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Yeah it was. Very similar to last year in fact when it was Valverde in front and the gap did nothing but get bigger. Everyone was dead in the chase groupNetserk said:The win wasn't gone yet at that time...
Netserk said:Valverde has the primary responsibility in such a situation because of his status. Yet he does nothing but suck wheels and chase down attacks from the group. Must save himself for the sprint for 2nd...DFA123 said:I see the hate starting for Valverde again here. It was a collective failure by all of them, not just him. He took a few pulls on the front; what were the others doing?
In fact, riders like Uran and Mollema should have been chasing even harder - maybe then one day they would actually win a race. Any race.
It's no wonder others don't want to drag him to the line.
Eyeballs Out said:Second was all that was available. Yates much better than him todayZinoviev Letter said:PremierAndrew said:Valverde doesn't even get 2nd
Good. He really was riding for second there in a very irritating way.
DFA123 said:SafeBet said:Exactly. But Valverde is not willing to chase by himself because this is probably the only scenario where somebody could beat him.StannisBaratheon said:No one from the group worked because they knew Valverde was going to win if it all came down to a sprint
Perfect set up for Yates. But I don't get all this Valverde bashing.
Spot on. And Valverde has already got two huge wins this year and several other great results; he is in a position where he can afford to bluff a bit and try to play to his strengths.
What have Uran, Kreuziger, Moreno, Mollema or Martin got to show for this season? The onus is on them to really go flat out for the win. It's pretty strange that Valverde - a guy that wins all the time - is taking the stick, while the other really talented riders that hardly ever win aren't copping half as much blame.
Donostia is Basque for San SebastiánScarponi said:Why do they call it Donostia to Donostia Classic?
Zinoviev Letter said:Eyeballs Out said:Second was all that was available. Yates much better than him todayZinoviev Letter said:PremierAndrew said:Valverde doesn't even get 2nd
Good. He really was riding for second there in a very irritating way.
Don't be silly. If six of the strongest classics riders in the world had worked together, Yates would never have been able to hold his small gap after the climb. That's not to dismiss Yates' performance. He was the strongest on the climb. But getting a small gap on a climb does not equal holding off a group that strong for the seven plus kms afterwards. That they didn't catch him was purely a result of their total failure to cooperate.
Why do you think they didn't want to work together?BigMac said:Zinoviev Letter said:Eyeballs Out said:Second was all that was available. Yates much better than him todayZinoviev Letter said:PremierAndrew said:Valverde doesn't even get 2nd
Good. He really was riding for second there in a very irritating way.
Don't be silly. If six of the strongest classics riders in the world had worked together, Yates would never have been able to hold his small gap after the climb. That's not to dismiss Yates' performance. He was the strongest on the climb. But getting a small gap on a climb does not equal holding off a group that strong for the seven plus kms afterwards. That they didn't catch him was purely a result of their total failure to cooperate.
But then you ought to admit it was more of a collective brain fart, rather than Valverde's sole fault. The only thing we can accuse Valverde of is sabotaging Martin's and Kreuziger's efforts with no intention to catch the lead.
If they were strong they wouldn't have been gapped. It's like expecting Rodriguez to be caught in Lombardy 2012 / 2013. Unless there's a strong headwind. Forget itZinoviev Letter said:Eyeballs Out said:Second was all that was available. Yates much better than him todayZinoviev Letter said:PremierAndrew said:Valverde doesn't even get 2nd
Good. He really was riding for second there in a very irritating way.
Don't be silly. If six of the strongest classics riders in the world had worked together, Yates would never have been able to hold his small gap after the climb. That's not to dismiss Yates' performance. He was the strongest on the climb. But getting a small gap on a climb does not equal holding off a group that strong for the seven plus kms afterwards. That they didn't catch him was purely a result of their total failure to cooperate.
Eyeballs Out said:If they were strong they wouldn't have been gapped. It's like expecting Rodriguez to be caught in Lombardy 2012 / 2013. Unless there's a strong headwind. Forget itZinoviev Letter said:Eyeballs Out said:Second was all that was available. Yates much better than him todayZinoviev Letter said:PremierAndrew said:Valverde doesn't even get 2nd
Good. He really was riding for second there in a very irritating way.
Don't be silly. If six of the strongest classics riders in the world had worked together, Yates would never have been able to hold his small gap after the climb. That's not to dismiss Yates' performance. He was the strongest on the climb. But getting a small gap on a climb does not equal holding off a group that strong for the seven plus kms afterwards. That they didn't catch him was purely a result of their total failure to cooperate.
jaylew said:Exactly. I'll say it again. People never let the truth or logic get in the way of a good Valverde bashing. I surprised that you seem surprised by this.
Alright, I know it's pathetic to quote you're own post but as everybody else is Valverde-bashing, I'll answer it before it gets lost:coinneach said:And the last British winner (who Adam reminds me of a bit) in San Sebastián was?
Eyeballs Out said:If they were strong they wouldn't have been gapped.
That explains why Yates didn't think he had won.Arredondo said:Greg Van Avermaet @GregVanAvermaet 6 min.6 minuten geleden Vertaling weergeven
I was going to win classics San Sebastián until the motto run into me and put me on the ground. Game over! Bravo organization, bravo motto!
Netserk said:That explains why Yates didn't think he had won.Arredondo said:Greg Van Avermaet @GregVanAvermaet 6 min.6 minuten geleden Vertaling weergeven
I was going to win classics San Sebastián until the motto run into me and put me on the ground. Game over! Bravo organization, bravo motto!
Being first over the last climb?Arredondo said:Netserk said:That explains why Yates didn't think he had won.Arredondo said:Greg Van Avermaet @GregVanAvermaet 6 min.6 minuten geleden Vertaling weergeven
I was going to win classics San Sebastián until the motto run into me and put me on the ground. Game over! Bravo organization, bravo motto!
But how could he been in front?
Arredondo said:Netserk said:That explains why Yates didn't think he had won.Arredondo said:Greg Van Avermaet @GregVanAvermaet 6 min.6 minuten geleden Vertaling weergeven
I was going to win classics San Sebastián until the motto run into me and put me on the ground. Game over! Bravo organization, bravo motto!
But how could he been in front?
as always , Im still not over his LBL wasted form, attacks and monster pulls with no result (well 8th or something)BigMac said:Kreuziger the one who pulled the most gets little to no kudos.
Kudos Kreuziger.
Billie said:We'll have images that were saved by the bike later this evening right?
there was too much rain, every tech was damagedArredondo said:Billie said:We'll have images that were saved by the bike later this evening right?
I'm still waiting for images of the Villa Vergano '12