Ardennes Classics Discussion thread

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Yeah, because he didn't have to worry about Astana anymore

First you keep saying Contador left because he hadn't full team support, when you got caught on that lie, you change your boots and start sprouting things about how Vino was the reason he left, after being caught on that too -- we are here with you saying it was actually Astana the team and it's management all along.

You just can't stop arguing and keep trying to save the last word even when you start destroy in the process everything you've been saying before, do you?

Whatever man, you win. I give up. There is no reasoning with you. Enjoy your victory. Have a good night, kind (even if rather imaginative) sir.

 

[El Pistolero]

LOL? The only one who can match Alberto in anything over 20% is Purito or Fuji and if He's on form! Cadel won that FW going with a powerful tempo ride! the same He used in TA 2011... also Cadel knows really well Huy, how many times has He ridden it? 6 or 7 times?

about the thing "Is Contador a tactical genius?"
OFC not... He commited several an important errors last year...
1. Follow every attack in CyL burning himself in the process...
2. Attack too early in FW... was just an amazing display of power but He was short by 50 or 60m... OFC He didn't know very well Huy...
3. He wasn't in the front when they hit the cobbles... Frank crashed and He was behind the cut... thanks god Vino was there with him and hammered 1min? agaisnt the c0cky c0ck...
4. Mende... pretty much discussed... OFC the 10segs were very important but that could have been bigger... what I like about that finish was the "No Gift" policy... but a shame that He didn't use it in Le Tourmalet!
5. No sign for Team Movistar

Yeah... Alberto is not a genius but His talent is incalculable

Valverde and Alberto in the same team. Now that would be something. Whether that's good or bad I don't know.

 

[The Hitch]

Idiots who had no idea how things between Vino and Contador were or idiots who wanted them to fail on the face for daring to win against all odds are not everyone.

And people who said that we shoud look out for Vino attacking GC were twice the idiots because he already lost quite a lot of time (because of doing all that supporting, mind you) and gained a mere 13 seconds.

And Alberto would be even a bigger idiot if he cared about idiots' press. Here's a hint: he doesn't (not only because he's above but also because his english is simply not good enough to read hate-press from Lance-oriented media). Which he consistently been demonstrating all those years long.

Yeah, and apparently Alberto dislike towards "the old fart" Vino is so strong he declined his offer to make the last presentation at Astana in September of 2010 while already technically being Saxobank rider.

...

Except that he didn't declined and was there. And tolerated my mumbling while i was asking him a question and shaked my sweating hand (i still feel bad about it).

So yeah, no. You simply making things up.

Where was this presentation? What was it about. What did you ask AC?

It sounds like a good story.

 

[auscyclefan94]

LOL? The only one who can match Alberto in anything over 20% is Purito or Fuji and if He's on form! Cadel won that FW going with a powerful tempo ride! the same He used in TA 2011... also Cadel knows really well Huy, how many times has He ridden it? 6 or 7 times?

AC only a short steep climb and AC on a long steep climb are two very different things. That applies for most riders.

Watched the end of this race a few days ago, and it seemed that once Anton sat down in his seat, they slowed and Evans got back. If AC had gone at that point (around 350m to go), I think he could've got it. He was 75m away from the win anyway.
I think he can do it this year.

Nope, Evans made his big run later and AC was starting to crack.

 

[Ferminal]

fsdagdfhadahg

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Where was this presentation? What was it about. What did you ask AC?

It sounds like a good story.

I wrote my mini report here on forums:
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=339466#post339466

And a slew of pics:
http://astanafans.com/press-konferenciya-s-merksom-vinokurovym-i-kontadorom-v-astane-17-09-2010.html
http://astanafans.com/velozvezdy-v-astane-17-09-2010-chast-1-press-konferenciya.html

 

[thrawn]

Valverde and Alberto in the same team. Now that would be something. Whether that's good or bad I don't know.

Valverde would be unbeatable with Alberto pacing him up the climbs.

 

[Cobblestoned]

lol

What have you done to her Alberto ?
She is hotter than hot.

Mista lova lova hmmmmmmmm....boombastic, fantastic

 

[movingtarget]

Yes, because getting third on your first serious try at a classic is tactically screwing things up

wow lol. Call Contador tactically stupid all you want, but please don't praise Cuddles of being tactically astute as he isn't. Winning F-W is nice and all, but what he did at the Tour de France of 2008 was just epic fail.

Of course going over the handlebars and landing on his back, with the accident of course being caused by another Spanish incompetent with no bike handling skills, and being worked over by a team with three of the best climbers in the world is an epic fail. Maybe Flecha should run a masterclass and teach the Spanish how to ride the cobbles.

