AIUla Tour - 29th of january to 3rd of february

[yaco]

Groenewegen out of the race with gastro - I'm surprised it has not spread to other members of the team, as they all seem to be in form.

 

[Earns1985]

Who is still in this for GC (currently within half a minute) that could potentially survive the 3km 12% climb on stage 5?
Yates, Kudus, Formolo, Lecerf, Sobrero, Lastra...? I assume it's a bit too steep/long for Wright or Fisher-Black? Are we counting Hamilton and Brambilla?

Fisher-Black has also ridden for bonus seconds. He wouldn´t do that, if he wouldn´t try to go for the GC. So yes, he definitely has be taken into account..

 

[yaco]

The dangers to Yates are Formolo and possibly Sobrero. I need to see more of LeClerf, although he is talented. My outsider is L.Hamilton who seems to be in form if he is used properly by Jayco.

 

[search]

Sobrero is really good on short, steep climbs, and going by the intermediate sprints so far, he has also improved his sprinting again. So I'd tend to say he is the favorite for the overall now.

But yeah, if Jayco manages to get two guys over the climb, that would significantly improve their chances of course.

 

[yaco]

You need to be patient in today's sprint final - You can even wait until 100 metres to go to wind up your finish.

 

[Didinho]

Silly crash. Out of his pedal.

 

[DNP-Old]

It is a travesty if Molano finishes the race.

 

[Didinho]

Merlier went from far but won. Impressive. Coquard with the new too early celebration?

 

[Samamba]

Why did Merlier go so early. Did he not look at last years finish here?

 

[Berniece]

You need to be patient in today's sprint final - You can even wait until 100 metres to go to wind up your finish.

You should work for SOQ, because my god how early went Merlier… so much room, could’ve waited 50m and would’ve won easily

 

[skippo12]

Coquard needs a bigger bike...

 

[DNP-Old]

Clown Coquard.

 

[Samamba]

Lmao Coquard

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

You should work for SOQ, because my god how early went Merlier… so much room, could’ve waited 50m and would’ve won easily

He saw Coquard was slightly boxed in and took his chance.
As McEwen just said 60mm is plenty enough for a win!

 

[yaco]

Merlier just got it - Gotta say Merlier's initial acceleartion was devastating. Another out of GC after L.Hamilton was involved in the late crash in the stage.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

There was a Belgian guy in quickstep , he crash with maybe 5km to go. My god I have never seen such an confusing and incomprehensible combination of letters in that guys name. I can't even think of what his name was, and I am never gonna be able to spell it.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

There was a Belgian guy in quickstep , he crash with maybe 5km to go. My god I have never seen such an confusing and incomprehensible combination of letters in that guys name. I can't even think of what his name was, and I am never gonna be able to spell it.

You'll be fine with Vanglue

 

[johnymax]

Coquard was so sure he had won I'm still convinced he is the real winner...

 

[Didinho]

and I am never gonna be able to spell it.

No worries. We’re used to it.

 

[Wvv]

There was a Belgian guy in quickstep , he crash with maybe 5km to go. My god I have never seen such an confusing and incomprehensible combination of letters in that guys name. I can't even think of what his name was, and I am never gonna be able to spell it.

Warre Vangheluwe.

Interesting background story tho. Horrible traffic injury at around 9 years old, 50 days in coma, wasn't able to ride a bike for three years and in his first year of racing he cried at finish lines due to heavy headaches. Still managed to get pro, at no other than the Quick Step team. Kudos to the guy for his perseverance.

Hope he has no family ties to the more famous Vangheluwe in our country.

 

[shadowrider]

You need to be patient in today's sprint final - You can even wait until 100 metres to go to wind up your finish.

Merlier proved just the opposite (he started at 400 m). Slightly uphill. At the end it was close, and Merlier probably also would have won if he had started 250 meters from the finish. But he played on the surprise. Only Cocquard responded on time. But still just a little too late. Cocquard also had to close a gap against the wind, so his final jump was not strong enough

 

[Rob5091]

Groenewegen out of the race with gastro - I'm surprised it has not spread to other members of the team, as they all seem to be in form.

Could be what the boffins call "GI distress" from too many gels etc.

On the racing front Merlier held on, but from the photo his body was behind Coquard's so that's why Coquard thought he won. Coquard needs to get longer arms!

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Warre Vangheluwe.

Interesting background story tho. Horrible traffic injury at around 9 years old, 50 days in coma, wasn't able to ride a bike for three years and in his first year of racing he cried at finish lines due to heavy headaches. Still managed to get pro, at no other than the Quick Step team. Kudos to the guy for his perseverance.

Hope he has no family ties to the more famous Vangheluwe in our country.

Thanks for these infos , that name is impossible to remember but I wish him all the best.

 

[SafeBet]

Sobrero is really good on short, steep climbs, and going by the intermediate sprints so far, he has also improved his sprinting again. So I'd tend to say he is the favorite for the overall now.

But yeah, if Jayco manages to get two guys over the climb, that would significantly improve their chances of course.

Hamilton lost more than 7 minutes today so he won't be a factor.

 

[yaco]

Hamilton lost more than 7 minutes today so he won't be a factor.

Jayco better hope they have already used their bad luck for the season - Between injuries, illness and crashes to Plapp, Ewan, Groenwegen, Dunbar and today Hamilton and Matthews crashed.