97th Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2011

[El Pistolero]

***** Philippe Gilbert
**** Andy Schleck, Joaquim Rodriguez, Vinokourov, Samuel Sanchez
*** Frank Schleck, Igor Anton, Nibbles, Kolobnev(doesn't seem as strong as last year)

I don't think a small cyclist can win this, so no need to go further than 3 stars.

 

[mewmewmew13]

i'm rooting for Gilbert. I think he is the strongest, barring any troubles. A couple of riders searching for some vindication might be A Schleck if he lights a rocket, and even more dangerous to phil will be Rodriguez if he plays it smart---he just hasn't had the finish strength that PG has had the last few weeks.

...and Vino---you just never know.

 

[FabulousCandelabra]

12 to 1 odds on my boy Andy?? Sigh, if only I didn't live in the stupid states and could place my bet and retire!

 

[ferryman]

OK, with 255K to cover here are the final 3 drags. If Gilbert still has a team around him on the penultimate 2 I can see only 1 winner here:

Km 220.5 - Côte de la Redoute - 2.0km climb to 8.8%
Km 236.0 - Côte de la Roche aux Faucons - 1.5km climb to 9.5%
Km 250.0 - Côte de Saint-Nicolas - 1.2km climb to 8.3%

That said, WHO KNOWS bring it on. I love LBL

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

***** Philippe Gilbert
**** Andy Schleck, Joaquim Rodriguez, Vinokourov, Samuel Sanchez
*** Frank Schleck, Igor Anton, Nibbles, Kolobnev(doesn't seem as strong as last year)

I don't think a small cyclist can win this, so no need to go further than 3 stars.

Nibali? Seriously?
Have you seen the Trentino results? Nibali is not going to figure

 

[Duartista]

Nibali? Seriously?
Have you seen the Trentino results? Nibali is not going to figure

Disagree. I watched the highlights of yesterdays stage earlier, and he just sat up and went for a training ride. Saving himself for Liege if anything.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Disagree. I watched the highlights of yesterdays stage earlier, and he just sat up and went for a training ride. Saving himself for Liege if anything.

Not, maybe, for the Giro?

 

[Duartista]

Not, maybe, for the Giro?

Well that too... but I don't think putting in a bigger effort in Trentino would have affected his Giro chances, whereas it might have left him tired for LBL.

 

[The Hitch]

***** Phillipe.
****
***
**
* Andrew, Alexander, Alexander, Frank, Igor, Jakob, Joaquim, Samuel, Paul, Robert, Roman.

 

[ferryman]

***** Phillipe.
****
***
**
* Andrew, Alexander, Alexander, Frank, Igor, Jakob, Joaquim, Samuel, Paul, Robert, Roman.

That's just about how the Bookmakers have it. One horse race

 

[El Pistolero]

He’s got that little something extra, and that’s what will one day make him a bigger rider than I ever was.

“He will win Tour of Flanders one day, for sure. I didn’t manage it. But one day he will have a bigger honors list than me."

Guess who said that

 

[The Hitch]

He’s got that little something extra, and that’s what will one day make him a bigger rider than I ever was.

“He will win Tour of Flanders one day, for sure. I didn’t manage it. But one day he will have a bigger honors list than me."

Guess who said that

George Hincapie

 

[zapata]

I think Flip can do it, but even though in one way it would be nice to see someone do the ardennes triple again, I think I will be rooting against him. Nothing against him personally, but whenever someone gets too dominant, for some reason I want to see someone else win. Ivanov would be nice.

 

[beer_thirty]

He’s got that little something extra, and that’s what will one day make him a bigger rider than I ever was.

“He will win Tour of Flanders one day, for sure. I didn’t manage it. But one day he will have a bigger honors list than me."

Guess who said that

Il Grillo!

 

[El Pistolero]

Il Grillo!

Yup. Tour of Flanders is probably the only gap in his palmares.

 

[theyoungest]

I think Flip can do it, but even though in one way it would be nice to see someone do the ardennes triple again, I think I will be rooting against him. Nothing against him personally, but whenever someone gets too dominant, for some reason I want to see someone else win. Ivanov would be nice.

Exactly. Phil is the establishment now, and the establishment is boring.

 

[Carl0880]

I think Flip can do it, but even though in one way it would be nice to see someone do the ardennes triple again, I think I will be rooting against him. Nothing against him personally, but whenever someone gets too dominant, for some reason I want to see someone else win. Ivanov would be nice.

I am kinda in the same boat. Being a massive Vino fan, I want to see him win back to back, and a 3rd L-B-L puts her in very elite company, with Eddy, Argentin, Houa, De Bruyne, and Schepers. Also, unless he changes his mind, this will be his final LBL.

But I love to be able to witness history, so on the other hand, I would like to see Gilbert complete the rare Ardennes Triple. THis would be similar to Cancellara pulling off the E3-PR-TOF run last year.

I guess perfect scenario for me Is to see a 2 man group on the final drag up to Ans, consistenting of VIno and Gilbert. Watch Vino try and find a way to get away on the climb, and Gilbert holding on waiting for the sprint he should win easily.

 

[El Pistolero]

Phil doesn't make races boring

He's luckily not a Cancellara that goes from 50km out to ruin the race.

 

[El Pistolero]

I am kinda in the same boat. Being a massive Vino fan, I want to see him win back to back, and a 3rd L-B-L puts her in very elite company, with Eddy, Argentin, Houa, De Bruyne, and Schepers. Also, unless he changes his mind, this will be his final LBL.

But I love to be able to witness history, so on the other hand, I would like to see Gilbert complete the rare Ardennes Triple. THis would be similar to Cancellara pulling off the E3-PR-TOF run last year.

I guess perfect scenario for me Is to see a 2 man group on the final drag up to Ans, consistenting of VIno and Gilbert. Watch Vino try and find a way to get away on the climb, and Gilbert holding on waiting for the sprint he should win easily.

Moreno won it four times.

Completing the Ardennes classics is definitely harder than winning P-R and RVV in the same season though.

 

[Carl0880]

Il Grillo!

When you look back at his palmares, realize that he had an opportunity to do so much more. He was a domestique for Bartoli up till to about 2000, and he retired at the age of 34, fairly young. Put it in perspective, Bettini is a year younger then Vinokourov.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

When you look back at his palmares, realize that he had an opportunity to do so much more. He was a domestique for Bartoli up till to about 2000, and he retired at the age of 34, fairly young. Put it in perspective, Bettini is a year younger then Vinokourov.

Can you imagine one can say that someone with a palmares like Bettini's could've done more The guy is a legend

 

[Motion]

weak

Every time we saying that Astana weak

Vino have no team???

Roman, Enrico, Maxim, Remi & rest - totally loosers?

 

[jens_attacks]

actually astana for liege is a top 3 team no doubt.there will be some nice strategy by them.keep your eyes on cote de la redoute

 

[El Pistolero]

actually astana for liege is a top 3 team no doubt.there will be some nice strategy by them.keep your eyes on cote de la redoute

Yeah, you'll see 20000 Gilbert fans there.

I'm hoping Phil shows them who's boss à la Vandenbroucke on La Redoute to totally demoralize them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJintCgzG5o

Check the writing on the road @ 1'36"

 

[goggalor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJintCgzG5o

Check the writing on the road @ 1'36"

I bet Phil wrote that himself.