97th Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2011

[theyoungest]

Tony Martin wants the Top10 on Sunday.
Good and realistic goal I would say. Panzerwagen would like to win this one day.

Good goal yes, realistic goal no.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Good goal yes, realistic goal no.

yeah, he certainly doesn't strike me as the type of rider who would do well at LBL.

But then he did win the monster that was PN

 

[ansimi]

Well, I hope Tony Martin really does go for it because that would surely cause some drama.

 

[Lanark]

Well, I hope Tony Martin really does go for it because that would surely cause some drama.

Why? Most people here probably like Martin, there is nothing wrong with the guy. Just because some people here don't expect him to do well in LBL, doesn't mean we don't want him to do well.

 

[Pantani_lives]

*****Gilbert, A Schleck
****F Schleck, Rodriguez, Kolobnev
***Basso, Nibali, Sanchez
**Gesink, Gerrans, Vinokourov, Vandenbroeck
* Leukemans, Chavanel, Anton, Cunego, Di Luca

 

[ansimi]

Why? Most people here probably like Martin, there is nothing wrong with the guy. Just because some people here don't expect him to do well in LBL, doesn't mean we don't want him to do well.

I meant drama in the race, not the forum

 

[jaylew]

Exactly. I mean one on one with the strongest riders in the race. He won both editions in a "breakaway". He needs to get away from the best riders to win it. That's just plain true.

Well that doesn't really make much sense as the only likely way to have a one-on-one scenario is in a breakaway.

One-on-one means one on one. Mano e mano. That situation usually manifests itself further out and doesn't have to end in a sprint. I don't agree that he has to get away from the best riders. He is one of the best. He has to get away from guys who are faster finishers than he is just as anybody else does. No one wants to go to the line with Valverde or Gilbert in a one-on-one scenario.

I like his chances one-on-one against most guys. He's certainly not going to win a final sprint against Valverde or Gilbert, but Vino would never let it come down to that without at least trying to get away a few times.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Well Top 10 is a very modest goal for Tony. He has everything it takes for a top 10 finish in Liege.
Goingt to de Dauphine instead of the Tour de Suisse would be a smart move this year i think. Especially has the TT is the same one as in the Tour.

 

[FabulousCandelabra]

GOOOOO BABY SCHLECK!!! YOU CAN DO EEEEEET!! Drop Gilbert again, he is a FATTY!!
take revenge on cyclingnews for telling everyone that your brother won LBL in 2009 (iconic images page)!!
Did you guys see my boy baby schleck on the attack in Amstel last week?? that race wasn't classy enough for him, he's gonna pull the same move in LBL and all these losers you guys are pumped about, like VINO, are going to turn to goo trying to follow him!

YAHH!!!

 

[boomcie]

Well that doesn't really make much sense as the only likely way to have a one-on-one scenario is in a breakaway.

One-on-one means one on one. Mano e mano. That situation usually manifests itself further out and doesn't have to end in a sprint. I don't agree that he has to get away from the best riders. He is one of the best. He has to get away from guys who are faster finishers than he is just as anybody else does. No one wants to go to the line with Valverde or Gilbert in a one-on-one scenario.

I like his chances one-on-one against most guys. He's certainly not going to win a final sprint against Valverde or Gilbert, but Vino would never let it come down to that without at least trying to get away a few times.

Both editions Vino won, he wasn't the strongest in the race. Sunday, he won't be either. In 2010 Gilbert, Evans and Valverde were the strongest. In 2005 Boogerd would have iced him amongst others. Mano-a-mano.

And now please stop referring to the one on one misunderstanding. Juvenile stuff.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Typical Boogerd. Either he got outsprinted, or he dropped everyone but silly breaks from 50k out stayed in front...

I remember that 2005 edition... how he simply dropped Bettini and Evans on Saint Nicolas as if they were on a tricycle. And made up 45 seconds to Vino/Voigt in less than 5km..
Bah

 

[Kvinto]

Strongest or not imo Vino is the main danger to Phil. He showed his form at Basque Country and FW. If they'll let Vino go in the last 20km it will be hard to catch him - he is a great time trialist much better than any of Gilbert, A.Schleck and especially Purito, he showed he can win against the sprinting trains. No matter how strong Gilbert is now he can easily lose the race and I do think Vino is the favourite #2

 

[El Pistolero]

Main danger is Joaquim Rodriguez and Andy Schleck imo.

This time Vino doesn't have a strong team like last year. Without Contador Andy and Gilbert could have flown away perhaps.

 

[roundabout]

Strongest or not imo Vino is the main danger to Phil. He showed his form at Basque Country and FW. If they'll let Vino go in the last 20km it will be hard to catch him - he is a great time trialist much better than any of Gilbert, A.Schleck and especially Purito, he showed he can win against the sprinting trains. No matter how strong Gilbert is now he can easily lose the race and I do think Vino is the favourite #2

True. But for Vinokourov it would then be a 3rd successful move from far in 5 editions. I would think that the rest have understood the danger by now.

