E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke 2012

[Museeuw]

Congrats Tom!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I didn't do any predictions about Boonen. I just said his tactics were wrong when there's a bigger favorite. Cancellara punctured and influenced the race big time.

You literally said attacking was wrong by Boonen. Attacking at the same point he does every year. Now a record-winning 5th time.

I mean..what are you trying to prove???

 

[luckyboy]

Best race of the season so far

 

[Parrulo]

I didn't do any predictions about Boonen. I just said his tactics were wrong when there's a bigger favorite. Cancellara punctured and influenced the race big time.

boonen has been racing this way since 2004 and even tho canc has been better the last 2 years boonen still has a better or we can even say much better palmares so i am pretty sure he knows how he needs to race to win races better then you.

 

[Caruut]

I didn't do any predictions about Boonen. I just said his tactics were wrong when there's a bigger favorite. Cancellara punctured and influenced the race big time.

If his tactics were wrong, who's that lad in the OPQS shirt who looks like Boonen on the podium? He's clearly extremely strong - he worked hard all day and won a sprint. If Fab hadn't had a puncture, then the big group might never have come back to make it a bunch. Then all Boonen would have to do is win from the small group, presumably with Fab having done some huge pulls to keep his group clear. Spin your error how you like; Boonen was extremely strong today, and given that he won from such a big group, it seems fair to me to conclude that a lot of guys who would beat him on a pancake flat race were too tired from the day's racing to beat him. And the credit for that goes to: Boonen.

 

[insideout leadout]

Boonen, now a five time winner got his tactics wrong? can't you see why that's such a hard sell?

Well after Cancellara punctured Boonen's team rode perfectly, that's not what I'm talking about.

 

[roundabout]

Well, yeah. Wouldn't have been the first time.

Had Boonen persisted with his first (brilliant) attack there probably wouldn't have been too many Skys, Katushas and QS around to chase Cancellara

Oh, and Boonen would have won for sure because he always attacks at the same place or something like that...

 

[maltiv]

You've changed your tune a bit. If EBH were strong enough, he'd have been up there. Perhaps he lost the wheel, Eisel couldn't find him and just went for it. As you say, it's all speculation, but your first instinct was to slam Sky for it.

Not necessarily, even when he's feeling good he is bad at positioning. If he hadn't sprinted at all then I would've agreed completely with you, but the fact that he was indeed sprinting at the other side of the road from far back makes it seem as if he were actually feeling OK. So I find the situation a bit peculiar, that's all.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Best race of the season so far

This.
_______

 

[Froome19]

I fail to see your or point.

Generally in these races it is much more split up, and happens as early as 60km. The fact boonen still won displays these races are for the hard men. Everyone was feeling it at the end.

That i said that the people in the split at 60km were the ones more likely to contend for the finish and look who won! The guy that started that attack

While we're making observations, you saida couple of days ago that Gilbert was on a whole different level than Boonen, I didn't agree with you then, but I guess you're right.

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sportnieuws/MG_wielrennen/1.1253345

If youre talking about in the Gilbert V Canc thread then I dont really see how this proves anything, how can one race prove for or against...
Since 2009 Gilbert has been better- if you want to refute that by bringing today's race...
And if youre talking about in the Flanders thread then I could bring you loads of videos with Gilbert bossing proper hills...

 

[Lanark]

That i said that the people in the split at 60km were the ones more likely to contend for the finish and look who won! The guy that started that attack

If youre talking about in the Gilbert V Canc thread then I dont really see how this proves anything, how can one race prove for or against...
Since 2009 Gilbert has been better- if you want to refute that by bringing today's race...
And if youre talking about in the Flanders thread then I could bring you loads of videos with Gilbert bossing proper hills...

Ok, show me those loads of videos of Gilbert bossing cobbled hills, I'm sure I can find 10 of Boonen for everyone you find from Gilbert

But all kidding aside, what was up with Gilbert today? Is wasn't that impressed with him earlier this season, but this?

 

[Parrulo]

Ok, show me those loads of videos of Gilbert bossing cobbled hills, I'm sure I can find 10 of Boonen for everyone you find from Gilbert

But all kidding aside, what was up with Gilbert today? Is wasn't that impressed with him earlier this season, but this?

looking at that video you posted indeed gilbert and boonen aren't on the same league atm, boonen is 10 leagues ahead

what's wrong fast phill?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Nice to see riders like Hoste and Devolder come out to play. A very interesting little test out, within a very complex race, today.
Enjoyed it a lot.

Gilbert? Any offers?...................anyone???

 

[Stingray34]

Tommeke you magnificent b'astard!

I'm gay for you.

Who am I kidding, I'm just gay

 

[therhodeo]

Nice to see riders like Hoste and Devolder come out to play.

Devolder had a go a few times from the group. Lots of guys attacking today.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nice to see riders like Hoste and Devolder come out to play. A very interesting little test out, within a very complex race, today.
Enjoyed it a lot.

Gilbert? Any offers?...................anyone???

I have some ideas, but they're not very nice to Gilbert or a sponsor which now sponsors Quick Step

 

[luckyboy]

Good to see all the riders I like doing well too.

Chavanel, Boonen, Vanmarcke, Devolder, Freire, Hoste..

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Amazing race. It had everything, including "attacks" from Hushovd and Pozzato, and it even looked as though Devolder was on to something!
Fabian is so incredible strong it's unreal.

Best race of the season by far!

 

[maltiv]

Edvald: "I wasn't feeling good in the hills, but I was feeling pretty good in the final. I was sitting on Cancellara's wheel, because I thought he would attack in the final kilometers. But he didn't, so I ended up starting the sprint way too far back."

About Eisel, he only says that "Eisel was on Boonen's wheel and I was on Cancellara's". So, seems like I could be correct about them not wanting to cooperate, for whatever reason.

 

[roundabout]

Wow, he sat on the wheel expecting Cancellara to attack again?

I am torn between it being idiotic and a compliment to Fabian.

 

[maltiv]

Wow, he sat on the wheel expecting Cancellara to attack again?

I am torn between it being idiotic and a compliment to Fabian.

Quite stupid indeed, it was pretty obvious that Cancellara had given up.

 

[luckyboy]

He should have sat on a sprinter's wheel at least.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Edvald: "I wasn't feeling good in the hills, but I was feeling pretty good in the final. I was sitting on Cancellara's wheel, because I thought he would attack in the final kilometers. But he didn't, so I ended up starting the sprint way too far back."

About Eisel, he only says that "Eisel was on Boonen's wheel and I was on Cancellara's". So, seems like I could be correct about them not wanting to cooperate, for whatever reason.

lol. what a total idiot

 

[insideout leadout]

Yeah but don't you think Edvald visualized it before the race sitting on Fabu's wheel till the end, but apparently he took it too far haha

 

[CobbleStoner]

Yeah but don't you think Edvald visualized it before the race sitting on Fabu's wheel till the end, but apparently he took it too far haha

best nickname (and most fitting) in the peloton, he's daydreaming now about winnin' the big race