Kuurne- Brussels-Kuurne

[Anonymous]

Not being smug, but i did say people would be asking who Ian Stannard was after this weekend..

I may talk a load of *** sometimes, but occasionally, just occasionally, I know what im talking about

Gonna shurrup now.. Im worn out.. what a race..

 

[sublimit]

i'm still surprised about Jeremy Hunt just giving up... must of been totaly wasted i suppose. anyway i'm out of here.

 

[Andy99]

i'm still surprised about Jeremy Hunt just giving up... must of been totaly wasted i suppose. anyway i'm out of here.

must have been shagged. Did what he could for Thor before blowing totally. Theres no point just rolling to the finish. Getting straight in the neutral car was a canny move!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

What about Traksel.

Years and years of injuries, broke about every bone. People always gave him **** about not 'living up to his potential', which is not even his fault.

And now this win. He really deserved it. I met the guy and spoke to him a few times on the 6-days circuit. He really really derserves it. Absolutely loves the sport.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yes two Dutch and a Brit (or any other nationality) and a Dutchman will always win. Now it was two French and a Brit...

The dutch guys didn't exactly co operate. Did you actually watch the race?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Great Race, great result i'm off guys.

 

[Andy99]

What about Traksel.

Years and years of injuries, broke about every bone. People always gave him **** about not 'living up to his potential', which is not even his fault.

And now this win. He really deserved it. I met the guy and spoke to him a few times on the 6-days circuit. He really really derserves it. Absolutely loves the sport.

Didn't know anything about Traksel. But reading this Chapeau to the lad. Proper gutsy ride.

 

[Andy99]

Great Race, great result i'm off guys.

'bout time too. must be waaay past your bed time!!

 

[Francois the Postman]

Holland has quite the history with rivaling teams who would race in the first place to make the other lose. Loads of stage wins and possible jerseys lost that way.

Tell me about it.... I've sat through far too many races like that. Feared today would be another one, but in the end the one who could ride to the finish without losing speed (the only "sprint" you could expect after a day like today) won. I guess Flens was far too tired and had invested too much to think too long and hard about who he was closing the gap for (the one time when it looked like it mattered).

 

[Francois the Postman]

The dutch guys didn't exactly co operate. Did you actually watch the race?

He was too busy getting his site ready for some serious fanboy gushing

Nice site BTW Dim, and thanks for the many links.

 

[Mellow Velo]

What about Traksel.

Years and years of injuries, broke about every bone. People always gave him **** about not 'living up to his potential', which is not even his fault.

And now this win. He really deserved it. I met the guy and spoke to him a few times on the 6-days circuit. He really really derserves it. Absolutely loves the sport.

Yeah, chapeau to him. Out the front all day.
Rode the smartest last lap, too.
Though Stannard rode great, there is a tendency to Sky Talk a little too much.

 

[Frosty]

I vaguely remember an occasion in an early 90s tour de france where there were two big dutch teams who almost came to blows? There were some of each in a break and one team wouldnt work in a chase group?

 

[theyoungest]

Good race, but a bit disappointing that none of the "real" classic specialists gave it a try, except from Thor who gave it everything he had despite being in bad shape at the moment.

Traksel has been a classics specialist for ages, but he never quite lived up to the promise. He's more of a "real" classics specialist than, say, Edvald Boasson Hagen.

 

[hfer07]

congrats to Traksel-very well deserved victory in a miserable-weather race-he proved to be the strongest. also Kudos to Sky as the overall winner of this weekend with a victory & podium place--like them or not, they're delivering what they've promised so far....

 

[Hawkwood]

The dutch guys didn't exactly co operate. Did you actually watch the race?

Yes on Sporza. The point I was trying to make was that cyclists from some other nations would have managed to give the victory to Stannard.

 

[Condorman]

Yes on Sporza. The point I was trying to make was that cyclists from some other nations would have managed to give the victory to Stannard.

Is this a rugby reference or are you trying to be anti-French?


Or trolling maybe?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The dutch would have too, they definately raced against eachother a lot.
Traksel not taking over from Flens when they dropped Stannard.
Traksel not going after Stannard when Stannard attacked, leaving it too Flens.

Many potential of screwing it up. But in the end, Stannard was too dead to really ride away, and Flens and Traksel probably knew that too.

 

[theyoungest]

Yes on Sporza. The point I was trying to make was that cyclists from some other nations would have managed to give the victory to Stannard.

Clearly you've been watching a different race. I'm Dutch, and I sat yelling at my tv screen: "f@ck you Traksel, you're f@cking it up for the Dutch" when he just sat there in Flens's wheel and Stannard could return. The Dutchies did most definitely not work together to eliminate the Brit.

 

[stefrees]

great race, all 3 deserve a nice leffe. vaconsoleil and sky are racing attackingly AND getting results, both GOT to be ahead of BMC and Radioshack (although we know theyre in).

i hope the weather improves for the tour of flanders sportive im signed up for

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Vacansoleil is a sure thing for the Tour, they are sponsoring ASO races this year...

 

[Hawkwood]

Clearly you've been watching a different race. I'm Dutch, and I sat yelling at my tv screen: "f@ck you Traksel, you're f@cking it up for the Dutch" when he just sat there in Flens's wheel and Stannard could return. The Dutchies did most definitely not work together to eliminate the Brit.

Sorry I'm not trying to get into an argument about this, I thought the race was great and the result completely fair. I've seen a number of races where two riders from the same nation managed to give the race away to a third, as they got into a major squabble. I think your two guys clearly realised Stannard was cooked, and couldn't win the sprint whether they let him back on or not.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Money is the last thing in Vacansoleil's making-the-bid-as-strong-as-we-can puzzle. Worked for them last year in the Vuelta.

Attacking races, start in the NL, French hopeful, ASO race sponsoring, and now results too.

If I was one of the weaker wild card shoe-ins, I would start to feel a bit worried if the team's visibility remained as underwhelming as it has been so far.

Sky has presented a strong calling card so far. Vacansoleil is certainly taking it up where they left it late last year.

I am starting to wonder if we are getting a big upset when the last spots are announced. Still a bit of racing left yet before then, and one race can change the narrative for a year (yes, I am looking at you Cadel), but when it comes to placing early markers, Sky and Vacasoleil have certainly given very positive reasons on the road, for inclusion.

BMC? Katusha?

 

[Hawkwood]

Is this a rugby reference or are you trying to be anti-French?


Or trolling maybe?

No don't like rugby, but have heard Thevenet and other French commentators `surprised' by the tactics of their own countrymen. It might have been worse in the past than it is now, but certainly I've seen a few races where French riders have managed to give a race away. As to being anti-French, not at all, I'd love to see another French Tour winner. I go to France regularly (it's 35 miles away), and have French friends.

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Today is why I love cycling. Riders giving it their all and leaving nothing out on the course.

Fari play to the Dutch guys, great racing. As a Brit I was desperate for Stannard to win. They guy is a real hard man. He is quoted as saying the wetter, muddier and windier a race is the better. A future star of British racing in my opinion. Future Paris Roubaix winner as well??

Can't wait for the rest of the classics.

I think Sky have proved a point or 2 this weekend. Quick Step and BMC, widely regarded as better teams were blown to bits by.

 

[Anonymous]

17 Kenny van Hummel (Ned)

Because he is always the kind of rider to finish a race regardless of the conditions.

Also, props to Rollin for dragging Hushovd home.