Clasica San Sebastián 2018, 4/8 - 228.7km

[Suck_Out]

Re: Re:

I guess Roglic also crashed in that big crash since he was nowhere to be seen on the climb.

Did he not come over with the group with Kruisjwijk and Uran? I thought they just were a bit far back with Tolhoek up the road but maybe I was getitng mixed up

I don't think it was him.

Gesink

 

[Gigs_98]

What on earth was Mollema doing?

 

[franic]

Re: Re:

Alaphilippe vs. Dan Martin. Bernal to complete the podium.

I can't wait to see Egan working for himself. Alafpolak big favourite IMHO

The obvious winner today

 

[Lequack]

Mollema had no real chance to be honest.

 

[Eclipse]

Lotto NL screwed up so badly - 3 riders in the top 10 and not even close to the win despite triggering an early attack

Finale as expected. Just credit Mollema for being there yet again - he was never going to beat Alaphillipe no matter what he did as soon as Alaphillipe caught him

 

[Alexandre B.]

Anthony Roux did good outside of the Nationals!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

There was no way for Mollema to win except attacking on the last climb and hoping he'd stay solo. He did a big attack but Alaphilippe was the only one able to follow. So game over after that.

Mollema really good in this race each year. That's like his 7th top 10 in 7 years?

The critics from the couch potatoes here are pretty dumb again. What do you want him to do? He didn't do much/any work in the final km. The flat road was no place to attack. After the climb he had already gambled and lost. The worst thing to do would be throw away whatever result you had left

 

[DFA123]

Bit lame from Mollema. Kind of like Terpstra did with Kristoff a few years ago at RVV - just handing the win to another rider on a plate. Should have sat up there if you want to have any chance of a win; it's a lot easier to sneak away solo in the last 2km from a group of six, than it is from a group of two after all. Seems like most Dutch riders prefer to passively accept 2nd these days, rather than risk all for first. Shame.

 

[hfer07]

Mollema was soo doomed once Balaphilippe joined him

 

[Lequack]

 

[franic]

Re:

The critics from the couch potatoes here are pretty dumb again. What do you want him to do? He didn't do much/any work in the final km. The flat road was no place to attack. After the climb he had already gambled and lost. The worst thing to do would be throw away whatever result you had left

You're right. As a matter of fact he forced Alaphilippe to start the sprint from very far

 

[Rollthedice]

Balaphilippe unstopable.

 

[franic]

Re:

Wow, 8th 9th and 10th sucks for Lotto Jumbo

 

[Lequack]

Re: Re:

I guess Roglic also crashed in that big crash since he was nowhere to be seen on the climb.

Yes, he did. It took a while for him to get going again.

Guess you were right. I really think Roglic could've been up there with Alaphillipe and Mollema, but in the end I still think Alaphillipe would have got the better of both.

 

[hfer07]

Not a single SKY in the top 20? :surprised:

WTF?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

The critics from the couch potatoes here are pretty dumb again. What do you want him to do? He didn't do much/any work in the final km. The flat road was no place to attack. After the climb he had already gambled and lost. The worst thing to do would be throw away whatever result you had left

You're right. As a matter of fact he forced Alaphilippe to start the sprint from very far

Yeah that was a good dummy. But alaphilippe was too strong and could hold the pace

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

The critics from the couch potatoes here are pretty dumb again. What do you want him to do? He didn't do much/any work in the final km. The flat road was no place to attack. After the climb he had already gambled and lost. The worst thing to do would be throw away whatever result you had left

You're right. As a matter of fact he forced Alaphilippe to start the sprint from very far

Alaphilippe could have started the sprint from 1km out and still won. Mollema had lost as soon as soon as the gap to the chasers started going out. Which happened because he pulled over the top of the climb.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Wow, 8th 9th and 10th sucks for Lotto Jumbo

Impressive by Tolhoek though. A potential coming of age.

 

[wirral]

Re:

There was no way for Mollema to win except attacking on the last climb and hoping he'd stay solo. He did a big attack but Alaphilippe was the only one able to follow. So game over after that.

Mollema really good in this race each year. That's like his 7th top 10 in 7 years?

The critics from the couch potatoes here are pretty dumb again. What do you want him to do? He didn't do much/any work in the final km. The flat road was no place to attack. After the climb he had already gambled and lost. The worst thing to do would be throw away whatever result you had left

Totally agree. Great post. The whingeing tacticians from the sofa talk a great race in between beers.

 

[eric_vv]

Re: Re:

Wow, 8th 9th and 10th sucks for Lotto Jumbo

Yeah but you know you have a problem when Gesink is your fastest man on a flat sprint. Also 3 man in top 10 when your leader crashed out of contention?

 

[Lequack]

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

There was no way for Mollema to win except attacking on the last climb and hoping he'd stay solo. He did a big attack but Alaphilippe was the only one able to follow. So game over after that.

Mollema really good in this race each year. That's like his 7th top 10 in 7 years?

The critics from the couch potatoes here are pretty dumb again. What do you want him to do? He didn't do much/any work in the final km. The flat road was no place to attack. After the climb he had already gambled and lost. The worst thing to do would be throw away whatever result you had left

His only chance of a victory when Alaphilippe caught him was for them to get caught and then make a solo attack where the other fast riders would look at each other and not chase.

But you're right. He would never beat Alaphilippe in a two-up situation. His chances would have been better if the others had been closer, and Alaphilippe needed to work harder - but in that situation he should also have not contributed.

But of course - a second place in a WT race is a good result for him and I understand why he pulled. It must also be pretty embarrassing to not cooperate, get towed to the line and still be beaten comfortably in the sprint. But now that he has won the race before, I think he could have played a bit more for another victory instead of just handing it to Alaphilippe.

But he made a good attack and rode an overall good race. Redemption from the Tour, I would say.

 

[Eclipse]

Re: Re:

The critics from the couch potatoes here are pretty dumb again. What do you want him to do? He didn't do much/any work in the final km. The flat road was no place to attack. After the climb he had already gambled and lost. The worst thing to do would be throw away whatever result you had left

You're right. As a matter of fact he forced Alaphilippe to start the sprint from very far

Alaphilippe could have started the sprint from 1km out and still won. Mollema had lost as soon as soon as the gap to the chasers started going out. Which happened because he pulled over the top of the climb.

Mollema lost as soon as he didn't crest solo lol, it's not like there was any other situation today that he'd have won from. At least if you make it a heads up in the finale there's a chance your opponent drops a chain or something.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Also Kruijswijks best result in a classic ever. He used to be bad at anything that's not 3 weeks. this is already surprising. All lotto riders in that group have no sprint and I think they all tried to attack.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

Anthony Roux did good outside of the Nationals!

Such a meh champion.