Benelux Tour 2021 (August 30 - September 5)

[titan31]

Nothing is ever remotely decent no. In a stage race of a week I do think 4 sprints are a bit much.

Kind of the geography though really. When you're splitting a stage race between Belgium, Netherlands and at some point Luxembourg, you don't have a lot of options unless you want to just focus on the Belgian side. Most routes you pick on the Netherlands outside of circuit racing will end up in a sprint (barring crosswind fun).

It probably needs to be a 9/10 stage race imo as then you can do 4 stages in Belgium to give the cobbles and Ardennes. Sprint stages in the Netherlands bar maybe a Amstel inspired stage and the TT likely there too.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Kind of the geography though really. When you're splitting a stage race between Belgium, Netherlands and at some point Luxembourg, you don't have a lot of options unless you want to just focus on the Belgian side. Most routes you pick on the Netherlands outside of circuit racing will end up in a sprint (barring crosswind fun).

It probably needs to be a 9/10 stage race imo as then you can do 4 stages in Belgium to give the cobbles and Ardennes. Sprint stages in the Netherlands bar maybe a Amstel inspired stage and the TT likely there too.

At the very least, they should add more flat cobblestone sectors to the race, as you have those in a variety of regions currently used exclusively for sprints and TTs. I mentioned earlier that Stage 3 would have been well suited for this, but e.g. Drenthe and Hainaut have sectors hard enough to make an actually selective stage.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I was happy to see Dumoulin shredding the field behind the 3 leaders. But Bahrain was insane today.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Colbrelli today showed what a big engine he has. I think he‘s even similar to Michael Matthews and Matteo Trentin. These three can do everything on a bike…

Impressive stuff from Colbrelli - let‘s wait what Haig does in Vuelta tomorrow, but could be a great weekend for Bahrain…

 

[RedheadDane]

I think he‘s even similar to Michael Matthews and Matteo Trentin. These three can do everything on a bike…

This year Colbrelli has managed one thing Matthews and Trentin hasn't; winning!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I also don't think Matthews has ever won anything through a (long) solo attack.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Some great support yesterday by Mohorič.

 

[Samamba]

Great racing again today.
Asgreen blew up the race on the first time Muur, only Mohoric and Campenaerts were able to follow.

 

[RedheadDane]

Great racing again today.
Asgreen blew up the race on the first time Muur, only Mohoric and Campenaerts were able to follow.

McNulty up in the (new) front group as well.

 

[Samamba]

Im talking about GC relevant guys.

Someone gotta explain to me why LTS isn't just giving everything in that 2nd group with Vandersande and Gilbert right
now.

They even have 4 guys in there

 

[Samamba]

I will never understand chasing groups. How is not every top 10 GC leader putting every teammate they have in there on the front.

 

[Keram]

It will be dificult to catch such a strong group with reduced peloton.

 

[Red Rick]

Why Mohoric is riding baffles me.

 

[Samamba]

It's difficult because LTS is the only team trying. Why are Trek, BikeExchange, FDJ, DSM saving their doms right now? They'll be dropped on the Muur anyways. The gap would be less than 30" right now if they just all work together

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Impressive if they manage to bring this group back, especially with Mohoric working in the break. They must not be going full out.

 

[Samamba]

LTS is strong for once, they would've catched them already if other team were helping the chase

Now LTS guys done, and the gap increasing again. Unbelievable. Other teams should be ashamed.

EDIT: looks like they woke up

 

[Keram]

Thanks for Lotto. Looking forward how things will change after Muur.

 

[postmanhat]

What is Mohoric doing, again?

 

[Samamba]

Mohoric really doesn't want Colbrelli to get this GC win

 

[postmanhat]

Nice to see Wellens getting some form back

 

[Keram]

That G3 is pathetic. Jeez.

 

[Samamba]

Yeah first time in a long time I see such a strong Wellens.

Mohoric should let them come back and Colbrelli just wins this stage and GC.

EDIT: FFS SHOULD NOT HAVE SAID THIS

 

[Samamba]

That G3 is pathetic. Jeez.

Full off teams that don't like to work

 

[Velolover2]

Mohoric appearing to be a challenger for the Tour of Flanders next year.

 

[Billie]

The runin to the bosberg is the hardest piece of flat road in the world.