[Cimber]

Because imo the strongest riders should win the races, not the team tactics for the team cars. If Cancellara and Chavanel were working together the race could unfold different way. Sylvain was strong enough to win this race but the team tactics form the QuickStep team car said he should work for Boonen.

If the strongest man always won it would be kinda predicatable. I like that tactics play a role. Its about teams too, not just individuals. And no radios doesnt ensure that the stronges man win, cos the stronges man might be a stupid man too, who needs help from the radio. It would be very wrong to conclude that no radios would mean that the strongest man will always win

 

[El Pistolero]

Imo Chavanel was the strongest.

 

[Granville57]

Id like to take a moment to make a special, "We were right, you were Wrong" pitch for me and roundabout who said Cancellara would get caught immediately after the attack, against the flurry of "game over" posts

Well played, Hitch.

I might add though, I still stand by MY comment.

This is stupid...

It WAS stupid, as it turns out.

 

[roundabout]

Yeah, and boonen afraid of losing ronde for the 3rd time in 4 years to a domestique decided to ruin it for him

 

[Dedelou]

Hats off to Chavanel.. bridging to the break and staying at the head of the race for 90 klm all the time having to look back and soft pedal to pander the quick-step strategy that back coke freak boonen