Bernard Eisel sort of speaks with an Aussie accent, maybe that'll do?Pinarelloman said:I would like to see one of the Aussies win. Stuart O Grady would be my preference or maybe Chris Sutton (doubtful).
Bernard Eisel sort of speaks with an Aussie accent, maybe that'll do?Pinarelloman said:I would like to see one of the Aussies win. Stuart O Grady would be my preference or maybe Chris Sutton (doubtful).
Dekker_Tifosi said:Lottofail..
Think some Belgians aren't too happy either that Roelandts closed the gap on Vanmarcke either...
Weird race, again.
He was strong, but Saxo did zero work in the echelon, so above all he and his team were smart.saxofan said:Breschel was clearly the strongest today
Breschel did more than his share in the Liquigas echelon. Hincapie and Eisel however...theyoungest said:He was strong, but Saxo did zero work in the echelon, so above all he and his team were smart.
Dekker_Tifosi said:With Roelandts sprint I would have turned the tables.
ChrisE said:We have different definitions of impressive. Sit on the wheels, close a gap, and attack with 3 to go all in the last 20k. Whatever.
Yes I admit he's young and that's impressive he made it to the end, regardless of how he rode the last 20k. Doesn't mean he deserves to get 2nd.
Thoughtforfood said:No, Hincapie led out the sprint...and of his moves in cycling, that was not one of his finest. I mean, he had no shot of winning regardless of the tactic he chose, but he could have followed Eisel for second instead of leading him out.
michaeld said:The big losers on the day were Saxo Bank.
If Cooke would have worked after Farrar/Paolini had fried themselves, he would have been closer to the main group to give Breschel the wheel. After 20km of wind, Farrar isn't the threat he normally would have been.
Cooke in the main group with Breschel would have given them a better chance at him getting away. If not, Cooke waits to sprint. you have 2 chances at a podium.
Instead, no chances. Right up there with Friere. He tried to get cute, Liquigas called his bluff. Bluffed right out the back.
the delgados said:I couldn't help but think he was gifting his former teammate.
"Jump aboard, Eisel, just like to good old days!"
Really, how else do you explain him leading out at 300 metres?
Thoughtforfood said:He came off his wheel to do it though. If it were a true lead-out, he would have kicked from the front, no? I am not discounting the possibility of what you are saying completely, but it seemed to me he just went with what was there.
TRDean said:WTF!! You got to be kidding here...you are right..he didn't deserve to get 2nd...he EARNED 2nd place!! A young guy, on a pro continental team, no other teamates...you do what you have to to get the podium!! What do you think he should have done...rode on the front for the final 10K so as to impress you?? Lest you forget...the object is to win or podium...and you can do this by being superior on the bike or by using your head. Congratulations to Sep Vanmarcke...GREAT ride young man!!
Hincapie has got some "good but not great form" according to himself. I am actually worried about what is happening with ballan. DNF today. Only one other BMC rider who finished which was Michael Schar who was actually outside the Hors Delai. Not good for them.blaxland said:Gr8 ride Eisel and finally Bmc and Hincapie have some form returning....4th place good ride George.................Omega/lotto 2 out of 4=No win.....WTF?
Thoughtforfood said:No, Hincapie led out the sprint...and of his moves in cycling, that was not one of his finest. I mean, he had no shot of winning regardless of the tactic he chose, but he could have followed Eisel for second instead of leading him out.
auscyclefan94 said:Hincapie has got some "good but not great form" according to himself. I am actually worried about what is happening with ballan. DNF today. Only one other BMC rider who finished which was Michael Schar who was actually outside the Hors Delai. Not good for them.
Yes, hincapie led out the sprint but lotto had two guys of which they could of sent Gilbert up the road at two km's to go and then save roelndts for the sprint. roelandts is very quick but in the finish he just gave up.
peloton said:Not sure SB were the big losers, just unlucky.
Why should have Cooke worked, to chase down his own teammate and bring more sprinters back?
Cerberus said:Also Cooke lost 7 seconds to the chase group in the sprint. Doesn't exactly indicate that he would have been much of a threat if he managed to connect to the lead group.
It was really to bad about Breschel, but winning Dwars door Vlaanderen and being clearly the strongest on the climbs in Gent does bode very well for his chances in Flanders. Has to be considered one of the top contenders now I would say, not quite on level with Boonen and Cancellara perhaps, but certainly not someone who can be ignored. Gives Saxo Bank a very credible double threat.
True, there is that. But still working to help bring Freire and Farrar, both of whom are under normal circumstances far better sprinters than Breschel (and Cooke), back to the lead group would IMO have been a bad move. Sure it would have been useful in retrospect, but you can't know when you'll puncture. If Cooke had worked to bring them back, Breschel hadn't had a puncture and Freire out-kicked Breschel for the win everyone would have called Cooke an idiot. Saxo bank played it right I think. You just can't do anything about bad luck save having a second contender for the victory, which, come Flanders, they will have.auscyclefan94 said:Cookie buried himself to get breschel back up to the lead group.
auscyclefan94 said:Hincapie has got some "good but not great form" according to himself. I am actually worried about what is happening with ballan. DNF today.
I fear the worst, same about Kroon and Burghardt btwak-zaaf said:Do you have any news concerning Ballan perhaps? I would really hate to see him miss out on the action next week. I love that guy![]()