E3 Harelbeke 2013, 209.5km

[pedromartins]

Failure of the season so far.

of the last 4 seasons.

 

[Alpechraxler]

meh I really don't understand this guy.

Probably he had a cramp ?

 

[infeXio]

So EBH didnt get 2 impressive stage wins in TdF 2011?

 

[staubsauger]

"You never know what is tommorow"

I'm not a fan of Luigi at all, but there are some riders which should take a leaf out of his book.

 

[Miburo]

So EBH didnt get 2 impressive stage wins in TdF 2011?

Doesn't change the fact that he always fails in the classics lately

 

[SafeBet]

Probably he had a cramp ?

More like a paralysis

 

[Ferminal]

So EBH didnt get 2 impressive stage wins in TdF 2011?

Should stick to riding the TdF then.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Funny how EBH is a massive failure whenever he doesn't win. CN forum is hard to please.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

Geraint might have to change his name to Thomas the IV at this rate

That's freaking strong there.

 

[Lanark]

EBH is a really good rider, but in the classics he doesn't seem to improve at all in the last couple of year. Last year I hoped that he might make the last couple of steps, but this wasn't promising at all. Just not good enough.

 

[pedromartins]

Looks like Fabian is suffering from the "Apple factor".

For some, Apple being the most lucrative company in the world and having 14 billions on net profit each quarter isn't enough. So they talk like if they will be out of business soon, despite being the only one with growth margins and innovating at consumer level since 98. All of their competitors are losing money or significance. Even Samsung with all the hype and copy machines won't grow anymore.

For some, Canc attacking and destroying a field 30km out instead of 50 isn't enough. He should attack from farther, gain more than 10 min and do second place too.

 

[Descender]

Did Oss sit up and wait for Sagan to take second? He does realize he is on new team?

meh I really don't understand this guy.

Stupid from Oss...

oss probably ows sagan something from losing a beerdrinking comp

Are you guys serious? Have you ever ridden a bicycle?

 

[brilleaben]

Funny how EBH is a massive failure whenever he doesn't win. CN forum is hard to please.

What part of his classics performances justify him being Sky's leader? Yup, he dissapoints.

 

[pedromartins]

Funny how EBH is a massive failure whenever he doesn't win. CN forum is hard to please.

He never does. He is never close too win, actually.

 

[Lanark]

Looks like Fabian is suffering from the "Apple factor".

For some, Apple being the most lucrative company in the world and having 14 billions on net profit each quarter isn't enough. So they talk like if they will be out of business soon, despite being the only one with growth margins and innovating at consumer level since 98. All of their competitors are losing money or significance. Even Samsung with all the hype and copy machines won't grow anymore.

For some, Canc attacking and destroying a field 30km out instead of 50 isn't enough. He should attack from farther, gain more than 10 min and do second place too.

Even on the Belgian TV they said that there isn't a single other rider in the peloton who can win a race like this in such a manner.

 

[Ferminal]

What part of his classics performances justify him being Sky's leader? Yup, he dissapoints.

I think Thomas was their leader. Still seemed like Hayman was doing a lot more work in the initial group though.

 

[brilleaben]

I saw Thomas and Eddy as co-leaders. But Hayman seems stronger than Hagen, certainly.

 

[pedromartins]

Did i just saw a girl trying to have intercourse with fabian on the podium?

 

[kjetilraknerud]

He never does. He is never close too win, actually.

So none of his wins are actually wins?

 

[pedromartins]

So none of his wins are actually wins?

Look, we have to put things on context.

People thought that he would dominate classics, win sprints and the TDF. (/s)
He is not at "Andy" level, and he looks like a hard working man. Maybe in the 60's he would've been great, but he just lacks the engine or that "edge" on any category (sprints, hills, etc) to be close to win a big race.

I like him, really, but he needs to try and specialize at something. He must stop throwing his carrer away. He was the only one close to Cav in 2011 tour sprints, he should focus on that and become a "strong" sprinter.

The sooner he realizes he isn't Sagan or Kelly, the sooner he will start to win. Just not the 5 monuments...

 

[Netserk]

Thanks for clearing that up.

So you're gonna answer all the question that i've posted?

You've put it nicely up, shouldn't be a problem.

Is it really so hard to admit you're biased towards Canc? And wanna dismiss everything he does on a bike cause you've a Boonen poster above your bed?

I bet you'll only answer that last question

Get ready for all the answers then (and I expect you to answer all of mine afterwards):

1: No I wouldn't be jiz zing all over this thread, if all the action was the same with the only difference being Boonen in Canc's shoes and Canc in Boonen's.

2a: PR wasn't static last year.

2b: I'm not dismissing Canc. I have only commented on the race. Please show a comment where I dismiss Canc.

3: No

4a: In my first answer to 2a

4b: Yes there was attacks in the last 50km in E3. Not in the last 30km though, which is what this is about.

4c: You need to specify which flat stage in the tour.

4d: I ask if this was static, you respond and ask what PR was last year. Because it is followed by a wink smiley, I read it as you stating that PR was static last year.

5a: That is what I am doing. You're welcome.

5b: Yes I'm biased. But since nothing of all of this was about Canc, I can't really see the relevance. (And no I don't think it is hard to admit)

5c: I don't have any posters in my room (or over my bed for that matter). If I had it would most likely be a Boonen one though.

I bet I have answered all. Will you do the same?

 

[maltiv]

Funny how EBH is a massive failure whenever he doesn't win. CN forum is hard to please.

He was 9th today after being visible all day, and just missing out on the final split. Had he been 2 seconds faster up that cobbled climb, or in a better position going into it, he would've been 2nd or 3rd today. Let's not forget that just one week ago he was ill...

All in all, it was a decent performance.

 

[RownhamHill]

Some of the EBH stuff is a bit harsh isn't it. He just came 9, and of the 8 riders who beat him:

1. Cancellara : multiple ITT World Champ, and monument winner - probably an all time great?
2. Sagan : still young, but already a heavily marked favourite, phenomenon, once in a generation type rider.
3. Oss : I don't much about him
4. Thomas : multiple olympic and world track titles, junior robuaix champion, strong rider, not on level of Cancellara, Boonen or Sagan, but still no slouch
5. Langeveld : I don't know much about him
6. Chavanel : former french road and ITT champion, tdf stage winner, classics hard man, again no slouch
7. Boonen : based on palmares, the greatest cobbles rider of all time? Oh, and five time winner of this race
8. Paolini : Again I don't know much about him.
9. Boasson Hagen

So I count two bona-fide all time greats, another who will probably join them in the fullness of time, and at least two other riders who are pretty decent riders in their own rights. And possibly the other three are on a similar level, I'm just not familiar enough with them.

So I get that for a while everyone thought EBH was going to be Sagan-esque, but that he isn't quite at that level hardly makes him a failure, does it?

 

[Pippo_San]

EBH to become the next Luca Paolini.

Neither fish nor good red meat.

 

[trevim]

Breakthrough of the day, Oss. Finally showing some classics result.
Comeback: Cancellara, I'm glad to see him back to winning ways, he deserves some good luck although his interviews usually discredit him.
Disappointment of the day: Breschel. I still haven't figured where he ended but I was hoping for a crazy top10 (lol at me). Oh and Hushovd, maybe his leadership career will be over after this classics season.