95th Ronde van Vlaanderen - April 3 2011

[max_powers]

It doesn't matter. Canc will not be caught.

Bravo to the posters who said it was not over!

 

[Tuarts]

Erik Dekker named Nuyens as the favorite...

Is he for real or is it sour grapes about Nuyens never being good at Rabobank?

Hehe, thought I'd dredge that up.

Wow, what an epic race and an epic thread to read through (even from page 12). My thoughts with quotes below. Have to say firstly that I enjoyed the Aussie presence in the race (except for the under-performing Schnitzel-Convict). Docker, Clarke, Cooke and Hayman who played a part in breakaways around the middle of the race. Great to see we're getting our fingers in all the cycling pies so to speak.

Nuyens looked in fine form this spring to anyone who was paying attention. Surprise my foot.

This + 10000000000000.

For those that followed the other races (Eric Dekkers too it seems), Nuyens was in some very good form. DdV is a form race for this and he won that against a peloton breathing down his neck. Excellent win for Nick, anyone who wins after that intensity of racing deserves to, regardless of what he did or where he was previously in the race.

Boonen's attack 40-50km was just stupid, you never attack with a team mate in front, risking a stronger rider following your wheel and this is what happened. Regardless of hindsight you don't do that and it spent his energy as well. Quickstep had all the cards and despite some great riding from Chavanel were one of the bigger losers on the day.

Museeuw: "But I was behind him when he was in the break with Chavanel and he kept asking for food and bottles and that was a moment I thought to myself that he was in a little bit of trouble."

Most likely the reason he collapsed. Forgot to eat and drink. What a pity. He was almost begging to other teams' carriers for a bottle.

I don't think Spartacus bonked, I think he got cramp, which is actually what he said in the post-race interviews.

On our Aussie coverage they interviewed one of his former DS in Scott Sutherland and he said that Canc being such a big man, he needs a lot of water and energy. Judging by the way he was constantly asking for water, he may not have got it at the right times. What I know from my own personal experience cycling is you always eat and drink before you get thirsty and hungry. He still had an amazing race though, showed why is was one of the favourites, maybe one hill too many and bad planning/timing of going on the attack.

Boonen wasn't very smart though he doesn't have form.

Winning a bunch sprint at G-W and finishing top 10 in DdV isn't form? Then what the hell is?

But then how comes he managed to get back to brilliance the second the peloton caught him. The time went from 50 to 0 in about 70 seconds, but when they caught him he stayed with them. In fact at first he continued to cycle at the front.

You could be right, but the way i saw the timer go down and looking at Canc and Chavanel the way they were going up, i thought immediately that it was a timing error. If he had cracked so badly, how comes he managed get a high pace once the peloton caught him?

Are people forgetting the timing is taken from the motorbikes following the cyclists not the riders themselves? Was definitely timing problem. Well done to BMC though and FDJ as well for closing in that gap when no one else would.

With all the talk of strategy and tactics, I can't believe the final sprint hasn't gained any traction for discussion!

Yeah I had the same thought. Fabian thinking "If I'm not going to win it then I'll be damned if you do". Then again Nuyens drifted right and Canc was following, if you watch the footage he doesn't move his head sidewards so he may not have known Chavanel was there at all.

I hate to interrupt the festival of hate, but what Vaughter's tweeted does actually fit. Garmin were screwed by that point, with their main Classics riders cooked. Having Farrar hang on and hope for a sprint was a sensible tactical decision. What was he supposed to do? Send his non-existent bunch of fresh contenders to the front?

I don't think a decision to have Farrar ease up reflects badly on Garmin. I do think however that the fact that only Farrar was in a position to even consider pulling on the front at that point in the race pretty clearly demolishes the Classics 'superteam" hype.

Whilst this amused me greatly, I agree with the above poster. Garmin were terrible but with Tyler and Thor only guys left, they had to sit up. Stilll a disappointing result for them.

OTHER THOUGHTS:

Thomas ride awesome. Another 2-3 years maturing more and if gets into the form he's in now he'll be a contender, especially once the Cancellara-Boonen era finishes. Scheirlinckx was another with a great ride, great result and work for rider himself, and the wildcard team.

