Ardennes Classics Discussion thread

[theyoungest]

Andy sure did attack at the end of the climb / descent, dont know if you saw it. Frank overestimated himself I guess..

Yes, he attacked on the descent. In my book, that's not as impressive as attacking on the climb.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Attack on top of a climb, when everybody is at his limit and pretty much hoping to rest their legs, is much, much harder than attacking at the bottom of a climb, when everyone is still, relatively, fresh.


Anybody who every touched a bike or rode in a group knows that.

 

[Tom T.]

1 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack
3 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
4 Christopher Horner (USA) Team RadioShack
5 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo
6 Xavier Tondo Volpini (Spa) Movistar Team
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
8 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Movistar Team
9 Beñat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team
10 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
11 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek

Well, I haven't watched any of the race so what is the evidence that these guys are not in good form? Logic would suggest that if they were not in good form they wold not be in the top 10 of a race like Pais Vasco.

 

[theyoungest]

Attack on top of a climb, when everybody is at his limit and pretty much hoping to rest their legs, is much, much harder than attacking at the bottom of a climb, when everyone is still, relatively, fresh.


Anybody who every touched a bike or rode in a group knows that.

Andy attacked at the end of the descent

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No, Andy attacked before that, at a relatively flat part 1km before the finish, just before the descent kicked in again, it's the same place where F.Schleck dropped...

 

[El Pistolero]

I find it funny how Andy is actually trying this year, but still sucks hard in every race except the Ardennes week and july.

 

[movingtarget]

That was last year

I could be wrong but I thought Valverde ran third in the LBL last year or was that the year before ? I was only picking those three for the podium but not in order. Vino will be more closely marked this year but on a good day he is very hard to stop.

 

[theyoungest]

I find it funny how Andy is actually trying this year, but still sucks hard in every race except the Ardennes week and july.

Define "sucks hard". He's doing quite well in Pais Vasco.

 

[movingtarget]

Yeah I think Schleck has to be considered a possibility of winning the LBL in a race he's won before that suits his abilities.

 

[El Pistolero]

Define "sucks hard". He's doing quite well in Pais Vasco.

Let's see in July he can match Alberto Contador and in early April he can't even match Klöden or Vino.

 

[theyoungest]

Let's see in July he can match Alberto Contador and in early April he can't even match Klöden or Vino.

Andy is a different type of rider than Contador, we know that by now. And for a non-peaking Andy, he's doing pretty darn good right now. He's more than a match for Klöden or Vino BTW.

 

[jaylew]

And apart from his one win in Fleche Wallone, he never really could confirm in that race afterwards.

So... I don't see him winning the Ardennes triple, in one year, that quickly. Let stand the worlds in Valkenburg, which is full of that one climb that didn't suit him that well, the Cauberg.

He's also got a 2nd at Flèche. That race suits him just fine. But no, I don't see him doing the quad either

I could be wrong but I thought Valverde ran third in the LBL last year or was that the year before ?

Yeah, he was 3rd before having it stripped.

 

[movingtarget]

And where will Kloden and Vino be in July ? Racing for stage wins ? Horner will finish ahead of Kloden in any of the upcoming classics and probably the TDF. Win or lose Horner has been a great competitor along with how well he is still doing at his age.

 

[El Pistolero]

Andy is a different type of rider than Contador, we know that by now. And for a non-peaking Andy, he's doing pretty darn good right now. He's more than a match for Klöden or Vino BTW.

Let's hope for Andy he didn't mess up his peak then Or his first win will once again be in the Tour.

 

[Flamin]

Amstel: Gilbert is too obvious, so I pick Leukemans as my dark horse (unlike last year, I think he'll still have something in his tank here)
FW: Puri.. nah, Contador
LBL: Gilbert

 

[Angliru]

Looking at Pais Vasco they all seem in real poor form to me. Except Vino, at least he could get a time gap lol.

Sammie Sanchez and Purito seem to be in pretty good form IMO or were you joking?

 

[Angliru]

More Andy than Fränk though.

Fränk hasn't exactly impressed me this Tour. Blown himself and the team up a quite a few times.

Andy however has never been this good in this period. Now he's with or near the strongest every stage. Combined with the obvious increase in form he'll have next week, he will be one of the best in the Ardennes... I'm sure of that.

One of the best yes but please-please-please don't let him win! Since Cancellara has uncovered his man-crush on himself, I don't think I could handle him and Andy Schweck reminding us all of how great they are and how weak the rest of the mere mortals they compete against are.

 

[luckyboy]

Hoping Gilbert wins something. And Cunego does well, but I have a feeling he's going to do badly.

Be pretty cool if AC wins Fleche.

 

[El Pistolero]

AGR: Gilbert
Fleche: Contador
LBL: Gilbert

Would be a good Ardennes week

 

[Winterfold]

AGR: Gilbert
Fleche: Contador
LBL: Gilbert

Would be a good Ardennes week

+1 Contador had his lesson from Cuddles last year I expect he has learned...

 

[auscyclefan94]

+1 Contador had his lesson from Cuddles last year I expect he has learned...

So he will time his attack later? Does that automatically make him the winner according to some of you?

 

[ergmonkey]

Win or lose Horner has been a great competitor along with how well he is still doing at his age.

I agree with this sentiment; I'm just fairly certain that he'll lose.

The guy's an awesome competitor, but he's never been a champion. Hard to see him starting now. Wouldn't begrudge him a piece of glory, though.

 

[jobiwan]

So he will time his attack later? Does that automatically make him the winner according to some of you?

If I were Contador, I'd glue myself to Evans' wheel, and beat him at the line. But I could see him attacking the same time as last year and winning, due to knowing how much effort to put in and where.

 

[La Pandera]

So he will time his attack later? Does that automatically make him the winner according to some of you?

What is that high pitched naisal sound I hear?? Sounds like someone whining about Spaniards whipping on his true love again.

Contador is quoted as saying that his mistake was in making his move too late, so he plans on attacking earlier in the climb. Evans will be a marked man and I see Contador, Anton and Purito battling it out in the end with Contador putting distance between the two for his first classic win. Rodriguez will finally get his win in LBL after years of service to the great one, Valverde.
So prepare yourself for a miserable week.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If I were Contador, I'd glue myself to Evans' wheel, and beat him at the line. But I could see him attacking the same time as last year and winning, due to knowing how much effort to put in and where.

What is that high pitched naisal sound I hear?? Sounds like someone whining about Spaniards whipping on his true love again.

Contador is quoted as saying that his mistake was in making his move too late, so he plans on attacking earlier in the climb. Evans will be a marked man and I see Contador, Anton and Purito battling it out in the end with Contador putting distance between the two for his first classic win. Rodriguez will finally get his win in LBL after years of service to the great one, Valverde.
So prepare yourself for a miserable week.

Erm...no it isn't. AC is not superior to Evans on those finishes. I don't see how you could not include Evans in that group of favourites. Anton has showed absolutely nothing all year. I don't see how he or AC will be able to attack from that same spot as last year and actually win. You have to time your sprint and kick right in fleche and make it short as possible as it is so darn steep!