Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 30 July 2011 234km

[sTTevie]

So Gilbert won. Didn't miss much I guess. Was it an exciting race?

if you were a Belgian ... sure was!!

 

[Je ne sais quoi]

who is franny sleck?

lol I thought they were saying Frandy on ETB.

Barredo is great on this course, 2009 again!

 

[theyoungest]

If it still would have existed, this would have been Gilbert's 8th World Cup victory, the same amount that Bettini won. Only Zabel (9) and Museeuw (11) won more, but it's not unlikely that in 12 months Gilbert will have passed those as well.

GP Quebec, GP Montreal, and Lombardy. He'll equal Museeuw this year already.

Barredo is great on this course, 2009 again!

It's a different course than 2009 though.

 

[El Pistolero]

GP Quebec, GP Montreal, and Lombardy. He'll equal Museeuw this year already.


It's a different course than 2009 though.

and Plouay

I know, I find it hard to believe it's World Tour as well. And you also forgot HEW Cyclassics(and it takes place during the Vuelta, so the field is a lot weaker than last year)

 

[Anonymous]

Any highlights?

 

[Je ne sais quoi]

...

It's a different course than 2009 though.

Doh! So much for my short term memory. If it's different, then it's almost like the course elements are a deck of cards and you get a slightly different hand. ...It also seems to have unique light somehow.

 

[Lanark]

GP Quebec, GP Montreal, and Lombardy. He'll equal Museeuw this year already.

Only Lombardia was World Cup. If you would count WorldTour races, you shouldn't count Paris-Tours.

 

[El Pistolero]

Only Lombardia was World Cup. If you would count WorldTour races, you shouldn't count Paris-Tours.

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_wielrenners_met_de_meeste_wereldbekeroverwinningen

Here you go. It's in Dutch, but I'm sure you'll understand. But Zurich-Metzgete doesn't exist anymore and Fleche Wallone wasn't part of it even though it's a real classic.

 

[Kvinto]

My conclusions:

POSITIVE:

1. Apart from the quite banal finish, the race was interesting, a lot of riders tried to attack, at some moment it was hard to understand who's in front and who got dropped.
2. Carlos Barredo. Amazing ride!
3. Everybody in the top-10 were great today + Basso and Devolder at the least.
4. It actually doesn't quite refer to cycling but every time I watch Basque races (Pais Vasco or San Sebastian) I notice one detail - the quality of the roads. They look much better than those other big races (Tour, Giro, Dauphine...) are held on.

NEGATIVE:

1. The second ascend on the Jaizkibel might have been more selective.
2. Phil Gilbert made the finish of this race quite predictable. Can't blame him of being the strongest but sometimes you want to see some alternative ending.
3. P.Velits and Lulu were invisible. Cunego didn't live up to expectations as well.

 

[Kwibus]

So Gilbert won. Didn't miss much I guess. Was it an exciting race?

I watched it with 45k to go and the racing certainly was interesting. Too bad Gilbert won it with ease. I can't blame the guy for being an absolute beast though.
Last year I was a huge Gilbert fan, but this year he's just to dominating. And I just never like it when 1 rider dominates everything. He's an attacking rider just like Contador so I'm certainly not going to dislike him. Just hope that sometimes he actually loses

 

[boomcie]

I watched it with 45k to go and the racing certainly was interesting. Too bad Gilbert won it with ease. I can't blame the guy for being an absolute beast though.
Last year I was a huge Gilbert fan, but this year he's just to dominating. And I just never like it when 1 rider dominates everything. He's an attacking rider just like Contador so I'm certainly not going to dislike him. Just hope that sometimes he actually loses

I completely understand the sentiment, but was pretty pleased anyway today .

 

[jobiwan]

I watched it with 45k to go and the racing certainly was interesting. Too bad Gilbert won it with ease. I can't blame the guy for being an absolute beast though.

Thanks, I'll try to catch some highlights later.

