Il Lombardia 2014

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Wellens has been great this year. Really look forward to see how he does as (co)leader in april classics. He definately earned that role

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Well it was Valverde's to lose. He lead them for the last 300m and still won the sprint for 2nd comfortably. He over-estimated what Gilbert had left - awful tactics.

I think he wanted Gilbert to chase again, but Sanchez could never win a sprint against him and Albasini so that's completely pointless. How can you seriously mess up a race twice in the same way, in a week?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Ridiculous end to this,so Martin goes and everybody is looking around instead of trying to follow him.Well,they got what they deserved,good for Martin bad for them.

Watch Verona '99 again. Everybody swings to the right, looks at each other. Everybody swings to the left except Freire, takes a look at each other. Everybody tries to see who will lead out the sprint, Freire just stays on his side of the road and keeps riding, then wins.

 

[Red Rick]

Well that was an incredibly lame race

 

[trevim]

Wellens has been great this year. Really look forward to see how he does as (co)leader in april classics. He definately earned that role

When I look at Lotto shirt I remind of JvDB but the contrast in Wellens style is just overwhelming. Great, great rider.
Two more thoughts: 1) Just think of Valverde record this year if he wasn't so...I don't even have words to define it. 2) Lombardia was probably the best big hilly race of the year. That's shocking.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I thought it was a decent race. Plenty of attacks. The route needs a big/bigger climb at half way but I like the finish. It's not a predictable Murito and gives plenty of riders a chance if they have the legs (if Wellens can get a gap)

 

[jens_attacks]

what a trolololol finish unbelievable.

i think indeed samu is the most selfish rider in cycling history, he saw that he couldn't make a gap and instead of helping phil, he just stopped lol, mother of god. i could swear that phil didn't expect that.
valverde, the usual stuff what can you say, he can't change now
dan martin, superb stuff from him even if i was afraid that he will crash in the last corner. 2 monuments and counting now

overall it was a good race

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I was hoping for Wellens to win. What a rider he has turned out to be. He will definitely be one of the favorites for LBL next year.

 

[mr. tibbs]

I think he wanted Gilbert to chase again, but Sanchez could never win a sprint against him and Albasini so that's completely pointless. How can you seriously mess up a race twice in the same way, in a week?

To be fair, it was Gerrans who messed up the WC win. Valverde wasn't the clear favorite from that group, so he didn't have the onus of reeling in that cheeky Pole.

Grabbing his brakes today right as Martin jumped was pretty damn silly, though.

 

[DFA123]

I thought it was a decent race. Plenty of attacks. The route needs a big/bigger climb at half way but I like the finish. It's not a predictable Murito and gives plenty of riders a chance if they have the legs (if Wellens can get a gap)

The attacks never looked like they had a chance of succeeding though. The bookies favourites before the race were all in the final selection (except Kwiat); there was never any real suspense - even the finish was an anti climax.

 

[BigMac]

Meanwhile Costa is 4th in the WT ranking.

 

[trevim]

Valverde with Freire's brains would have won 10 monuments by now Christ!... Don Alejandro makes me so annoyed to see he don't win big more often

 

[Arredondo]

what a trolololol finish unbelievable.

i think indeed samu is the most selfish rider in cycling history, he saw that he couldn't make a gap and instead of helping phil, he just stopped lol, mother of god. i could swear that phil didn't expect that.
valverde, the usual stuff what can you say, he can't change now
dan martin, superb stuff from him even if i was afraid that he will crash in the last corner. 2 monuments and counting now

overall it was a good race

It doesn't really matter, because if Gilbert finished 7th in a sprint of a group like that, he wasn't good enough anyway.

 

[Orbit501]

Well I enjoyed the race, despite losing money on Gilbert.

Very well deserved winner in Dan Martin, and really pleased for him after his LBL crash. Garmin got their tatics spot on, other teams didn't. C'est la vie.

 

[pink_jersey]

It doesn't really matter, because if Gilbert finished 7th in a sprint of a group like that, he wasn't good enough anyway.

Gilbert,Aru and Purito didn't sprint.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Why? It's not that anything new happened today, Contador can't race one-day races properly, Valverde throws certain victories away, why would anything change after today? It's not like Valverde wins such a ranking for the first time

Well Valverde demanded more money because he was #1 on the ranking earlier this year

Eh what? Of course Valverde doesn't ride just to beat Contador

Of course not, but beating Contador does make him really happy, because in his mind that makes him a better rider. There's an on-going feud between them. Valverde wants to be Spain's best rider.

 

[Big Doopie]

I don't consider Martin a nobody. I think the route was soft but Martin is a great rider and a deserving winner.

+1.

why he wasnt on many favorites list is cuz of all of the falls. he has done well at lombardy and should be a two-time winner of LBL.

he seems to do well on these long hilly races.

they should put more KM back into races and the GTs.

 

[BigMac]

I know someone already mentioned it, but got to give kudos to Ryder Hesjedal who played the role of an amazing teammate yet again. Garmin are team in the true sence of the word.

 

[Orbit501]

It doesn't really matter, because if Gilbert finished 7th in a sprint of a group like that, he wasn't good enough anyway.

Exactly this ^

He was clearly spent having tried his luck right at the top of the final climb. Mind you, Wellens wasn't. Great future ahead for Wellens I think.

 

[jens_attacks]

It doesn't really matter, because if Gilbert finished 7th in a sprint of a group like that, he wasn't good enough anyway.

phil is the type of champion who only cares about the win. he already said it multiple times. he's not valverde. he most likely didn't care or maybe he was shocked by what samu did. or maybe didn't have the legs.
still, you don't do that to him,what samu did. it was ridiculous

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Nice finale, but low quality racing for the most part.
Congrats to Martin with a good tactical move just at the right time.

Great surroundings always helps.

 

[Big Doopie]

i think people are missing the point. martin waited until everyone else was spent. martin also has an excellent kick and point of speed. after 260kms, the others couldn't do anything. there's a pretty good chance martin could have won the sprint anyway.

 

[SeriousSam]

karma after liege which he would have won. martin has a good sprint on him.

hesj once again the perfect teammate.

martin played it perfectly. once he couldnt get through to attack on the last climb, he sat at the back as BMC and Valverde tried to control everything and work to keep the group away. beautiful tactical ride by garmin and martin. and what a fantastic naturally talented rider!! the greatest of his generation!!

that's pure supposition

 

[Piti4Podiums]

Well Valverde demanded more money because he was #1 on the ranking earlier this year



I think that is kind of obvious, when you negotiate about salaries you might wanna take every argument there is, and that's a good one.

 

[BigMac]

Apparentely Contador injured in 'bad knee' and feeling lots of pain. Report from Tour de Jose.