Oh, I liked the snapshots to the team car but happened a bit more frequently then they needed to.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah I'll hop on the Thomas train.

He has been very impressive this spring and also last year in a couple of time trials you could see he had power.
If he didn't work his *** off for Flecha all the time I think he could've done even better. Very good ride, and I think Paris Roubaix fits Thomas even better, because in Flanders he seemed to have some troubles on the hills, but was superb on the flat.

Paris Roubaix only has flat cobbles. I'm writing down Thomas as possible top 5 contender if he doesn't have to work his *** off for Flecha again

 

[r_mutt]

i thought boonen's move was smart. launch an attack to draw cancellera out, and then let fabian do all the work to bridge them both up to chavenel, then you have 2 teamates against one. the problem was that boonen couldn't hang with fabian.

am i crazy- but boonen looked really strong in the final 200 meters. if chavenel doesn't work in those last few km's and makes the other 2 do all of the work, boonen catches them and outsprints them easily to the line.

 

[webvan]

Yes, that crossed my mind too, still he didn't relay much and I don't think anyone would have the heart to blame him after all he did that day.

 

[Bordercollie1]

Wonderful race. Trying to think of a better classic and struggling a bit. Clinic material, I know, but everyone seemed on the same planet.

How come Chav and Canc shake on the run in? My initial thoughts were that NN bought it. Saxo need an early season win and they are not going to get it at Paris Roubaix or in the Ardennes. In the Ardennes Riis stands to be humiliated as Frandy show glimpses of Tour form.

The rightward (unnecessary if you are sprinting) look by FC in the last 100metres seemed to confirm that thought, but the handshake has really thrown me. Can someone spell it out? What was the deal?

 

[boomcie]

Wonderful race. Trying to think of a better classic and struggling a bit. Clinic material, I know, but everyone seemed on the same planet.

How come Chav and Canc shake on the run in? My initial thoughts were that NN bought it. Saxo need an early season win and they are not going to get it at Paris Roubaix or in the Ardennes. In the Ardennes Riis stands to be humiliated as Frandy show glimpses of Tour form.

The rightward (unnecessary if you are sprinting) look by FC in the last 100metres seemed to confirm that thought, but the handshake has really thrown me. Can someone spell it out? What was the deal?

No deal man.
It was just a respectful gesture IMO. If there was a deal than why would they shake hands, a little obvious no?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I see a lot of people writing about the smart moves quickstep made.
But the more I think about it, the more i'm convinced quickstep failed big time.

When you're in the last 10km, with an elite group, and you have the best rider of the group (maybe next to gilbert) and by far the best sprinter (had beaten bennati, farrar and greipel a week before). you CAN NOT lose the race!

 

[thirteen]

No deal man.
It was just a respectful gesture IMO. If there was a deal than why would they shake hands, a little obvious no?

+1

that was just respect between two warriors who gave it all they could.

 

[rghysens]

I see a lot of people writing about the smart moves quickstep made.
But the more I think about it, the more i'm convinced quickstep failed big time.

When you're in the last 10km, with an elite group, and you have the best rider of the group (maybe next to gilbert) and by far the best sprinter (had beaten bennati, farrar and greipel a week before). you CAN NOT lose the race!

yes you can
it just happened

 

[r_mutt]

No deal man.
It was just a respectful gesture IMO. If there was a deal than why would they shake hands, a little obvious no?

that was not a hand shake- everyone's got it wrong!

chavanel had just taken a turn at the front, and rather than going to the back, he slotted in 2nd wheel behind nuyens. so, instead of taking another pull when it was really cancellera's turn to work, he reached back and gave cancellera a hand sling into 1st wheel.

watch it again.

 

[thirteen]

<snip>
watch it again.

bitter, bitter.

you watch again.

 

[beer_thirty]

that was not a hand shake- everyone's got it wrong!

chavanel had just taken a turn at the front, and rather than going to the back, he slotted in 2nd wheel behind nuyens. so, instead of taking another pull when it was really cancellera's turn to work, he reached back and gave cancellera a hand sling into 1st wheel.

watch it again.

