E3 Harelbeke, 28 March, 2014 (1.WT)

[burning]

Helped he didn't have to drop the strongest rider.

He does not have to drop the strongest guy though.

 

[trevim]

Helped he didn't have to drop the strongest rider.

I have to agree with it but he can only race against the ones there, unless he stopped to wait for Can to try and drop him

 

[Savant12]

Nice win by Sagan but predictable in the end.

Super riding by Devolder to try and bridge to the front group. Cancellara just beasted everyone trying to pull away and catch the front group. Sadly, even he ran out of steam.

 

[King Boonen]

Thomas needs some meat on those pins if he wants to win classics.

 

[woodburn]

He does not have to drop the strongest guy though.

Yes. He can hope for a mechanical every time Cancellara rides.

 

[Parrulo]

I don't care how cooked Terpstra was (and how cooked he was, really, taking 2nd place in the sprint). He should have tried, if only to make Vandenbergh's chances a wee bit better.

Ya i also though he should have tried a bit more on the last few k's.

But he was still pretty good, although i think it's the same type of good Chav was last year. Which means he will be hyped for Flanders and Roubaix but as soon as Canc go he get's dropped

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Do you think Lotto should have waited for Cancellara?

No they should have taken turns on the front instead of leaving all the work to Devolder and Cancellara. They were 2 riders in the chasing group along with Argos, who actually had the guts to work. Gallopin is a fast rider and should have an incentive to bring back the Sagan group

 

[classicomano]

I don't care how cooked Terpstra was (and how cooked he was, really, taking 2nd place in the sprint). He should have tried, if only to make Vandenbergh's chances a wee bit better.

He did try, and you could see in his face the last 10k's that he was completely ****ed.

 

[Afrank]

I think Terpstra deserves a big mention, after that solo number 2 days ago again so strong today..

Agree, Terpstra's looking in great form. A solo win a couple days ago and then 2nd today is impressive.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

That's another reason. A top10 in the Tour might be important for sponsors; a top10 in a semi classic is not.

It's important to get WT points to decide the order for the teamcars in the classics. That's why they were fighting for 5th spot.

 

[hrotha]

He did try, and you could see in his face the last 10k's that he was completely ****ed.

Still had enough energy left to sprint for 2nd, didn't he. Better to spend that energy on an attack or two.

 

[trevim]

I don't understand a single word of what Vandenbergh is saying on Sporza but he comes across as a very nice guy

 

[Parrulo]

No they should have taken turns on the front instead of leaving all the work to Devolder and Cancellara. They were 2 riders in the chasing group along with Argos, who actually had the guts to work. Gallopin is a fast rider and should have an incentive to bring back the Sagan group

That's ok i guess. Some were complaining about them when they started pulling after the crash. Which was completely logical considering the strongest rider was caught off guard.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Very nice race, good win by Sagan. Cance seems very strong and the man to beat for RVV. Tommeke not at top level, Styby and Terpstra very nice.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Agree, Terpstra's looking in great form. A solo win a couple days ago and then 2nd today is impressive.

I put him on the same level as Sagan

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Still had enough energy left to sprint for 2nd, didn't he. Better to spend that energy on an attack or two.

Yes let's criticise Terpstra for not attacking enough in the final when he just did a 30km solo 2 days before.

I don't know but I don't think you know what it means to do an effort like that on a bike? They are still humans apart from Cancellara

 

[trevim]

It's important to get WT points to decide the order for the teamcars in the classics. That's why they were fighting for 5th spot.

Oh well I hope he gets the cars in good places to fight for a top10 again later in the week, without trying to win anything

 

[dicanio_michael]

Yet again a wield QuickStep leadout at the finish
Just let the Sagan sprint on his own with Terpstra sitting behind may get a chance..

 

[Afrank]

Still had enough energy left to sprint for 2nd, didn't he. Better to spend that energy on an attack or two.

Saving energy in the final and having Vandenbergh attack was probably the smartest plan IMO. If he had done attacking himself he might not have had anything left for the sprint and OPQS might have been 3rd. I doubt he could have dropped Sagan or Thomas, so best to get 2nd instead of 3rd.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yes. He can hope for a mechanical every time Cancellara rides.

Or he could, as burning implies, beat him in the sprint.

 

[postmanhat]

Thomas needs some meat on those pins if he wants to win classics.

Or a bit less meat in his head

Great talent, but his tactics still need a bit/lot* of work

*delete as appropriate

 

[hfer07]

What a fantastic race!!!! OPQS hit Sagan hard with all their artillery, but the Kid pulled this one just fine. My respect to "G" for such display today too

Terpstra & Sagan are the main contenders to look out for RVV without a doubt- I know Cance will be ready to, but he appears to have lost that unique explosiveness shown in the past- I could be wrong though...

I'm so pleased today

 

[Marco Pantani]

OPQS should have gone one two with 10 kms to go, they did a bad job imo. Sagan had an easy ride.

TREK isn't weak as a team, but the crashes teared the race apart. Disappointing to see noone but Stijn and Cancellara chasing.

Following races will be more selective as there were too many guys together in the finale which caused the crashes.

Spartacus in a league of his own again.

 

[trevim]

No podium girls for Sagan

 

[Arredondo]

Come on Pete, just dare it