Giro del Emillia, GP Beghelli and Pantini memorial

[Richeypen]

What is the position for Pinot ?

54th at 9.22

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

God damnit. Mollema best of the favorites and then somebody stays ahead. Hate it when that happens.

Poor Bauke. He would have been a much more worthy successor of Gesink than Betancourt, even though he is a promising Colombian

what a load of crap. betancourt is only 21 and will have a much more succesful career than bauke "I can't win" mollema

 

[Moondance]

what a load of crap. betancourt is only 21 and will have a much more succesful career than bauke "I can't win" mollema

This guy disagrees:

 

[theyoungest]

God damnit. Mollema best of the favorites and then somebody stays ahead. Hate it when that happens.

Poor Bauke. He would have been a much more worthy successor of Gesink than Betancourt, even though he is a promising Colombian

Gesink's first win was sort of in the same manner, albeit from a 3 man escape group. I'm sure Betancourt deserved it (it's hard to get a lucky win on this course).

 

[Zam_Olyas]

GP Beghelli

AltimetriA

Planimetria

 

[will10]

On this parcours no win is lucky, regardless of whether Betancourt was in the break or not, you've gotta be super strong to stay clear and Emilia. Bravo.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

what a load of crap. betancourt is only 21 and will have a much more succesful career than bauke "I can't win" mollema

Oh go away with your overrated as *** Colombians

 

[boomcie]

This guy disagrees:

Minor case of camel toe on that picture though.

 

[hrotha]

Oh go away with your overrated as *** Colombians

You're both talking crap and you know it. Betancourt is a talent in his own right, there's no way to know what he'll achieve - and that includes there's no way to know if he'll surpass Mollema's current level.

Imagine if Slagter had won.

 

[Descender]

Mollema thought he won:

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8093/mollema.jpg

hahahaha nice.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't remmember reading any of that. Could you be confusing with the other colombian at A&S? Sarmiento?

Uran seems like a solid bet for breaking Gilbert's hegemony at Lombardia. (Crossing my fingers).

Uran seems like a solid bet of finishing just behind the lead group like most of his races

 

[canyonball]

Uran seems like a solid bet of finishing just behind the lead group like most of his races

you don't let one pass do you? Don't worry. I'm sure Gilbert will be just fine, only one step lower than Uran on the podium (aka wishfull thinking).

 

[El Pistolero]

Not if you call it a solid bet. A solid bet would mean I'd put money on him to win. I won't be doing something crazy like that. Much better favorites out there. Bauke Mollema for instance. Not that I would put money on him either.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Not if you call it a solid bet. A solid bet would mean I'd put money on him to win. I won't be doing something crazy like that. Much better favorites out there. Bauke Mollema for instance. Not that I would put money on him either.

A solid bet for Lombardy would be

1 Gilbert
2 Mollema
3 Uran

 

[Duartista]

What is Mollema's best result in a monument? I wouldn't bet on him making the podium next week, good though he is.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Pfft, if Brajkovic can finish 2nd in Lombardia....

I'm sorry but your argument makes no sense at all.

 

[Duartista]

Pfft, if Brajkovic can finish 2nd in Lombardia....

I'm sorry but your argument makes no sense at all.

I just don't see how he is a solid bet to finish second - he might, sure, but it's a very open race behind Gilbert.

 

[hrotha]

I just don't see how he is a solid bet to finish second - he might, sure, but it's a very open race behind Gilbert.

Ah, but you see, Mollema is DUTCH.

 

[El Pistolero]

Ah, but you see, Mollema is DUTCH.

Lombardia is not a race where the strongest or most talented cyclist wins, but the freshest one, the one who is strongest mentally. Mollema seems to be in superb shape as he did a good Vuelta and now did a good Emilia.

Someone like Cancellara could only dream of winning in Lombardia if I can believe the stuff he wrote in his book. Doesn't like training all the time it seems.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Lombardia is definately the cheapest monument in terms of lesser riders getting a nice boost for their palmares.

Cunego in decline or Gilbert pre superhero makeover made good use of it.

Loads of guys could get a nice result out of it, since most of the top tier guys won't be there, or won't be in shape.

 

[hrotha]

Lombardia is not a race where the strongest or most talented cyclist wins, but the freshest one, the one who is strongest mentally. Mollema seems to be in superb shape as he did a good Vuelta and now did a good Emilia.

No one claimed Mollema shouldn't be expected to be up there.
edit: and no, being on the podium is not the same as being up there.

 

[El Pistolero]

Lombardia is definately the cheapest monument in terms of lesser riders getting a nice boost for their palmares.

Cunego in decline or Gilbert pre superhero makeover made good use of it.

Loads of guys could get a nice result out of it, since most of the top tier guys won't be there, or won't be in shape.

No, that's still San Remo because it's by far the easiest one to race.

Ps: How is Cunego in decline back in 2008? He was second at the Worlds(and should have won IMO), won in AGR, won a stage in Pais Vasco and third in FW.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

No, that's still San Remo because it's by far the easiest one to race.

Yes, but I was talking about the quality of the field. Everyone with a hope turns up at the other 4 monuments. You only have to look at the top 10 in the last few years to see that is not the case here.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I just don't see how he is a solid bet to finish second - he might, sure, but it's a very open race behind Gilbert.

It was an obvious joke at Mollema getting 2nd everywhere lately and Uran close to the first but never in the first group.

But yeah, there is a very real chance Mollema will finish podium in Mollema. Just based on his qualities and his form. Dutch or not.
Plus the quality of the field in Lombardia is nowhere near that of the april classics.

Half of them finished their season (like F.Schleck/A.Schleck)
Half of them are not nearly in the shape they had in the beginning (Rodriguez, Nibali)
And the rest is too god damn tired.

So yeah. I stand by what I say, there's a big chance Mollema finishes on the podium

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, but I was talking about the quality of the field. Everyone with a hope turns up at the other 4 monuments. You only have to look at the top 10 in the last few years to see that is not the case here.

I just don't see any lesser riders that boosted their palmares with Lombardia. If you're talking about second places or third places maybe... But Paolo Bettini, Gilbert, Cunego are/were some of the best one day racers.

If Cunego won now you could talk about a declining rider winning a Monument.