97th Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2011

[hrotha]

By the way, there hasn't been much of a discussion about the fact that when Andy attacked it was Fränk who bridged to him, carrying Gilbert on his wheel. Pretty weird (ok, I figure the plan wasn't for Andy to go solo, but the conspiracy theory angle is more fun).

 

[peloton]

Andy's data:

"I attacked at the bottom of the Saint-Nicolas. I went at 600 watts and after 240km that's not easy, I can tell you.

And why did Fränk follow and take Phil with him?
Very stupid move.
Lamo-tards.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

BTW: 3 Belgians in the top 10???
I went back to 1994, and most Belgians I could find in a top 10 was 1, about half of the edition there wasn't even one! Last Belgian win was VDB in 1999.

I think this is by far the best Belgian classics spring in years (certainly in term of wins)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Enjoy it, might have been the last good one in a long while

 

[Christian]

And why did Fränk follow and take Phil with him?
Very stupid move.
Lamo-tards.

I'm not sure we're talking about the same climb? I'm talking about Saint Nicolas, I have a feeling you might be talking about Roche aux Faucons. When it was only the 3 of them, Gilbert was careful never to be in the last position, but you could be right, I don't remember the exact positioning at that particular moment. In any case it didn't make a difference

 

[lancaster]

when phil was in a group with 2 schlecks (and gva) i thought he'd lose due to endless attacks from the brothers. i even thought gva might win due to being able to be a spectator to the brutal attacks of the brothers and not having to chase the attacks back.

disappointed that these attacks never materialised, but pleased that phil won

 

[Christian]

Gilbert's post-race comments about the Schlecks on RTBF:

http://tele.rtl.lu/waatleeft/replay/v/20110424/0/39623/ (starting at 4:28)

"They are riders who really take their responsibility. In the final, they knew it would be difficult to beat me but they played it until the end. When my team worked, they also did their share of the work and rode at the front. I can only say that they are riders with a lot of class because they collaborated despite knowing that it would be difficult to beat me, and there were a lot of riders who didn't do that, who tried to make me lose and I wanted to win for all those people who tried to make me lose".

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Enjoy it, might have been the last good one in a long while

I know, 2012 will be of the Dutch, 2013 of the French.

 

[peloton]

Gilbert's post-race comments about the Schlecks on RTBF:

http://tele.rtl.lu/waatleeft/replay/v/20110424/0/39623/ (starting at 4:28)

"They are riders who really take their responsibility. In the final, they knew it would be difficult to beat me but they played it until the end. When my team worked, they also did their share of the work and rode at the front. I can only say that they are riders with a lot of class because they collaborated despite knowing that it would be difficult to beat me, and there were a lot of riders who didn't do that, who tried to make me lose and I wanted to win for all those people who tried to make me lose".

so as usual, they ride for 2nd place...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

And why did Fränk follow and take Phil with him?
Very stupid move.
Lamo-tards.

You know what the Schlecks are like. Andy's already won LBL, Fränk hasn't. The plan was probably to get Fränk the win, because two years ago Andy went, and (ok Gilbert was already up the road) Fränk was happy just to play monitor and follow anybody who tried to bridge up to his brother.

Fränk's like Simon Fourcade or Asier Olaizola. He simply isn't as talented as his younger brother, even though he probably tries harder (and has reaped benefits in some respects, see his vastly improved ITT).

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Lol @ everyone calling the Schlecks dumb, idiots etc. after a fantastic performance. Maybe not a perfect tactical race, but show some respect for what these phenomenal athletes achieved.

It was a truly amazing performance, one that will live in the memory for a long time.

It was like watching someone try to kill a fish by drowning it.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It was a truly amazing performance, one that will live in the memory for a long time.

It was like watching someone try to kill a fish by drowning it.

Haha great analogy

 

[Christian]

You know what the Schlecks are like. Andy's already won LBL, Fränk hasn't. The plan was probably to get Fränk the win, because two years ago Andy went, and (ok Gilbert was already up the road) Fränk was happy just to play monitor and follow anybody who tried to bridge up to his brother.

If you are refering to the Ventoux, I'd be glad to explain that situation again as Andy explained it in a radio interview. As for 2009, any team mate would have done that ... don't see how that was anything but normal

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If you are refering to the Ventoux, I'd be glad to explain that situation again as Andy explained it in a radio interview. As for 2009, any team mate would have done that ... don't see how that was anything but normal

In which case, once Andy went on the attack, why did Fränk not do the same role of terrorising anybody who tried to bridge up to his brother? Sure Gilbert would probably have made it anyway but then Fränk could suck his wheel across and possibly not be so tired he couldn't make any moves.

The Schlecks did a perfect job of the monitor role on the Alpe in 2008. Fränk did it again for Andy in 2009. They're good at it and it works.

Why, then, would Fränk chase his brother down and take somebody who's stronger than both of them with him?

 

[Christian]

In which case, once Andy went on the attack, why did Fränk not do the same role of terrorising anybody who tried to bridge up to his brother? Sure Gilbert would probably have made it anyway but then Fränk could suck his wheel across and possibly not be so tired he couldn't make any moves.

The Schlecks did a perfect job of the monitor role on the Alpe in 2008. Fränk did it again for Andy in 2009. They're good at it and it works.

Why, then, would Fränk chase his brother down and take somebody who's stronger than both of them with him?

