Gent - Wevelgem in Flanders Field 2023 March 26, 260.9 km (1.WT)

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Aug 29, 2009
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I dont think so. Tiller is there and he is just sitting there. If Kristoff was there Tiller would be working.
think so too, yeah. Not really a good sign for next week. This kind of race should be exactly Kristoff's cup of tea, and he abandoned E3 on Friday to be better prepared.
 
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Sep 2, 2011
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I understand people questioning QS tactics and / or team selection but let's be real: they're not strong enough to keep this race in check (or any other big cobble race for that matter) no matter what they do. They're a third tier team for cobbles now.
 
Will WVA give the stage to Laporte? What are your thoughts. I have 100 euros on Laporte. I don't know if I should cash out
Honestly, WvA hasn't won many big races and thus he won't give this one away.
Laporte has a good contract at Jumbo and is more than happy if he wins some stages in PN and the Tour, so I would cash out.
But don't be mad at me if WvA is in a generous day ;-)

ps: WvA rode just a bit harder on the Kemmel to stop any discussions, when he will be first over the line, that Laporte had any chance if they battled it out.
 
Sep 20, 2017
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Imagine if the big Pedersen-Mohoric-Kragh group had just let Jakobsen join them. Then QuickStep wouldn't have chased, and Wout and Laporte would probably never have seen the front.
Laporte was also in that group, no?

But yes, that decision has backfired on race and riders.
 
Apr 10, 2019
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Wout when the team car asks him if he wants to let Laporte win: "That doesn't work for me, brother!"
 
Nov 16, 2013
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Laporte was also in that group, no?

But yes, that decision has backfired on race and riders.

Oh, that's probably true. And Van Hooydonck. I remembered there were two Jumbos but different from Wout and Laporte but that's probably wrong.
 
Mar 4, 2011
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Jeez ... going in the breakaway from the peloton with two guys 1 minute out in front. It's not the way to chase them down. So toxic for the collaboration. As I see it, this kind of miserable chasing has been more common in recent years.
Yup. I’m not sure what is worse with chasing groups: when guys in the chasing are constantly flicking elbows, and slowing noticeably when they get to the front, gesturing, etc . . . Or like they are today - looking like they’re riding hard but have surrendered another minute to the two leaders in the last ten Km?
 
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May 10, 2015
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I understand people questioning QS tactics and / or team selection but let's be real: they're not strong enough to keep this race in check (or any other big cobble race for that matter) no matter what they do. They're a third tier team for cobbles now.

People just expect more because of their history, and PatLef arrogance obviously.
But yes I agree. They might even come 3rd with Merlier, who seems to be the only QS guy who's actually good in Flanders lately.