Gent - Wevelgem: March 28th, 2021

[Orbit501]

Bike Exchange very well represented in this front group with 4 strong riders.

Most notable teams to miss out....AG2R, Alpecin and Direct Energie.

 

[rghysens]

I don't think the peloton will come back.

 

[Orbit501]

And now pcs has gone down. Can't remember if I saw any ISN or Cofidis riders in that front group either?

 

[Wvv]

Can't say the Wolfpack is well represented either. Only Bennett, how is he even gonna manage this...

 

[rghysens]

Can't say the Wolfpack is well represented either. Only Bennett, how is he even gonna manage this...

Not.

 

[RedheadDane]

Vanmarcke DNF...

 

[Ktarie]

Bora is also out of the race.
Don't know if they are allowed to start in a week.

7 days quarantaine in Belgium after a high risk contact, so the Ronde should be possible.

In this case Trek might be out of De Ronde.

However, Bora seems to be a upset:

"At Bora - hansgrohe, the doctor 's decision met with complete incomprehension. “I am very disappointed and upset. A general practitioner from the region can block an entire team in one of the biggest one-day races in the world, "team manager Ralph Denk was quoted in a press release sent in the morning." We had a positive corona case with Walls and have a roommate and a physio as a K1 person (contact person of the 1st category, d. editor). It is absolutely clear that they must all be isolated and quarantined, "said the Raublinger, who did not question the previous measures.

However, Denk sharply criticized the latest decisions. As he further explained, two-thirds of the team members present on site - drivers and employees - were quarantined, although the criteria were incomprehensible. "Who was chosen and why is completely unclear and also appears arbitrary," said Denk, referring to comparable cases that would not have resulted in such drastic measures for other teams. “We tried everything last night, but the doctor didn't even answer us. It would be nice not to understand how he justifies his decisions, ”said Denk and added that Bora - hansgrohe would not be able to start at Dwars Door Vlaanderen on March 31st. "

Denk: “Ich bin sehr enttäuscht und verärgert“ | radsport-news.com

www.radsport-news.com

 

[Bonimenier]

Peloton is not getting closer at all.

 

[titan31]

Ya, Bora should be ok if no new positives for Ronde, but Trek could miss today, Dwars and Ronde based on that ruling.

 

[Orbit501]

Vanmarcke DNF...

Any reason given?

He seemed to miss every split in E3 but then suddenly arrived back into the main group at one point from nowhere. I assumed he must have had a mechanical in that race, but it was never mentioned.

Edit: Just seen. Sickness since last week.

 

[RedheadDane]

Any reason given?

He seemed to miss every split in E3 but then suddenly arrived back into the main group at one point from nowhere. I assumed he must have had a mechanical in that race, but it was never mentioned.

Not recovered completely from sickness last week.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Why is DQ not pulling in the main bunch? They can't be confident in Bennett following Wout or even Trentin on the climbs...

 

[BlueRoads]

Why is DQ not pulling in the main bunch? They can't be confident in Bennett following Wout or even Trentin on the climbs...

I think it's a good chance for them, however, if they get back later... and guys like van Aert and Trentin have exhausted themselves. If they exhaust themselves now they can't go with a wolfpack approach anymore... so they could simply be gambling. Or it's because Tim D isn't there...

 

[Orbit501]

Why is DQ not pulling in the main bunch? They can't be confident in Bennett following Wout or even Trentin on the climbs...

It can be argued Bennett is climbing better than he's ever done, perhaps?

Didn't help him in MSR mind. But that could still be a distance thing.

He's always been good in sightly uphill sprints too, so might cope well with short intense efforts. How well all that will translate into what he'll have to deal with today, we'll see.

 

[Red Rick]

It can be argued Bennett is climbing better than he's ever done, perhaps?

Didn't help him in MSR mind. But that could still be a distance thing.

He's always been good in sightly uphill sprints too, so might cope well with short intense efforts. How well all that will translate into what he'll have to deal with today, we'll see.

If Van Aert can't draw and quarter Bennett on the Kemmel he should just become a GT rider.

 

[happytramp]

I think it's a good chance for them, however, if they get back later... and guys like van Aert and Trentin have exhausted themselves. If they exhaust themselves now they can't go with a wolfpack approach anymore... so they could simply be gambling. Or it's because Tim D isn't there...

Could be you're right. Letting the favourites punch themselves out in a break all day not wanting to bring them back to early... They'll need to keep within striking distance for the run in though.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

How on earth did Bennett make the split and no other DQS riders?

 

[Orbit501]

If Van Aert can't draw and quarter Bennett on the Kemmel he should just become a GT rider.

Well he couldn't draw and quarter Ewan on the Poggio

 

[Red Rick]

Well he couldn't draw and quarter Ewan on the Poggio

Ewan is a far better puncheur than Bennett.

 

[Orbit501]

Group 2 is pretty small already!

 

[Pricey_sky]

A big fire near the finish, they are planning an alternate route in the final 5km:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1376139039720534021

View: https://twitter.com/faustocoppi60/status/1376139039720534021?s=21

 

[Volderke]

I feel Stybar / Ballerini aren't getting there!

 

[Red Rick]

This seems like the least smart way to go about closing the gap

 

[happytramp]

What's t

I feel Stybar / Ballerini aren't getting there!

What's the gap at... Can't watch yet.

 

[Volderke]

The Kemmel came just when they were around 30 seconds back, but on the Kemmel they were clearly a bit burnt. With some help from riders coming out of the peloton (Lampaert, Kragh Andersen), Stybar can try again. Around 35 seconds is the gap now.