E3 Harelbeke 2013, 209.5km

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Any word on Gilbert? He got a cream during the race. Commentators were vague about it.

I dont think QS did anything wrong, there were too many teams in the peloton left to ride, Blanco/Cannondale/Vacansoleil/Movistar for instance. It was still a long way to go.

The level of non - form of Blanco is amazing.

When I take a look on the DNF's it is more than ridiculous some teams are stll invited/have to compete in these kinda races, Accent - Euskaltel - Topsport - Garmin - Astana - Argos - Blanco should be ashamed.

 

[theyoungest]

"This race doesn't suit me, it never did," said Gilbert. "I lack the passion for the race to perform better in it. I was always too far back in the peloton and lacked the energy to move up."

No worries. Gilbert just lacks the passion for this race. That's why he couldn't close a gap of a few meters on Vincent Jerome et al.

 

[Panda Claws]

Well at least he did better than last year, and he still managed a 3rd in FW then.

 

[postmanhat]

Wonder what Thomas and Sagan were discussing at the end? Thomas seemed to be criticising Sagan, which would be a bit unfair

 

[Roderick]

Point being that Pippo was not supported in the race. Pippo obviously did everything he could and finished the race. Everybody else on the team disappeared at the halfway point. Hopefully he will be better supported in RVV.

Saxo's riders in these races are placement boys and peloton fodder. A press release seems pointless.

After the halfwaypoint it doesn't matter that much if you're still supported or not in a race like this. From that point on it's just hill after hill. When you see no doms anymore, just take the weel of Tommeke or Cance and you will be guaranteed upfront

 

[williamp78]

No worries. Gilbert just lacks the passion for this race. That's why he couldn't close a gap of a few meters on Vincent Jerome et al.

If i were gilberts boss i'd be really annoyed by that statement he made.

No passion essentially means "i couldn't be bothered trying". It's also very dismissive and rude to the organisers of the race.

If i had that attitude in my job i'd be unemployed very quickly.

 

[williamp78]

Wonder what Thomas and Sagan were discussing at the end? Thomas seemed to be criticising Sagan, which would be a bit unfair

I thought thomas was telling sagan off as well. Maybe thomas thought sagan wheel sucked for just a bit too long in the final km

 

[HiCadence]

Wonder what Thomas and Sagan were discussing at the end? Thomas seemed to be criticising Sagan, which would be a bit unfair

I'd imagine it probably had something to do with Sagan sucking his wheel to the line.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

After the halfwaypoint it doesn't matter that much if you're still supported or not in a race like this. From that point on it's just hill after hill. When you see no doms anymore, just take the weel of Tommeke or Cance and you will be guaranteed upfront

really? When Sagan was dropped (perhaps after a mech?) after the halfway point, his team closed the gap to the front group. Sagan ended in 2nd place. Without his strong team, he would have been outside top 10.

Pippo's chance will increase with better support, just like last year with Gatto (?). His team can do it for sure, if they step up.

 

[Winterfold]

Thomas with his speed over 4km should be able to ask questions of Sagan or make him think a bit

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Thomas with his speed over 4km should be able to ask questions of Sagan or make him think a bit

Thomas and Sky with their complete lack of tactical nous will find every question answered though. Shame really as I always want him to win.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

really? When Sagan was dropped (perhaps after a mech?) after the halfway point, his team closed the gap to the front group. Sagan ended in 2nd place. Without his strong team, he would have been outside top 10.

Sagan changed his bike 2 times and had to ride 30kms on his teammates's bike (maybe that's why he put it on grass so gentle - it wasn't his bike)

 

[The Hitch]

Thomas and Sky with their complete lack of tactical nous will find every question answered though. Shame really as I always want him to win.

What is this "lack of tactical nous" you speak of? According to the media bailsford is the single great tactical genius in cycling history. He invented this amazing new tactic called a train that no one had ever heard of before, and now all the other teams are trying to copy it.

 

[Roderick]

really? When Sagan was dropped (perhaps after a mech?) after the halfway point, his team closed the gap to the front group. Sagan ended in 2nd place. Without his strong team, he would have been outside top 10.

Pippo's chance will increase with better support, just like last year with Gatto (?). His team can do it for sure, if they step up.

Valid point. But I was more talking about the fact that it was really just pippo's fault that he wasn't there where he was supposed to be. He had half a dozen chances to get up front. When the cannondale-guys managed to close to gap, pippo had to be there in the wheel of Sagan but he wasn't there. That's completely his own fault

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Valid point. But I was more talking about the fact that it was really just pippo's fault that he wasn't there where he was supposed to be. He had half a dozen chances to get up front. When the cannondale-guys managed to close to gap, pippo had to be there in the wheel of Sagan but he wasn't there. That's completely his own fault

Agree, Pippo didn't have the legs. Not strong enough clearly. However when his team mates headed for the hotel, they didn't know about his bad legs. It was too early in the race. That was my point.

So lets hope Pippo have better legs and gets better support in RVV. We need a strong competitive landscape.

 

[Afrank]

Wonder what Thomas and Sagan were discussing at the end? Thomas seemed to be criticising Sagan, which would be a bit unfair

Sagan patted Thomas on the back, so I think they were just congratulating each other on the race.

 

[postmanhat]

Sagan patted Thomas on the back, so I think they were just congratulating each other on the race.

Just watched it again and had forgotten how close it was on the line. Actually, I think Thomas was criticising Sagan for not pulling in the final 500 metres to catch Oss. I think Sagan's pat on the back was of the 'live and learn' variety

 

[Pentacycle]

Just watched it again and had forgotten how close it was on the line. Actually, I think Thomas was criticising Sagan for not pulling in the final 500 metres to catch Oss. I think Sagan's pat on the back was of the 'live and learn' variety

Thomas probably thought he would catch Oss with his 'lead out' effort and get a podium as Oss would probably collapse. Didn't happen in the end, perhaps he wanted to know if Sagan got the second place.

 

[wwabbit]

Thomas had two choice:
1. Let Oss go, and compete in a sprint against Sagan for 3rd place
2. Chase Oss down for 3rd place knowing he will be leading Sagan out for second

I think Thomas made the right choice, he knows he can't beat Sagan in a sprint for 3rd, so his better option was to chase Oss down for 3rd. He almost succeeded, and might have had an even better chance if Sagan went for the sprint earlier instead of wheelsucking almost all the way.

 

[PeterB]

It almost seemed that Sagan had one more reason for not helping Thomas to chase down Oss - not to help Thomas to overtake Oss who I guess is still Sagan's good friend. So eventually it ended perfectly for Sagan - getting to second while keeping Oss third...

 

[will10]

Sagan risked 3rd to get 2nd. Don't think he was really arsed once the win was gone.

 

[Afrank]

Just watched it again and had forgotten how close it was on the line. Actually, I think Thomas was criticising Sagan for not pulling in the final 500 metres to catch Oss. I think Sagan's pat on the back was of the 'live and learn' variety

I have no idea really, nor does anybody but Sagan and Thomas. Regardless, if Thomas was mad that Sagan didn't help out, it was Thomas that made the decision to chase down Oss. So he would have no one to blame but himself.
Agree with wwabbit, Thomas made the right choice.

 

[SKSemtex]

photo on Oss facebook page says a lot about these two great boys. I had to make it my avatar.