La Flèche Wallonne, April 23rd, 199K

[Jspear]

I'm still wondering what the guy who dropped Valverde like a stone 2 weeks ago in Pais Vasco could have done today.

Traditionally that guy is not as explosive as Valverde on these kind of hills, but with his good form right now, who knows...

 

[Netserk]

Can you please spam the clinic with this?

It was about Amstel

But yeah there was also a tailwind today (though the Mur is more sheltered).

 

[Arredondo]

Impressive Bala, just the best. Arredondo also nice to see him do a good results. His preparation wasn't ideal at all.

Purito crashed with 3 k, so it means he was with the best 40 in the race. That's already remarkable for a guy who's got some bruised ribs.

I really hope he can recover more for LBL, and do a Vino 2010!

 

[Netserk]

Impressive Bala, just the best. Arredondo also nice to see him do a good results. His preparation wasn't ideal at all.

Purito crashed with 3 k, so it means he was with the best 40 in the race. That's already remarkable for a guy who's got some bruised ribs.

I really hope he can recover more for LBL, and do a Vino 2010!

Sorry that requires both brain and balls.

No chance for Purito.

 

[Arredondo]

Sorry that requires both brain and balls.

No chance for Purito.

He's got brains, and balls. Just look at PV 2010.

Rather support Tommeke and Nibbles. They need it

 

[icefire]

Sorry that requires both brain and balls.

No chance for Purito.

brains, balls and a paycheck

 

[Flamin]

This year there was a tailwind, last year a headwind.

So? What's your point? That Gilbert is at the same level as last year?

 

[Justico]

I forgot FW was today, but no big deal.

 

[Angliru]

Sorry that requires both brain and balls.

No chance for Purito.

His Lombardia wins are examples of his courage. C'mon and show the guy some respect. He just finished FW with broken ribs so that has to count for something.

 

[eagleofditchling]

Valverde will beat himself with poor tactics. Gilbert for the win.

mmmm...Really?

 

[Netserk]

His Lombardia wins are examples of his courage. C'mon and show the guy some respect. He just finished FW with broken ribs so that has to count for something.

How exactly?

 

[hfer07]

I just watched the last Ks- Valverde simply Out-smarted everyone with a perfectly timed sprint- we all know he's the best under those circumstances.

Hats off to Piti

 

[roundabout]

How exactly?

Kept the gap after the Murito like a boss

 

[Netserk]

Kept the gap after the Murito like a boss

Zaugg is the new Vino then _O_

 

[VeloHuman]

Dan Martin is peaking at the absolute perfect time for his goals of Liege and the Giro. Kwiato was really impressive on a finish that i thought might be a bit too steep: bodes well for Liege where his endurance will come in handy.

 

[Netserk]

So? What's your point? That Gilbert is at the same level as last year?

Well not the exact same form, he seems to be a bit better this year, but not by a huge margin.

 

[Jspear]

Dan Martin is peaking at the absolute perfect time for his goals of Liege and the Giro. Kwiato was really impressive on a finish that i thought might be a bit too steep: bodes well for Liege where his endurance will come in handy.

I was also impressed with Kwiatkowski's strength. He went a little early (inexperience I guess) and still managed 3rd. As was said a couple of posts ago, congrats to the winner, he simply sprinted smarter than everyone else.

 

[Fzotrlool]

Impressive Bala, just the best. Arredondo also nice to see him do a good results. His preparation wasn't ideal at all.

Purito crashed with 3 k, so it means he was with the best 40 in the race. That's already remarkable for a guy who's got some bruised ribs.

I really hope he can recover more for LBL, and do a Vino 2010!

Third time's the charm. I'm sure he is motivated. He said it is his number one goal for 2014. He loves this race more than anything else.

Just hope that he is OK. The team have to protect him better.

 

[Arredondo]

Third time's the charm. I'm sure he is motivated. He said it is his number one goal for 2014. He loves this race more than anything else.

Just hope that he is OK. The team have to protect him better.

If i stay realistic, then i have to say he can't win. It's nearly impossible to grow to a level to win a race like LBL in just 4 days. In this kind of condition, he can't win against the likes of Valverde.

On the other hand. He knows this is the case. So if he wants to win, he has to dare to attack from far out. I think he can, and dares to do.

The most important thing however, is to finish this Ardennes week with a good feeling. The Giro remains the biggest goal this early season, and normally he can fight there on his best level. And we alll have to hope that's the case, otherwise it will be a really boring Giro.

 

[Fzotrlool]

If i stay realistic, then i have to say he can't win. It's nearly impossible to grow to a level to win a race like LBL in just 4 days. In this kind of condition, he can't win against the likes of Valverde.

On the other hand. He knows this is the case. So if he wants to win, he has to dare to attack from far out. I think he can, and dares to do.

The most important thing however, is to finish this Ardennes week with a good feeling. The Giro remains the biggest goal this early season, and normally he can fight there on his best level. And we alll have to hope that's the case, otherwise it will be a really boring Giro.

Purito is best when he has a certain anger. Like Lombardia last year. He need to find that if he want to win it. I could imagine that he is anxious after two crashes.

 

[manafana]

well valverde delivered, and martin again proves that gone one day here the next.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Martin's positioning into and on this climb is infuriating. This is the second time now he's gone past most contenders on the Mur... Which looks great, but means he is coming from too far back.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Good timing from Valverde, don't know why but it felt like a fairly conservative race up the Mur today compared to some other times in the past. Impressed by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's win, she's been good on this finish since she was a teenager without a World Cup team though; just as impressed with Lizzie Armitstead being 2nd on a finish that on paper shouldn't really suit her as much as some of the names she left behind her.

 

[Kwibus]

Sorry that requires both brain and balls.

No chance for Purito.

Oh c'mon. Purito has brains and balls. He was showing it last WC, but if you can't rely on your countrymen than it's all futile.
He has shown balls more often than that. That doesn't mean he does it often, because often he can rely on his last 1km uphill sprint.
His brains are smaller though, but your anti-Purito bias is ridiculous at times.

 

[Kwibus]

Purito is best when he has a certain anger. Like Lombardia last year. He need to find that if he want to win it. I could imagine that he is anxious after two crashes.

He has plenty of reason to be angry right now yes. The crash today wasn't a hard crash, but his chances for winning were over obviously. I think they were betting on him.
I'm rooting for Purito and ofcourse the dutch riders, but I doubt they will feature