La Flèche Wallonne 2023, one day classic, April 19 (men's)

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Skjelmose quite impressive. I figured top 5 would be logical in this field, but he actually finishes quite close to Pogacar.
I guess Pidcock really isn't in top shape, and this sort of climb isn't Healy's cup of tea either.
A top 10 for Van Wilder would have been nice, but he got overrun a bit.

PS: Hermans also quite underwhelming. Higuita nowhere in sight.

 

[skippo12]

Pogacar looking good in the competition to have lowest combined score over the three Ardennes races
2 - Pogacar
10 - Skjelmose
15 - Van Gils
21 - Pidcock
22 - Benoot

Ignoring Pog the days of the Ardennes triple might be over. Healy and Pidcock were nowhere to be found today. Pidcock himself mentioned that he went too deep in Amstel and didn´t have the legs on the Mur.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Same time as last year

Crazy time, then, considering how crowded it was at the front and how meh the field was

 

[movingtarget]

Daylight is getting tired of finishing second to Pogacar.............

 

[skippo12]

Crazy time, then, considering how crowded it was at the front and how meh the field was

Might have looked slower that it was because Pog tried to control it from the front and steadily increased the pace. Never allowed anyone to get in front of his wheel.

 

[Sciatic]

I knew that was a done deal when Pog was riding seated while EVERYONE ELSE was en danseuse. Nice work from the rest of the field but sorry, they were completely outclassed.

Oh, and the tuft of hair is definitely back.

He has really upped his hair-tuft game these last few races!

 

[tobydawq]

Only wins cause Pidcockgot megasqueezed

Why do you write something like this? I now rewatched because I thought there was something I didn't see. There was barely one metre of road up the Mur where Pidcock didn't have free space in front of him and/or to the left of him. He clearly did not get squeezed but just didn't have the legs...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Might have looked slower that it was because Pog tried to control it from the front and steadily increased the pace. Never allowed anyone to get in front of his wheel.

Woods had the lead for a while though.

 

[Sciatic]

This edition once again made me wonder how differently this race would be ridden if it didn't come 4 days before LBL. A guy like Landa clearly cared about this race, but he still chose a strategy he always knew would get him 2nd at best, because his real goal comes on sunday. And that's really what everyone except UAE did.

Didn’t seem to make a difference for Valverde . . .

 

[SafeBet]

I guess Pidcock really isn't in top shape, and this sort of climb isn't Healy's cup of tea either.

Re Healy: could be but he started Huy way back so I'm not sure whether we can assess his performance.
Navigating through the bunch doesn't look like his forte. He was very close to the front at the top of Cherave, then kept losing positions in the descent / flat section.
Perhaps that's why he's always on the attack.

 

[Cagalitroso]

Pogacar is not going to win this. He is the favourite but for some reason I feel he won't win.

Famous last words

 

[Red Rick]

Why do you write something like this? I now rewatched because I thought there was something I didn't see. There was barely one metre of road up the Mur where Pidcock didn't have free space in front of him and/or to the left of him. He clearly did not get squeezed but just didn't have the legs...

Tbh I only saw Pidcock getting squeezed, not the results that he finished like 20th

 

[Red Rick]

Re Healy: could be but he started Huy way back so I'm not sure whether we can assess his performance.
Navigating through the bunch doesn't look like his forte. He was very close to the front at the top of Cherave, then kept losing positions in the descent / flat section.
Perhaps that's why he's always on the attack.

Nah I just think Healy is the type of rider that doesn't have the best pure W/kg on a single hill and he just needs a hard, race where flats also matter and where recovery and fatigue resistance is also important.

 

[Red Rick]

Crazy time, then, considering how crowded it was at the front and how meh the field was

Time gaps are nearly always bigger in Fleche. The one time the #10 was on +1s unlike +2s like today Valverde put 1 second into everyone.

 

[Red Rick]

Doesnt matter at all.

Fleche is a solved race strategically. There is 0 reason why it would be any different if it werent before Liege

I guess it only might make a difference for Evenepoel, who is the only rider who might win it with a long solo.

 

[Pantani_lives]

This was the most predictable classic of the spring, but another nice win for Pogacar. He didn't give a huge demonstration today, but did just enough to win. His team did the hard work, and he finished it with one acceleration on the last steep part. With three classics and two stage races under his belt -12 wins in total - he's having an exceptional spring campaign. He's the man of the spring already and there's another chance on Sunday.

 

[Gigs_98]

Ignoring Pog the days of the Ardennes triple might be over. Healy and Pidcock were nowhere to be found today. Pidcock himself mentioned that he went too deep in Amstel and didn´t have the legs on the Mur.

So ignoring the guy who might achieve the first Ardennes triple in over ten years, the days of the Ardennes triple might be over?

 

[Pinot's goat]

IPT will get their first win of the season tomorrow if Woods doesn't start mur de huy in 50th position.

Conclusion: IPT is not getting their first win of the season tomorrow.

Woods' positioning was almost too good but he just didn't seem to have the kick of previous years. I don't think the slowing down when on the front helps with rhythm.

 

[skippo12]

So ignoring the guy who might achieve the first Ardennes triple in over ten years, the days of the Ardennes triple might be over?

Was thinking about the startlist and the amount of riders that are competitive in all three races. Feels like in the 00s it was a given that the best hilly classic riders would start in all three races. Try to compete in all three races. Ignoring the biggest anomaly in pro cycling I am not sure if that is still the case. Feels like the amount of guys that skipped Amstel and/or Fleche is higher than ever.

 

[Roku]

Re Healy: could be but he started Huy way back so I'm not sure whether we can assess his performance.
Navigating through the bunch doesn't look like his forte. He was very close to the front at the top of Cherave, then kept losing positions in the descent / flat section.
Perhaps that's why he's always on the attack.

I recall Healy was in a break with Eenkhorn on the first Mallorca Trophy this year. He looked a bit lacking in descending skills.

 

[saunaking]

I know its still very early but with how good Landa is this season, do you guys think he's almost the best of the others behind Pogi and Ving?

what about the 2 guys that smashed him at Catalunya?

 

[YavorD]

Was thinking about the startlist and the amount of riders that are competitive in all three races. Feels like in the 00s it was a given that the best hilly classic riders would start in all three races. Try to compete in all three races. Ignoring the biggest anomaly in pro cycling I ma not sure if that is still the case. Feels like the amount of guys that skipped Amstel and/or Fleche is higher than ever.

Wasn't it because back in 2000's you just had more clear-cut hilly clasics riders? Unlike today, when most of the favorites for LBL are mainly GT riders.
Besides, the classic Cauberg finish used to suit the punchers a lot more than the current route IMO.

 

[search]

Van Gils strong in 8th!

yep, best debutant today. Adria (in 12th) also did pretty well, with probably fairly limited support.

 

[Unchained]

Great race and in the absence of teammates, riders used the skinny roads and barriers brilliantly!! Sorry DSM..

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations to Tadej Pogačar for the win.

UAE made the race hard from start to finish and Pogi did the rest on the Mur. Positioning was great too. The Mur de Huy never disappoints.