Hammer series

[Popchu]

Betancur two in a row. Playing with his breakaway companions.

 

[luckyboy]

The point that it doesn't matter who wins the stage (points are the same for certain other laps) or which particular rider is where (obviously only a team ranking) really excludes a lot of what is interesting about pro cycling for me

 

[SafeBet]

Bananito

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The peloton getting slaughtered is nice though.

In a way this reminds me of cyclocross. Closed circuit, short laps, small peloton.

 

[RedheadDane]

Betancur is on fire!

 

[luckyboy]

Maybe they can add the maze as a stage next year. 10 points for the first to the centre!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Just reading comments here, Bananito to smoke the field in Switzerland!!

 

[DNP-Old]

Betacur is just toying with these guys.

 

[Popchu]

Re:

It's a hattrick for Carlos Betancur. Man of the match!

Absolutely destroying the field. Everyone on the limit, while he's sprinting with ease to his third sprint win. Amazing, really amazing.

 

[Gigs_98]

Are we sure they aren't just showing the same pictures for the third time in a row?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

it's his ideal course no? 3km climb?

 

[Akuryo]

MVP of the day Betancur. Never thought that I would say that again.

 

[gerundium]

Re:

it's his ideal course no? 3km climb?

3 landenpunt from the belgian side is like ~1.5 km @ 6 % very steady gradient.

 

[jaylew]

Sketchy push there from Filosi...

 

[Valv.Piti]

Carlito, close!

 

[Popchu]

Re:

Carlito, close!

No opening, but he's winning this for Movistar with three first places and two second places.

 

[gospina]

I'm loving this series. Love that its exciting from the beginning. It is really bringing the excitement of a track event to the road. Betancur en fuego!

 

[kenk09]

This is fun.

Shame for Tao. He was riding great.

 

[Brullnux]

How did Tao manage to crash there?

 

[gerundium]

Re:

How did Tao manage to crash there?

looked like a clipped pedal.

 

[kenk09]

Robbie McEwen's pronunciations are getting further and further away from "Tao Geoghegan-Hart".

 

[Gigs_98]

I'm quite surprised that the peloton never managed to get back. There were teams who never had anyone in front so it would have made sense if there were quite a few guys behind who would work. But they aren't even catching the 3 men group behind the front of the race.

 

[Popchu]

I'm quite surprised that the peloton never managed to get back. There were teams who never had anyone in front so it would have made sense if there were quite a few guys behind who would work. But they aren't even catching the 3 men group behind the front of the race.

I'm not surprised at all. This is not a 'normal' breakaway, these are just the best riders in the race. No other riders left in the back to take the breakaway back. From kilometer zero it was 100% racing, with only the best surviving.

And even if you could 'organize' the peloton, on these roads it would't matter much. Ideal terrain for a strong group.

 

[Popchu]

Betancur wins easily if he has the room to launch his sprint

 

[SafeBet]

People at home wondering if they should have waited when Tao crashed