Classics Brugge-De Panne (20/3 and 21/3, 2024)

[Didinho]

No wind in the Moeren. Not even an attempt.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It's difficult ot get a gap here, but it's not completely impossible that a group gets away at some point. I do expect a bunch sprint though.

 

[RedheadDane]

No wind in the Moeren. Not even an attempt.

Attempt for attack. Or attempt for wind?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Echelons!

Or maybe it was just tired riders getting dropped.

 

[Didinho]

Attempt for attack. Or attempt for wind?

Echelons indeed. They were even riding at the wrong side of the road for that.

They pass there again at 10-9km from the finish. Hopefully some action.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Koerner

 

[Didinho]

Consonni little crash. Was my bet for today.

 

[yaco]

I don't understand why Jayco has not brought Paternoster - There is not much difference between Baker and Paternoster in a sprint, however, the latter is a much better rider in wind and cobbles. Jayco got lucky today.

 

[Didinho]

I don't understand why Jayco has not brought Paternoster - There is not much difference between Baker and Paternoster in a sprint, however, the latter is a much better rider in wind and cobbles. Jayco got lucky today.

Also my thought. She’s riding in Wevelgem on Sunday, where she was 3th in 2019. Hope for another podium there.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Fairly big gap at this stage, but it should not be a problem to close it. It'll be interesting to see what Dygert can do in the sprint, unless they ride for Van der Duin instead.

 

[Didinho]

Fairly big gap at this stage, but it should not be a problem to close it. It'll be interesting to see what Dygert can do in the sprint, unless they ride for Van der Duin instead.

I’m concerned about these gaps, a lot of miscalculations before. But everyone wants a sprint so that will happen.

As I write, much closer already.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Easy win for Balsamo. I thought Barbieri was delivering Kool perfectly.

 

[Didinho]

Balsamo with good legs again. Consonni had to do a lot herself in the end and zig-zag’ed to a close 4th. Maybe the fastest with Elisa.

 

[RedheadDane]

Consonni had to do a lot herself in the end and zig-zag’ed to a close 4th. Maybe the fastest with Elisa.

She gets the placement bragging rights in the family.

 

[yaco]

Also my thought. She’s riding in Wevelgem on Sunday, where she was 3th in 2019. Hope for another podium there.

And to think Paternoster could have lead out Baker who probably comes third, instead of fifth.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

She gets the placement bragging rights in the family.

Not in the Valcar family.

 

[Didinho]

She gets the placement bragging rights in the family.

She 1-upped him.

Was following her. Last km behind 2 teammates, after the turn over the train tracks saw her closing a little gap herself and a little boxed in when the others started sprinting. Give her 1 good rider to bring her behind Balsamo and could’ve won today.
Hope she can get her classics win soon.

 

[RedheadDane]

Not in the Valcar family.

No, in the Consonni family.

 

[Salvarani]

Not in the Valcar family.

No, in the Consonni family.

Are yall picking sides in a war amongst mobsters?

 

[RedheadDane]

Are yall picking sides in a war amongst mobsters?

I'm talking about Chiara's right to go over to Simone and go "Neop-ne. I'm-better-than-you!"
And I don't know what Samu is talking about with the "Valcar family"; they're both on different teams now.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I'm talking about Chiara's right to go over to Simone and go "Neop-ne. I'm-better-than-you!"
And I don't know what Samu is talking about with the "Valcar family"; they're both on different teams now.

You can take the riders out of Valcar, but you can never take Valcar out of the riders!
Also UAE is almost the old Valcar team with a different name.

 

[awavey]

just caught up with the highlights, I dont know about that finish, DSM did alot of work on the front for several kms before the final kms which seemed unnecessary waste of energy, yes they had the numbers, and yes you want to be in front for that last corner across the rail tracks, but Balsamo just had to sit by Kools wheel, its not like Trek Lidl had to work that hard for it

and final 500m you just had Barbieri going hammer and tongs, no gaps being created at all, and when shes done, Balsamo peels off and almost effortlessly after a few pedal turns Kool is really already beaten.

I know Kool has had flu recently which disrupted her pre season training, so wont be up to full speed like Balsamo yet, but surely your tactics then play into that, let Trek Lidl do the work on the front and sit on their wheel instead, whereas its like DSM went the other way and without SD Worx around tried to own & boss the race themselves and all they did was make it easier for Balsamo to take the win

 

[Samu Cuenca]

just caught up with the highlights, I dont know about that finish, DSM did alot of work on the front for several kms before the final kms which seemed unnecessary waste of energy, yes they had the numbers, and yes you want to be in front for that last corner across the rail tracks, but Balsamo just had to sit by Kools wheel, its not like Trek Lidl had to work that hard for it

and final 500m you just had Barbieri going hammer and tongs, no gaps being created at all, and when shes done, Balsamo peels off and almost effortlessly after a few pedal turns Kool is really already beaten.

I know Kool has had flu recently which disrupted her pre season training, so wont be up to full speed like Balsamo yet, but surely your tactics then play into that, let Trek Lidl do the work on the front and sit on their wheel instead, whereas its like DSM went the other way and without SD Worx around tried to own & boss the race themselves and all they did was make it easier for Balsamo to take the win

DSM were they're to practice their sprint train, and when you have one of the best sprinters and trains in the world, you got to have faith that they can pull if off. If Trek had lost, you could also have argued they should have attacked instead of trying to keep it together for a sprint themselves. By being at the front they also made sure Kool was never out of position in a tricky final.

 

[awavey]

DSM were they're to practice their sprint train, and when you have one of the best sprinters and trains in the world, you got to have faith that they can pull if off. If Trek had lost, you could also have argued they should have attacked instead of trying to keep it together for a sprint themselves. By being at the front they also made sure Kool was never out of position in a tricky final.

I would argue without Pfeiffer, they didnt have the best sprint train in the world there

really the thing that stood out for me is regardless of how hard Barbieri and Koch were spinning their pedals, they werent actually creating the kind of sprint lead out that was going to launch Kool with an advantage, literally the whole rest of the finishing group there, were just keeping up with them and didnt look like they were on the limit.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I would argue without Pfeiffer, they didnt have the best sprint train in the world there

really the thing that stood out for me is regardless of how hard Barbieri and Koch were spinning their pedals, they werent actually creating the kind of sprint lead out that was going to launch Kool with an advantage, literally the whole rest of the finishing group there, were just keeping up with them and didnt look like they were on the limit.

Of course the team would have been stronger with Georgi there, or if Jastrab had been race ready after her injury, but they still made sure only Kool and Balsamo had a chance of winning.

Balsamo, like Kool, can beat everyone on her day, and here she simply had more speed in the end, since she and Kool started sprinting at pretty much the same time on opposite sides of Barbieri.