If I were Matxin, I would allow Jan Christen to attack and to baffle all comers while favorites are glued to Pogi. Christen is strong and could easily negotiate the FW climb to up to finish. This is not a classic race, so Pogi would just wait for the weekend LBL.
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- Nov 7, 2009
- 10,561
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Let's celebrate this gem from Stevie W up the Huy last year.
Man's dressed like he's about to rock the local 55+ masters race, but instead he's bossing an Ardennes classic. Chapeau.
Man's dressed like he's about to rock the local 55+ masters race, but instead he's bossing an Ardennes classic. Chapeau.
- May 9, 2010
- 10,958
- 2,327
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Christen has been sidelined for quite some time now, so I don't expect anything from him. Especially not that UAE are letting him ride his own chance with Pogacar in the race. I'm surprised he's even doing the race.
- May 14, 2011
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- Sep 12, 2022
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Yeah, I already said to someone I misquoted Evenepoel from an interview. In an after-race interview he explained why he was so far behind, but can’t find it anymore.
- Sep 12, 2022
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Enough riders and teams that would love to join him in an attack. EF, Movistar, Jayco all have riders that might win it IF they are able to stay away and don't sprint on the Mur with the likes of Pogacar/Nys.
- Feb 21, 2019
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With Pogacar and Remco on the startlist, I just don't think that we are going to have the usual sprint up the Mur d'Huy. I expect Remco to attack and I am almost sure that Pogacar will react and follow him. Question is what will Trek do? They are both Nys and Skjelmose as favourites but I don't think they will be happy to let them go away so Skjelmose will probably follow and we will have another three way sprint between them, this time up the Mur d'Huy which Pogacar will win to take his second Flèche Wallone.
- Jul 31, 2024
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Won't be able to watch. Will hope for a Remco upset. In my mind he's a clear underdog for this race. With pogacar and Nys the main favourites. Remco won some uphill sprints but he does not have the kick of the other 2.
- May 14, 2011
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- Feb 20, 2012
- 49,921
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Valverde did like 519 for 3'07 and 594 for the final 61 seconds in 2021. And doing almost 10 W/kg at the end, he got absolutely deleted by Roglic and Alaphilippe
- Feb 20, 2012
- 49,921
- 36,841
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Valverde and Woods both have Strava files still up with power data of Fleche
- Sep 12, 2022
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Can you extrapolate it for his 2014 run? He still has the best time together with Alaphilippe in 2021.
- Nov 16, 2013
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Yes, it went terribly for him last time he pulled with those two.
- Apr 13, 2025
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No. Pogacar won this race in 2023 in a sprint.
UAE has clearly stated that he needs to arrive at Liège rested and that FW should serve as a training.
For once, they're even taking the pressure off him to win.
He does FW as training to get into competitive rhythm; they don't want him to get into a long attack.
If Remco wants to attack from a distance, he should be suportted on the team and let them chase him. If the team don't disintegrate this time, as they´ve in all the classics this year.
- Feb 20, 2012
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Do you think he has a higher or lower chance vs Pogacar and Evenepoel if he doesn't pull?
- May 5, 2010
- 48,715
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So, like... make them go backwards?
Not just "I'm not gonna pull, because I have Nys back in the peloton"?
- Feb 20, 2012
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Gap is like 6 seconds on a 160 second climb, so the power difference should be ~4% maybe, but on the Mur the split between before and during the sprint is always different. I think I rember looking at the split and they did the last 300m way faster in 2021, so I think the initial pace was just better in 2014.
Valverde never really maxed out the gap he could win by, he just made sure he could sustain his sprint to the end. In 2021 he could do 11 W/kg for 50 seconds during which he was losing ground to Alaphilippe and Roglic and then he exploded the final 10s.
This is also why it's strange to me everyone has been so keen to wait for the final 250 so long because it's not the fastest way to climb the Mur and it basically guarantees that you lose against more explosive riders. Fuglsang almost won it in 2019 vs Alaphilippe going from halfway.
- Jul 31, 2024
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Alapahillipe might actually have a chance in this one. His acceleration in amstel gold may have been practice for today.
- Sep 12, 2022
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I agree, you just need a hard pace from the start, it will also suffocate the more explosive riders.
- Aug 6, 2010
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Especially with topcat targeting his entire season on being Julian's lead out man here. When it was suggested that it was weird to aim so strongly for a mere midweek race topcat replied; "Cycling isn't about monuments, it's about moments."
- Aug 29, 2011
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If I were a pro cyclist I would just suck wheels all the way to Huy and then smoke whomever attacked first in the last stretch. This isn't that hard.
- Apr 13, 2021
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My slovenian son told me he thinks crisitan scaroni is coming in 'undercooked' in order to have a big peak at the giro. He doesn't think he will be a factor today
My son therefore is cheering for one of his heros, alapphilippe, today. He went to school dressed in all black like the Tudor kit, and he asked me how soon will be be able to grow a moustache
My son therefore is cheering for one of his heros, alapphilippe, today. He went to school dressed in all black like the Tudor kit, and he asked me how soon will be be able to grow a moustache
- Apr 13, 2025
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You're talking about Alaphilippe. It's worth remembering that Hirschi won FW in 2020.
The incredible thing is that Hirschi won in his first appearance.
The incredible thing is that Hirschi won in his first appearance.
- Aug 29, 2011
- 3,677
- 2,057
- 16,680
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