Ardennes Classics Discussion thread

[auscyclefan94]

Discuss the ardennes classics which commence a week on sunday. Who will win? Who will fail? Who will surprise? Dominant team? etc....

Amstel Gold Race

Fleche Wallone

Liege-Bastogne-Liege

 

[TexPat]

L-B-L is is one of my favourites. The terrain there is very cool and one that I wax nostalgic over every year--having ridden part of it in 1995 on my first tour.
One thing is certain...
Cadel won't win!






Just kidding.

 

[auscyclefan94]

LBL is my favourite. Just always have enjoyed this race more than any other classic.

If cadel won it...i would be so happy!

 

[TexPat]

Actually, I would too. (Just wish he weren't associating with Ochowicz).
Or Gilbert.

 

[blaxland]

Amstel=Hisjedal/Uran
LBL=Vino
Fleche=Evans(Twice in a row)
Most dominant team=Bmc/Movistar

 

[Ferminal]

ah I was going to make this thread, but forgot...

FW course is the same as last year, big loop -> small loop. They seemed to have gained 3km somewhere at the start of the race.

L-B-L course has a couple of small changes, well, a big one too. No Roche-en-Ardenne on the way down, and Saint-Roch is moved to the outward journey rather than on the way back. This time Côte de la Haute-Levée is back, in between Stockeu and Rosier.

AGR: Gilbert
FW: Rodriguez
L-B-L: Vino

I think Scarponi would have been a chance for L-B-L if he wasn't doing the Giro.

acf - has your man come to his senses and decided to do all three?

 

[Jamsque]

Going on Pais Vasco form, I'd expect Vino, Hes-Jay and Cunego to be up there in most of the races. Cadel is a little bit of an unknown quantity this season, he looked great at Tirreno but that was a while back and he hasn't raced much.

Are we getting a Contador-free Ardennes this year? I assume he is continuing his self-imposed Iberian exile until the Giro.

 

[Ferminal]

Going on Pais Vasco form, I'd expect Vino, Hes-Jay and Cunego to be up there in most of the races. Cadel is a little bit of an unknown quantity this season, he looked great at Tirreno but that was a while back and he hasn't raced much.

Are we getting a Contador-free Ardennes this year? I assume he is continuing his self-imposed Iberian exile until the Giro.

Contador is doing FW I believe.

 

[Ferminal]

The 2011 route maps/profiles for FW and L-B-L are up at letour.fr if you want to swap them with your 2010 versions.

 

[Jamsque]

Contador is doing FW I believe.

Ah dammit. Well, if he learned anything from the 'How to Ride the Muur de Huy' lesson that Cuddles laid on him last year he'll probably win.

 

[Lanark]

Ah dammit. Well, if he learned anything from the 'How to Ride the Muur de Huy' lesson that Cuddles laid on him last year he'll probably win.

In an interview a couple of week ago he said that he should have attacked earlier, so no, he hasn't learned his lesson at all.

 

[ansimi]

I'd love to see Kolobnev get a big win at one of these. He's been so close and it seems like he has good form and a strong team so he should have a good shot. Katusha has other cards to play too so I hope they'll be attacking all over the place.

 

[Cimber]

In an interview a couple of week ago he said that he should have attacked earlier, so no, he hasn't learned his lesson at all.

Maybe Bjarne will tell him otherwise though

Anyways I prefer LBL.

I am not gonna predict winners but I expect the Schlecks to do very well. And also Gilbert, esp in Amstel. At LBL he might begin to be a little exhausted after being in super form in RVV already. Vino will also be a force, and he showed us yesterday that he is ready.

Apparently Spartacus will do Amstel, which will be interesting to follow. They can really do some damage with Spartacus + 2x Schleck and an otherwise really strong team.

Btw Nuyens is skipping PRB to focus on Amstel. He should ofc never be ruled out but I dont see him taking Amstel.

Chavanel will also be a factor I hope, but he also risk being a tad exhausted by LBL.

I dunno what team The Shack will come with but they look strong in Spain atm.

And ofc there is Hesjedal who looks strong atm.

Kolobnev is always a force in those races. I wouldnt mind to see him win one finally.

 

[boomcie]

Maybe Bjarne will tell him otherwise though

Anyways I prefer LBL...

You don't say... Who doesn't.

 

[Astana1]

Evans will one of them, Scarponi will win another. LBL is up for grabs.

 

[Cimber]

You don't say... Who doesn't.

am sure u can find some Dutch ppl prefering Amstel

 

[The Hitch]

Katusha to do a unprescedented ( i think) 3 man clean sweep (more impressive than Rebellin).

Ivanov AGR
Purito FW
Kolobnev LBL.

To be fair they werent far off last year with 2 seconds and Ivanov narrowly falling short with his late attack.

Seriously though I think Gilbert for AGR is the safe bet, Id go with Fuji for the arrow and Frank Schleck to win LBL with Kolobnev in second of course.

 

[Havetts]

AGR - Hoping Gesink, since he's focusing on it think Gilbert will win it.
FW - Don't mind as long as it isnt Contador.
LBL - Hoping Kolobnev gets a win for once.

 

[Jamsque]

In an interview a couple of week ago he said that he should have attacked earlier, so no, he hasn't learned his lesson at all.

Wow, that's a surprisingly poor piece of tactical analysis. I'm sure Bjarne had words.

 

[boomcie]

AGR: Gilbert.
FW: Contador/ Evans
LBL: Gilbert.

Tactics aside, these might complicate things. Especially in LBL.

 

[Lanark]

AGR: Gilbert
FW: Gesink
LBL: Andy Schleck

I predict a BeNeLux triple

I think Andy will be very strong this year, back to his 2009 shape. The finish of the AGR suits Gilbert best. Gesink has shown promise in the Fleche in the past, but that race is always hard to predict.

 

[theyoungest]

Amstel: F. Schleck.
Fleche: Rodriguez.
Liege: Evans.

God, how much cooler are these races than this cobbled crap we've been watching the last few weeks.

 

[boomcie]

AGR: Gilbert
FW: Gesink
LBL: Andy Schleck

I predict a BeNeLux triple

I think Andy will be very strong this year, back to his 2009 shape. The finish of the AGR suits Gilbert best. Gesink has shown promise in the Fleche in the past, but that race is always hard to predict.

That, I find hard to believe. I've seen him struggle to keep up on the steep climbs this year. He also needs to be at the front when the climb starts, something he rarely achieves. Top 10: very likely, winning: no.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

As always hard to predict with at least 5/6 clear favorites and another 15/20 who could do well on a good day and steal the win.

AGR: Kolobnev
Fleche Wallone: Gesink
LBL: Gilbert (sprint with Evans and Andy Schleck)

 

[thrawn]

Wow, that's a surprisingly poor piece of tactical analysis. I'm sure Bjarne had words.

Tbh I always had the feeling that Contador isn't very astute tactically. He seems to race and attack on instinct (which I prefer) and has his strength carry him through.