As you rightly say Gilbert would have made it anyway, he was sitting down on the Roche aux Faucons, didn't even have to go en danseuse. There was no one whose wheel Fränk could have followed to get back at the two because no one else had the strength to be up there. That was the winning move and everyone knew it, so better be in it.

On an unrelated note, J. Pineau on the breakaway:

"Once again the behaviour of certain riders in the breakaway was astonishing, because when you are in front at LBL, you must give everything. There were a lot of calculations going on while behind there was a rider who was above everyone else. I don't know what the others were thinking, I don't understand. I don't feel tricked because I gave it everything, but I really regret the behaviour of certain outsiders ..."

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-liege_bastogne_liege_j_pineau_accuse_le_coup-14688.html

 

[will10]

Sounds like sour grapes from Pineau. There's always going to be passengers in such a big group.

 

[ferryman]

so as usual, they ride for 2nd place...

Yep the Schlecks have never won anything and are unlikely to win anything soon. Stayed tuned in July you are going to be disappointed.

 

[ferryman]

It was a truly amazing performance, one that will live in the memory for a long time.

It was like watching someone try to kill a fish by drowning it.

Damn those Schlecks for attacking and not having the legs to pull it off against an impossibly strong Gilbert. Get back to the peloton boys and let everyone elses favourites make the race. Except they couldn't either.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

As you rightly say Gilbert would have made it anyway, he was sitting down on the Roche aux Faucons, didn't even have to go en danseuse. There was no one whose wheel Fränk could have followed to get back at the two because no one else had the strength to be up there. That was the winning move and everyone knew it, so better be in it.

Correct - there was only one wheel Fränk could have followed - Gilbert's.

Gilbert didn't go instantly when Andy did. Fränk went across and Gilbert went with him. If Fränk hadn't gone across, Gilbert would have gone across anyway, Fränk could have followed his wheel, and then you have a slightly more tired Gilbert and a slightly less tired Fränk. Maybe that little amount could have been what made the difference between a Fränk that could only follow and watch Gilbert disappear and a Fränk that could put in an attack and try to pressurise Gilbert.

It would probably have failed anyway, but the whole debate would have been nullified because the Schlecks would have tried to shake Gilbert but failed. As it was, it just looked like they were content to fill out the podium and let Gilbert have his moment in the sun. That they didn't win isn't what annoyed people. That they didn't have the strength to win isn't what annoyed people. That they rolled over and accepted it without a fight is what annoyed people.

You could argue that the 240km before that was what the fight was. But we didn't see any fighting in that 240km - we just saw a péloton riding together. So when it came to the business end nobody had the strength to do anything, and it looked like they were just letting it happen. That left a sour taste in the mouth.

 

[greatking88]

By the way, there hasn't been much of a discussion about the fact that when Andy attacked it was Fränk who bridged to him, carrying Gilbert on his wheel. Pretty weird (ok, I figure the plan wasn't for Andy to go solo, but the conspiracy theory angle is more fun).

Yeah I found this really strange, as soon as Andy attacked, frank was the first too respond..he didnt even wait to see if anyone would respond..Then Gilbert just followed Franks wheel...

 

[El Pistolero]

It's easy to say they should have attacked, but it's another thing to actually attack and drop Phil.

I don't know why everyone is whining about the Schlecks. They couldn't do any better. If they had stronger legs I'm sure they'd have attacked him more. Let's not forget they already started at La Redoute.

While everyone is complaining about the Schlecks, WHERE THE **** WAS KATUSHA? Didn't they promise us a lot of attacks to make the race hard? The only thing that team is capable of is putting a teammate in a break, but that's where it ends.

 

[python]

Yeah I found this really strange, as soon as Andy attacked, frank was the first too respond..he didnt even wait to see if anyone would respond..Then Gilbert just followed Franks wheel...

this only means that gilbert was superior not only physically but mentally and psychologically. he was prepared.

 

[greatking88]

this only means that gilbert was superior not only physically but mentally and psychologically. he was prepared.

I agree, but it shows how ridiculous the Schlecks can be tactically, Frank could have let Gilbert make it back to Andy first, and just followed Gilbert's wheel..And maybe attacked then..Just a thought anyway

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Damn those Schlecks for attacking and not having the legs to pull it off against an impossibly strong Gilbert. Get back to the peloton boys and let everyone elses favourites make the race. Except they couldn't either.

Favourites? why the plural? Only one favourite in this race.

Impossibly strong? No stronger than Cancellara was on the cobbles. How come no-one towed Fabian to the line?

Successful tactic: get a man up the road and then sit on.

Unsuccessful tactic: Don't send a man up the road, chase down the break yourself, bridge up to your brother/teammate's attack with the favourite on your wheel, then give him an armchair ride for the last 10 or so KMs.

 

[El Pistolero]

Favourites? why the plural? Only one favourite in this race.

Impossibly strong? No stronger than Cancellara was on the cobbles. How come no-one towed Fabian to the line?

Successful tactic: get a man up the road and then sit on.

Unsuccessful tactic: Don't send a man up the road, chase down the break yourself, bridge up to your brother/teammate's attack with the favourite on your wheel, then give him an armchair ride for the last 10 or so KMs.

Isn't that how Cav wins all his races? Well except the attacking part of course. Cav doesn't do that.