 

[El Pistolero]

Of course going over the handlebars and landing on his back, with the accident of course being caused by another Spanish incompetent with no bike handling skills, and being worked over by a team with three of the best climbers in the world is an epic fail. Maybe Flecha should run a masterclass and teach the Spanish how to ride the cobbles.

Talking about Alpe Dhuez, the stage that decided that whole Tour.

 

[La Pandera]

Contador came 2nd in Mende and yet he totaly screwed that up. He could have tried to get VIno the stage win-, get lots of time on Andrew by letting Purito have the stage in return for working with him,, Win the stage.

In the end he refused to work witrh Purito, looked back at Vino, then sprinted on his own and watched as JROD crossed the line. Fail fail and Fail.

So tactically COntador is not the greatest no. But he makes up for that with his awesomness. Most of the time anyway.

If I recall correctly, Contador did work with Purito leading up to their catch of Vino. Arguably he was given the choice of gaining additional time on Andy Schleck, realizing that he hadn't/couldn't respond to Purito's attack as he (Contador) could or simply riding Purito's wheel up to Vino. In the midst of the action I think he made the best choice. The team's (Astana"s) ultimate goal was winning the Tour so putting time into Andy Schleck took precedent over Vino's win. It was just unfortunate that neither of them had the legs to beat Purito in the end.

 

[Ferminal]

After the crazy last two weekends, I'm reconsidering Gilbert for AGR.

He should be a $2 favourite, but who knows now...

 

[Ryaguas]

Oh I had forgotten to name my winners...

AGR: 1. Van Avermaet 2. Gilbert 3. Nuyens
FW: 1. Contador 2. Purito 3. Samu
LBL: 1. Vino (Back2Back) 2. Purito 3. Frank Schleck (Andy DNF )

 

[ansimi]

After their disastrous Paris Roubaix, Katusha really needs results in the Ardennes.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well since all semi-favorites are winning these days:

AGR: 1. Paul Martens 2. Bjorn Leukemans 3. Alexandre Kolobnev
Fleche Wallone: 1. Jelle Vanendert 2. Enrico Gasparotto 3. Cadel Evans (comes too late0
LBL: 1. Alexandre Kolobnev 2. Wout Poels 3. Philippe Gilbert (also too late)

 

[roundabout]

Martens will win because everyone will be afraid of Gesink's formidable sprint up the Cauberg?

Seriously, it's not very often that you get a well-represented group that also cooperates in the Ardennes.

Apart from Voigt and Vino and Fleche 03 i don't really remember (relatively) early breakes making it to the end.

 

[c&cfan]

You do know Contador's opinion about Astana right? It's not a pretty opinion.
Also never said anything about them disliking each other. I'm pretty sure Gilbert and Cuddles don't hate each other yet Cuddles left to another team.

2 champions in one team usually doesn't work very well.

for me greipel isnt a champion. same goes for VDB2. cuddles had no reason to left.

to be a champion you have to win or dominate more than consolation races.

 

[c&cfan]

i bet in gilbert for amstel.

he isnt a champion. this isnt the ultimate goal for the puncheurs, so he wont he heavely marked. there's lots of possibilities for winners. but if he has the luck by his side and only atacks in the end without going alone afterwards and the true champions arent there for some reason, if the last part isnt flat, or too hilly, he has this one in the bag.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Martens will win because everyone will be afraid of Gesink's formidable sprint up the Cauberg?

Seriously, it's not very often that you get a well-represented group that also cooperates in the Ardennes.

Apart from Voigt and Vino and Fleche 03 i don't really remember (relatively) early breakes making it to the end.

Last year Vino and Kolobnev.
Vino in AGR when he won it. F.Schleck in AGR when he won it (and wesemann finished 2nd).
It happened more than often really.

 

[roundabout]

They attacked from the favourite/leading group. They weren't in a long break.

But true, something like what you mentioned is quite possible. On the other hand the real racing begins with "only" 20km to go and there's no single dominant rider who has a really weak team.

 

[c&cfan]

They attacked from the favourite/leading group. They weren't in a long break.

But true, something like what you mentioned is quite possible. On the other hand the real racing begins with "only" 20km to go and there's no single dominant rider who has a really weak team.

is there any dominant rider there? valv isnt participating this year. no one to mark.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why would Evans and Gilbert hate each other? They seemed quite good friends to me.

 

[luckyboy]

to be a champion you have to win or dominate more than consolation races.

Jesus

 

[Andre.J]

Not really, they did everything right, except Freire couldn't follow Boogerd, actually nobody could, except Di Luca unfortunately.

If that's a team failure...then a lot of teams fail regularly. The team did everything perfect, just unfortunate that Freire failed to finish

Di Luca was already heavy doping then.

 

[auscyclefan94]

AGR: Van avermaet, Gilbert, Kolobnev
FW: Evans, Contador, Purito
LBL: Gilbert, Evans (if he rides), Vino