La Flèche Wallone (WT) / Wednesday 18-04-2012

[jens_attacks]

rainy edition...i remember 2008 was pretty epic with kirchen beating cadel.
if it's that rainy and cold it will certainly be between phil and vanendert

 

[Havetts]

I hope the Dutchies can avenge themselves for Sunday, Rabo is sending ALL their climbers to this race so lets see how that goes

10charsetc

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kelderman will pull the sprint for Paul Martens

 

[the asian]

Jelle to win over his former master!

1. Vanedert
2.Gilbert
3. Uran.

Heavy rain kills off the hopes of the Spaniards and Schlecks.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Where does all this stuff about the spaniards being allergic to rain come from ?

It looked pretty wet and cold in the Tour of the Basque country

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Because they were bad in the Amstel and Rodriguez complained about the cold?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

basks are usually great in rain.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Hi

any news about Sammy Sanchez finally starting FW & LBL?

 

[greenedge]

I will say one of Gilbert, Vanendert and JROD to win.

I think Poels, Valverde and Anton will round out the top 5.
Uran and Frank Shleck will get a top 10 as well.

Moreno will be a gun.
Simon Clarke will attack.
I hope the big teams make it exciting near the end.

 

[gilbertador]

Given that Euskatel will struggle for World Tour points it seems mad that Sanchez is going to miss this race where in normal circumstances he is basically guaranteed a top 5

 

[Roude Leiw]

I will say one of Gilbert, Vanendert and JROD to win.

Voeckler has a good chance, i expect him to try near the end and still get a top 10 after being reeled back.

I thought that Europcar were not invited to the FW

 

[Lexman]

I will say one of Gilbert, Vanendert and JROD to win.

I think Poels, Valverde and Anton will round out the top 5.

Voeckler has a good chance, i expect him to try near the end and still get a top 10 after being reeled back. Uran and Frank Shleck will get a top 10 as well.

Moreno will be a gun.
Simon Clarke will attack.
I hope the big teams make it exciting near the end.

Voeckler doesn't start following this article :

"This week, Voeckler has returned to his family in the Vendée region in West France in roder to recover in view of Liège-Bastogne-Liège,"

 

[Roude Leiw]

Poels and Valverde did not impress on the Amstel, so to do a top 10 in FW will be a stretch

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Poels and Valverde did not impress on the Amstel, so to do a top 10 in FW will be a stretch

I wouldn't say that. FW is a completely different race.

Only thing in common is that it's hilly. But AGR has a lot more corners and nervous peloton behavior

 

[will10]

Given that Euskatel will struggle for World Tour points it seems mad that Sanchez is going to miss this race where in normal circumstances he is basically guaranteed a top 5

I agree to some extent but with Anton they have someone who's never finished lower than 5th here either.

 

[Cancellator]

If I don't see one of the Schleckies at leas try an attack I am going to start sending them hate mail.

 

[the asian]

basks are usually great in rain.

Not too sure about Anton. Sammy is not a basque even though he rides for Euskatel. He is good in wet weather, but I think he's going to miss FW.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

anton was excellent gp indurain were the weather was quite horrible

 

[will10]

If I don't see one of the Schleckies at leas try an attack I am going to start sending them hate mail.

Get writing

 

[Roude Leiw]

I wouldn't say that. FW is a completely different race.

Only thing in common is that it's hilly. But AGR has a lot more corners and nervous peloton behavior

FW is very often a nervous race with a lot of corners and roundabouts and then a final sprint up the Mur de Huy. That was at least my impression the last 10 times i watched it. Poels was dropped in AGR on an uphill part, if he wants to do a Moncoutie, he would have caught in split on the wrong end of the peloton and not being dropped outright.

Valverde was not impressive at all at AGR, was there in the last field, but did not sprint in an arrival which suits him. So probably not in top shape following his march troubles.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

its' 50km shorter, the hills are longer. The road is much less twisting.

I would not count out riders who did badly at agr. except a.schleck and gesink because they were too bad to improve that much

 

[Arnout]

Anton is very good in the rain. No wonder, it rains 250 days a year in the Basque Country.

 

[Parrulo]

piti has never really been impressim in agr anyway. So i wouldn't count him out just yet

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

piti has never really been impressim in agr anyway. So i wouldn't count him out just yet

the agr has always been the race that suited him most. he also won in 2010 when he was a lot less strong than in 2011. fleche is the race that suits him the least

 

[trevim]

Anton is very good in the rain. No wonder, it rains 250 days a year in the Basque Country.

Rain incresases the chance of crash, so I don't know how good it will be for Anton.