Last year I was a huge Gilbert fan, but this year he's just to dominating. And I just never like it when 1 rider dominates everything. He's an attacking rider just like Contador so I'm certainly not going to dislike him. Just hope that sometimes he actually loses

Kind of like Cancellara last year and Contador all the time.
But Gilbert is more dominant is his field than Cancellara, maybe Contador.
I guess part of that is the hilly classics might be easier for one man to dominate than the Cobbles and the GT's.

 

[cineteq]

I find it hilarious that people still don't understand thor's tactics or call him a wheel sucker over pr.

I find hilarious that you still don't understand JV's tactics LOL!!!

 

[l.Harm]

'If we win, we win. If we get second, we get second.'

It was that one, right?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I'll try to catch some highlights later.

Kind of like Cancellara last year and Contador all the time.
But Gilbert is more dominant is his field than Cancellara, maybe Contador.
I guess part of that is the hilly classics might be easier for one man to dominate than the Cobbles and the GT's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoK6K2PbfrQ

 

[goggalor]

So Gilbert won. Didn't miss much I guess. Was it an exciting race?

I thought it was a bit dull and predictable. There were no really dangerous attacks from any outsiders, and the climbs are too short and fast and easy for the climbers to drop Gilbert. The only reason it wasn't a ten man sprint to the line was because Gilbert himself attacked at 4 km to go.

 

[Havetts]

The thing was when the most impressive attack on the Jaizkibel was launched by Phil himself he isnt going to get dropped, with all respect to Roche and Samu's try / tries. The favorites didnt race it as hard as last year. The final passing of the Arkale wasnt used for attacks either.

The only one who really attacked were Devolder and Barredo, Gilbert excepted, Barredo multiple times and is just so unlucky Gilbert is in such a godlike state this year .

The people that disappoint me most were JRod and LLS, JRod for doing nothing on the climb where his only chance layed to thin out the group. And LLS cause he didnt do anything besides getting dropped, but I guess that fits his season..

 

[Swede1]

Matti Breschel did well! Hopefullly this means he will win some hilly end of the year classics and then world RR! Last year at the end of the season Breschel was one of the only riders that could stay near Gilbert on the smaller hills.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

and Plouay

I know, I find it hard to believe it's World Tour as well. And you also forgot HEW Cyclassics(and it takes place during the Vuelta, so the field is a lot weaker than last year)

I wonder if there is even a remote chance Gilbert will not win Quebec and Montreal. These races are really tailor made for him from. Great races last year. But probably 2 easy ones for Gilbert this year.

In Quebec a late powerful attack is enough on the short 500m hills. And the sprint is uphill as well. (but I expect Gilbert will be solo like Voeckler)

And in Montreal the 2km hill might be in the beginning of the round, but if Gesink can attack, drop everyone and solo to the finish, sure as hell Gilbert can too.
And again, the sprint is slightly uphill, so even if he is in a group he is unbeatable there.

 

[Epicycle]

Just watched it. What a beautiful move by Gilbert right when Jelle stopped pulling. That was some perfect teamwork. Vanendert did some great work today.

 

[El Pistolero]

I wonder if there is even a remote chance Gilbert will not win Quebec and Montreal. These races are really tailor made for him from. Great races last year. But probably 2 easy ones for Gilbert this year.

In Quebec a late powerful attack is enough on the short 500m hills. And the sprint is uphill as well. (but I expect Gilbert will be solo like Voeckler)

And in Montreal the 2km hill might be in the beginning of the round, but if Gesink can attack, drop everyone and solo to the finish, sure as hell Gilbert can too.
And again, the sprint is slightly uphill, so even if he is in a group he is unbeatable there.

that's why I think Gesink should have done the Vuelta instead

 

[Anonymous]

final 15km, decent quality, sporza rip
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xk8qyj_san-sebastian-2011-closing-15km_sport

 

[Contre la montre]

Barredo very strong. Probably he would be closer to Gilbert if he didn't attack.

How can you be any closer then second?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

that's why I think Gesink should have done the Vuelta instead

Well two second places behind Gilbert are nice too.

It shows you were the best after the unbeatable one

 

[Winterfold]

He's just awesome.

The attacks are so devastating and even though you know it'd coming he's timing them so well they are still surprising

(Er except for all those stages in the tour de France where he looked far more beatable after the first day)