 

[theyoungest]

Typical Boogerd. Either he got outsprinted, or he dropped everyone but silly breaks from 50k out stayed in front...

I remember that 2005 edition... how he simply dropped Bettini and Evans on Saint Nicolas as if they were on a tricycle. And made up 45 seconds to Vino/Voigt in less than 5km..
Bah

You can watch all editions of LBL from 2000 onwards on nos.nl now. It's really a shame we don't have a Boogerd anymore, he was always there. You don't know what you got till it's gone.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Boogerd never won, but indeed, he was a certainty, he would be there in every final you expected him to be...

We don't have a rider like that anymore. Gesink is pretty consistent in stage races. But in classics he more than often misses the front group.

 

[boomcie]

You can watch all editions of LBL from 2000 onwards on nos.nl now. It's really a shame we don't have a Boogerd anymore, he was always there. You don't know what you got till it's gone.

Try Sporza. Editions 1984-present. And various older editions.

 

[El Pistolero]

Sunday can't come soon enough. I'll be pretty disappointed if Gilbert doesn't win, but I just don't see it happen. Would be cool if he did the trifecta though and write some cycling history. He'd really be the Paolo Bettini of his generation if he manages to win this one. An improved one.

 

[jens_attacks]

He'd really be the Paolo Bettini of his generation if he manages to win this one. An improved one.

more like davide rebellin.he's still a champ,of course people are afraid to compare with him.

 

[Kvinto]

Yes, this time Vino doesn't have Contador but if he'll be able to escape (despite it'll be harder than year ago) it will be more dangerous for Gilbert than if Andy would escape (like in AGR) or Purito would try to outsprint him (like in FW).

 

[boomcie]

Sunday can't come soon enough. I'll be pretty disappointed if Gilbert doesn't win, but I just don't see it happen. Would be cool if he did the trifecta though and write some cycling history. He'd really be the Paolo Bettini of his generation if he manages to win this one. An improved one.

He needs at least one WC for that also.

 

[rmacek]

Yes, this time Vino doesn't have Contador but if he'll be able to escape (despite it'll be harder than year ago) it will be more dangerous for Gilbert than if Andy would escape (like in AGR) or Purito would try to outsprint him (like in FW).

But Vino will have Kreuziger and Kreuziger can be very helpful..

 

[Kvinto]

But Vino will have Kreuziger and Kreuziger can be very helpful..

Kreuziger can not do what Conta did on Côte de la Roche aux Faucons last year

 

[Carl0880]

Boogerd never won, but indeed, he was a certainty, he would be there in every final you expected him to be...

We don't have a rider like that anymore. Gesink is pretty consistent in stage races. But in classics he more than often misses the front group.

Its amazing how when a rider is active like Boogerd, he drives you absolutely mad, but he gets underappreciated because every gets spoiled by the fact he is always a factor when he raced in the Ardennes.


Kruezinger isn't Contador, but if I recall last year, Astana was on the front a fair amount. This year you will see a whole bunch of Omega on the front along with Leopard.

I think Leopard should do something similar to 09 LBL and have Andy attack on the Faucons, and continue the attack, maybe taking away a couple of opportunist to help on the flats section before the St. Nicholas and the drag to Ans, and attack on the climbs.

As far as Vino, he is dangerous but too many of the favorites always thinks they dont want to waste the energy to chase him and have nothing left at the end. I think though if Vino does the same type of attack this year, you may see a couple of extra guys try to go with him. Riders that are outsiders, that may not be at the level of Purito and Gilbert, but ones that are willing to take the chance, like a Kiriyenka, Kolobnev, maybe one of the Radioshack guys.

 

[beer_thirty]

*****Gilbert, A Schleck
****F Schleck, Rodriguez, Kolobnev
***Basso, Nibali, Sanchez
**Gesink, Gerrans, Vinokourov, Vandenbroeck
* Leukemans, Chavanel, Anton, Cunego, Di Luca

No way is Vino 2 stars while Frank is 4, and Basso/Nibali 3?? I'd see Nibbles as 4 stars if he wasn't slow-cooking it for the Giro, DiLuca on the list only if he's been hiding. For me:

*****Gilbert, A Schleck, Rodriguez
****Vinokourov, FSchleck, Kolobnev
***Basso, Nibali, Sanchez
**Gerrans, Vandenbroeck, Chavanel
* Leukemans, Anton, Cunego, Gesink

Damn, Cuddles would really make this an interesting mix, and the Contador of last years race even better. As it is, if everyone on the list above is firing it can't NOT be a great finale!

I'm going to say Vino finds a way to make it two in a row (note that I do not have him as a 5-star favorite in terms of form chart, which is very different from the way I think the final will play out.)

1)Vino
2)Gilbert
3)Purito/Kolbonev