Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde, 28th-30th March, 2.HC

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

i think Gilbert won only because it is a weaker field. I don't think he'll be a factor in the Ronde at all

That's a bold statement. Care to define what "being a factor in the race" means?

You would assume going toe to toe with Sagan and GVA qualifies as being a factor in the race

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

I think we may be getting ahead of ourselves. He looked great but this field wasn't exactly top shelf. He's definitely got to be one of the favorites but I don't put him quite in the Sagan-GVA class.

That's three cobble races in a row where he looks arguably the strongest rider out there. He was on par with GVA in Harelbeke.

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

I think we may be getting ahead of ourselves. He looked great but this field wasn't exactly top shelf. He's definitely got to be one of the favorites but I don't put him quite in the Sagan-GVA class.

That's three cobble races in a row where he looks arguably the strongest rider out there. He was on par with GVA in Harelbeke.

He definitely looks strong, I just put him a level below those 2. And I feel like there's really no telling how this race is going to play out with QS and that insane squad they have.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

So what we know now. For the UCI the life of a viewer on the road has the worth of 186 Euros. They fined
Phil Gilbert, Marco Haller, Dries Devenyns, Jasper de Buyst, Luke Durbridge, Alex Edmondson, Christoph Pfingsten, Matthias Brandle, Boy van Poppel, Simone Consonni, Alexandre Pichot, Pierre-Luc Perichon, Frederik Backaert, Ole Forfang and Rob Ruijgh for using the sidewalk instead of the road.

 

[tobydawq]

Well, but it is just not as simple as everyone makes it sound. When looking at the passage of the Mur yesterday, what would you have the riders in the back of the group do? They are probably glued to the wheel of the rider in front of them and follow it almost no matter what. And you have to quite on top of the pedals to think (as a guy in the backend of the group) "Oh, they are using the sidewalk. They are not allowed to do that. So let me be a good example and be an ambassador for the UCI and ride on the cobbles. As the only one. That will not cost me every single chance of staying with them."

More barriers seems to me to be the only solution if they are so keen as they seem to be to get rid of this apparent problem.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Might as well get rid of the cobbles or take another route so the cobbles don't come into it. The riders seem to take all measures so as to take the smoothest route, be it on cycle paths or pedestrian. Isn't it the point why there is cobbled races, so riders have to cycle on them? Could see Gilbert balancing on the edge of the kerb for quite a distance, good riding, yes, but can you imagine if he came off and brought down the following riders? Who's fault would it be? Gilbert's for riding on them in the first place, the following riders because they "followed him", or the UCI's fault for sending them down cobbled roads with rules in force to not ride on pavements/cycle paths but not enforcing those rules? If you ask me, its not the first time this has happened, so the powers that be, either take the rules away and let the riders ride however they like, or enforce the rules so it stops the riders from riding where they're not supposed to. Just hope nobody gets injured or killed, because I'm sure the UCI wouldn't take responsibility if something untoward happened.

 

[Netserk]

It's part of the racing; as long as it isn't closed off with barriers, and it's along the road, it's legit.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

It's part of the racing; as long as it isn't closed off with barriers, and it's along the road, it's legit.

Yeah but it's not legit
Rule 1.2.064 bis states: “It is strictly prohibited to use sidewalks/pavements, paths or cycle paths alongside the roadway that do not form part of the course. Non-respect of this requirement is sanctioned an accordance with Article 12.1.040.14bis, without prejudice to any other sanctions that may apply.”

 

[Netserk]

Legit(imate) =! Legal

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Legit(imate) =! Legal

Yes I know what the world legit means

 

[Netserk]

Well, how would I know when your counterargument is that it is illegal

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Anybody watching this? Beautiful racing right now.

 

[May0maniac]

Echolons, the main bunch was blown into pieces.

 

[MagnusMagnussen]

Re:

Anybody watching this? Beautiful racing right now.

Yes, De Moeren, always fun!

 

[May0maniac]

Who's in the front group?
Edit: Nevermind ,they just mentioned them all on Sporza.
Guardini is there, but he actually has done well in the crosswinds in Quatar before, he has improved a lot over the last few years.

 

[SafeBet]

Durbridge, GVK and Modolo surely aren't.

 

[MagnusMagnussen]

Re:

Who's in the front group?

Kittel, Gilbert and 2 other QS
Theuns
Guardini
Kristoff and Planckaert
Vermelftoort
Petit
Vantomme
...

 

[May0maniac]

The other 2 QS riders are Kittel's train, Sabatini and Richeze.

 

[MagnusMagnussen]

Frontgroup:

Gilbert, Kittel, Richeze, Sabatini, Kristoff, Planckaert, Ackerman, Teuns, Brandle, B. Van Poppel, Guardini, Dune, Sy Chavanel, Petit, Périchon, Ligthart, Van Goethem, Vermeltfoort, Allegaert, Rickaert, McNally and Vantomme.

Edit:
screenshot of De Moeren:

 

[BeagRigh]

Gilbert getting plenty of sprinting practice in!

 

[yaco]

My famous last words from yesterday - Durbridge is a chance to lose time in the next stages because he only has a team of 5 - Durbridge misses echelon and no team-mates to bring him back to the lead group.

 

[Netserk]

So, will Gilbert start the train or latch on the wheel of Kittel? I think the former but hope for the latter.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Yes! Kristoff !

 

[Netserk]

That was a great finish, but Gilbert really shouldn't have pulled in that group.

 

[Akuryo]

Well, the glas is half full I guess. They got Gilbert in a comfortable position GC-wise but the "train" was rather awkward. Kittel was on the front with 400 to go and had to sit up for a moment ...