I could have sworn the damn thing looked like a hand sling as well!! I just thought it looked a little weak and figured it was the 'We just busted our asses together' shake... gotta watch that one again. But just so I get the full context, maybe I better tee up the race from oh, say, 60K out or so..

 

[boomcie]

that was not a hand shake- everyone's got it wrong!

chavanel had just taken a turn at the front, and rather than going to the back, he slotted in 2nd wheel behind nuyens. so, instead of taking another pull when it was really cancellera's turn to work, he reached back and gave cancellera a hand sling into 1st wheel.

watch it again.

Try this:
"After his late attack was neutralized, Cancellara and Chavanel shook hands. Asked about it, Cancellara called it “fair play,” and also took a jab at Nuyens."

Source

 

[Oldman]

i thought boonen's move was smart. launch an attack to draw cancellera out, and then let fabian do all the work to bridge them both up to chavenel, then you have 2 teamates against one. the problem was that boonen couldn't hang with fabian.

am i crazy- but boonen looked really strong in the final 200 meters. if chavenel doesn't work in those last few km's and makes the other 2 do all of the work, boonen catches them and outsprints them easily to the line.

Yeah, maybe but not when you have a contender one minute up the road. You also definitely do not do it if you can't hang on to his wheel. Do I think he did it of his own initiative? Yes. Did Chavenel operate on the plan for Boonen's sprint? Yes. Would it have ended better for them if Boonen hadn't started in with Canc? No way to know how it would have ended but BMC's actions suggest they would have had a greater role.

 

[md2020]

i thought boonen's move was smart. launch an attack to draw cancellera out, and then let fabian do all the work to bridge them both up to chavenel, then you have 2 teamates against one. the problem was that boonen couldn't hang with fabian.

Forcing the pace on the climb was OK but Boonen was a fool to bury himself opening that gap with Cancellara on his wheel. He should've looked back sooner and sat up when he saw who was there. Personally, I think those years with Devolder winning as his decoy caused him to panic a little with Chavenel up ahead.

 

[thirteen]

Try this:
"After his late attack was neutralized, Cancellara and Chavanel shook hands. Asked about it, Cancellara called it “fair play,” and also took a jab at Nuyens."

Source

thank you for that. and a very belated thank you for the link to the last 3K.

 

[boomcie]

thank you for that. and a very belated thank you for the link to the last 3K.

You're welcome ma'am!

 

[r_mutt]

bitter, bitter.

you watch again.

how is that bitter? it was a legit move to get fabian back into his turn to pull.

Try this:
"After his late attack was neutralized, Cancellara and Chavanel shook hands. Asked about it, Cancellara called it “fair play,” and also took a jab at Nuyens."

as for fabian's comment -that could be many things. pehaps "english as a second language"? he doesn't even know exactly the interviewer is asking. fabian could have interpreted it as "did you shake hands with sylvan (after the race)? the interviewer didn't ask about a specific handshake at a certain time on the bike. perhaps even fabian could have simply not wanted to talk about it, because technically, hand slings are illegal.

how do you explain fabian going from 3rd wheel to 1s wheel that quickly? even the way they grasp hands is more similar to a hand sling than a hand shake. when riders go back for a water bottle, yes, they do get bottles, but they also get a push off of the hand off. any way you look at it, it was a hand sling disguised as a handshake. watch it and tell me he doesn't get a pull.

 

[red_flanders]

Chavanel extended a hand, FC took it and they briefly shook. Gesture of respect. Nuyens was absolutely on the rivet, and FC came by.

If that was a sling, it was the most feeble, pointless, and worst executed sling in cycling history.

 

[Cobblestoned]

There HE is again. Cult status.

 

[Jukebox]

I want to be that guy.

 

[The Hitch]

I still cant see or find the handshake. Does someone who has have a picture or maybe the number of seconds in the video that the handshake happens at?

 

[M Sport]

I still cant see or find the handshake. Does someone who has have a picture or maybe the number of seconds in the video that the handshake happens at?

3:17 in the link of Boomcie's

 

[The Hitch]

3:17 in the link of Boomcie's

Thanks. Pure class from the 2 riders of the day. Chavannel always does this as far as i remember.