ENECO Tour August 17 - 24

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It was a great win. Bobdrige had a really difficult time on the last couple of hills.

I don't know where he got the energy, but I guess when a pursuit guy is in the final 2km, he knows how to do that effort

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Man this augusterone is sure da thing!
________
WEED

 

[Kwibus]

Nice win by Bobridge. Specially for a 21 year old guy. Didn't see much, but I hoped this stage would coz the peloton to be shattered more....

Just looked at tomorrows profile with great climbs like the muur van huy, but after the muur they still got 50km to go? wtf? Allthough going through the belgian ardennes it looks like it's an boring bunch sprint stage. A pity.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Nice try by Sky

 

[Ferminal]

He threw everything at that, nice win.

 

[auscyclefan94]

ACF will now claim that Jack Bob is Cadel's lost nephew!

Well he has half the talent of cadel so he could go a long way in cycling!
Well done jack! I though it was almost Jens Voigt-esque especially the way he wrestled his bike when riding away.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Well he has half the talent of cadel so he could go a long way in cycling!
Well done jack! I though it was almost Jens Voigt-esque especially the way he wrestled his bike when riding away.

Half of a lot of 2nd places is a lot of 1sts, so I guess you are right. The kid certainly has a bright future ahead!

 

[Eyeballs Out]

According to the race ticker, A Davis, V Iglinskiy, Hutarovich, Cherel and Mata didn't start today; Cozza, Dmitriyev, Hoj, JI Gutierrez have climbed off and Van Summeren crashed out

Aerts and Lagutin (white jersey on the road) lead by 4 mins

 

[Cobblestoned]

Very very stormy weather today.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Can't help but think the organisers continue to miss tricks with this race.
I'd be surprised if the Muur will have any GC effect at all, coming as it does, 30kms from the finish.

Were it not for the fortunate (but deserved) break, we would be looking at another GC, completely dominated by the watch and bonus seconds.

What was so wrong with pinching the Fleche finish? At least it would have generated a few seconds between the main protagonists.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Economics... that's what holding the ENECO Tour from nice finishes

Cities who pay the most get the finishes. And it's hard to keep some nice hard climb in when those cities want a local lap (Roermond and Sittard for instance), or are located 30km from the last serious hill.

If they'd go to Huy, Valkenburg, etc... they'd be broke in 2 years. There'd be no ENECO Tour

 

[Ferminal]

According to the race ticker, A Davis, V Iglinskiy, Hutarovich, Cherel and Mata didn't start today; Cozza, Dmitriyev, Hoj, JI Gutierrez have climbed off and Van Summeren crashed out

Aerts and Lagutin (white jersey on the road) lead by 4 mins

Bad luck for JvS, he was struggling at the back of the main group the whole time yesterday.

 

[catmiles]

Possible for EBH to gain 1.24 on Martin?

Probably not

 

[Mellow Velo]

Economics... that's what holding the ENECO Tour from nice finishes

Cities who pay the most get the finishes. And it's hard to keep some nice hard climb in when those cities want a local lap (Roermond and Sittard for instance), or are located 30km from the last serious hill.

If they'd go to Huy, Valkenburg, etc... they'd be broke in 2 years. There'd be no ENECO Tour

Yup. The same thing that afflicts the Tour, effects the ENECO.

Anyhow, we are live. Is there really 97kms to go?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I can't see Hagen dropping Martin on the Muur de Huy or Mur d'Amay. And I can't see him riding away from a time trial specialist like Martin + his team and get +1m

And especially, Rabobank will do everything to keep Moerenhout on the podium and Rabobank definately have the strongest team (combined) to pull back guys like that. They're usually left with Moerenhout, Boom, Tankink and Tjallingii at least, and Van Emden on a good day can go on pretty long as well. 4 of them TT specialists (moerenhout, boom, tjalllingii and van emden).

If Hagen got away with Moerenhout they might allow it. But then Moerenhout wins the ENECO Tour, and Hagen still only ends up 2nd

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Economics... that's what holding the ENECO Tour from nice finishes

Cities who pay the most get the finishes. And it's hard to keep some nice hard climb in when those cities want a local lap (Roermond and Sittard for instance), or are located 30km from the last serious hill.

If they'd go to Huy, Valkenburg, etc... they'd be broke in 2 years. There'd be no ENECO Tour

Same problem with the Tour of Britain unfortunately.

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Possible for EBH to gain 1.24 on Martin?

Nope. Not a chance

 

[Cobblestoned]

Has someone got a screenshot of the todays profile ?
Still can´t open this pdf.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Has someone got a screenshot of the todays profile ?
Still can´t open this pdf.

 

[Ferminal]

I guess I should start watching now, at least until Mur d'Amay.

 

[Cobblestoned]

thanks.

The Mur Amay 30 km from the finish - hard to make a decisive selection for the good climbers and hillies.

I bet on Robbie today.

 

[Kwibus]

Ridiculous stage. Pointless climbs as it will end up in a bunchsprint anyways.

Rabo doesn't want to attack for whatever reason. Atleast try it....

HTC and Rabo seem to be brothers in arms atm.. snoozefest

 

[ak-zaaf]

Ridiculous stage. Pointless climbs as it will end up in a bunchsprint anyways.

Rabo doesn't want to attack for whatever reason. Atleast try it....

HTC and Rabo seem to be brothers in arms atm.. snoozefest

They admitted after the stage yesterday what they will be hoping for a TT miracle.
SKY pulled on Doodeman yesterday, Rabo saw Martin could easily follow and that was it for them.
Today nobody will let Koos ride, so it should come from a guy like Boom, but don't expect anything.

That's basically what they said.

 

[Jamsque]

The Muur has really destroyed the field, lead group down to 25-30 but there will be a bit of coming together over the next few km.

 

[Kwibus]

They admitted after the stage yesterday what they will be hoping for a TT miracle.
SKY pulled on Doodeman yesterday, Rabo saw Martin could easily follow and that was it for them.
Today nobody will let Koos ride, so it should come from a guy like Boom, but don't expect anything.

That's basically what they said.

I know they've said that, but I expected them to do so anyways.
And they did it seems. I was a little too early with flaming Rabo, but still the course is too easy. 2nd peloton just closed the gap with the 1st....
Hope the last climb gives some spectacle...