La Fleche Wallonne

[auscyclefan94]

+1 lets hope they get their act together..

REPLY......

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

crap. bayern game starts in 4 hours. better get some sleep

 

[Cerberus]

Can we drop it with the doping talk, I know ACF started it with that idiotic comment but really, please dont stoop to that petty level or bring it to the clinic, when we just had a great race.

Sure, I'll shut up, though that particular post you responded to was just a joke.










OK, mostly a joke.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes. And I think he might be the favorite at this point. He previewed the las 30KM when he got to Belgium.

And for those who want to make excuses for AC the only one that seems valid to me is that he had no experience racing for the win and mistimed his effort. He learned, the hard way, what Cuddles learned in 2008. That being said, I think folks are getting far ahead of themselves proclaiming that Evans will now contend with AC in the Tour mountains. A stage race and a one day classic are different animals all together.

I think he will compete for the Giro, but the Tour is still all about Contador barring any unforeseen mishaps. My hope now is that he will round out an AC, Schlecklet, Cuddles podium in the TdF.

 

[Jamsque]

If Cadel goes all-out for the Giro I I wonder if he'll be able to recover and peak quickly enough to contend for the podium at the Tour.

 

[maltiv]

team sky got 2 riders into the top 30 today, great success!

I'm actually quite impressed with Lars Petter Nordhaug. 29th here as a neo-pro is pretty good for sure.

 

[stefrees]

At least they are not like the Brits, who keep throwing hissy fits and leaving the forum because people don't like Cavendouche or Wigans.

no, its because some people come here to discuss cycling not to trade insults.

 

[powderpuff]

Sure, I'll shut up, though that particular post you responded to was just a joke.

OK, mostly a joke.

who was joking...

 

[BroDeal]

And for those who want to make excuses for AC the only one that seems valid to me is that he had no experience racing for the win and mistimed his effort. He learned, the hard way, what Cuddles learned in 2008. That being said, I think folks are getting far ahead of themselves proclaiming that Evans will now contend with AC in the Tour mountains. A stage race and a one day classic are different animals all together.

AC had no kick at the end. He was not able to open up a gap like he usually can. I think that is what did him in. He misjudged his strength compared to the others because he is used to being able to ride away from everyone. All the small climbs have an effect on the legs.

 

[kurtinsc]

Yeah, I noticed that too. BUT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS: THE BIG STORY IS THAT GT RIDERS ARE NOW TAKING THE CLASSICS SERIOUSLY.

Great for the sport, moving it away from where Pharmstrong took it.

LOL, off to work. Been skipping it for this!

I agree it's good for the sport... but I wouldn't put the blame entirely on Armstrong. He did race Amstel Gold to win in 1999 and 2001 (finishing 2nd each time). I don't think Indurain did much in the classics either.

In fact, if you look at AGR, LFW and LBL, you have to go back well before Lance's time to find a GC contender at the TDF winning one. Fleche would be what... Fignon in '86? Liege would be Hinault in '80 (prior to Andy)? AGR I suppose could be Frank in 2006... but I'm not sure he was really a GC guy at that point. AGR has had a few (Frank in 2006, Vino in 2003, Riis in 1997, then Hinault in 1981).

But really I think you have to go back to the early 80's to see a field like we had today trying for one of these races.

 

[Publicus]

If Cadel goes all-out for the Giro I I wonder if he'll be able to recover and peak quickly enough to contend for the podium at the Tour.

As the only clean rider in the peloton, I think that would be a tall order. in all seriousness it's why I'm not expecting much from him at the TdF.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

To the guy who missed Vacansoleil: They weren't invited for this race, not strange you missed them. Hard to get into action when you are not allowed to start

 

[BroDeal]

no, its because some people come here to discuss cycling not to trade insults.

Point to where Hibbles was insulted. He could not stand that many people don't like Cav. That stiff upper lip thing appears to be vastly overrated.

 

[Tornadin]

won't there be a liege-bastogne-liege thread?

 

[pmcg76]

I agree it's good for the sport... but I wouldn't put the blame entirely on Armstrong. He did race Amstel Gold to win in 1999 and 2001 (finishing 2nd each time). I don't think Indurain did much in the classics either.

In fact, if you look at AGR, LFW and LBL, you have to go back well before Lance's time to find a GC contender at the TDF winning one. Fleche would be what... Fignon in '86? Liege would be Hinault in '80 (prior to Andy)? AGR I suppose could be Frank in 2006... but I'm not sure he was really a GC guy at that point. AGR has had a few (Frank in 2006, Vino in 2003, Riis in 1997, then Hinault in 1981).

But really I think you have to go back to the early 80's to see a field like we had today trying for one of these races.

Early 90s a lot of stage race contenders rode the Ardennes Classics also, maybe no winners but then there were quite a few Ardennes specialists like Argentin around. I definitely remember Roche, Indurain, Delgado, Zulle, Chiappucci, Rominger etc all competing in the early 90s. Dont make me get the results out.

I think the general point is Contador has taken 3 stage race wins and is competitive in the Classics and this has not happened in a very, very long time.

 

[theyoungest]

won't there be a liege-bastogne-liege thread?

Nice first post.

 

[red_flanders]

Evans did to Contador what Kirchen did to Evans 2 years ago. He learned. It was a smart ride, like his WC road race win.

BUT THE FANTASTIC NEWS FOR CYCLING is GT riders taking the classics seriously.

About time.

Great point!

 

[Publicus]

AC had no kick at the end. He was not able to open up a gap like he usually can. I think that is what did him in. He misjudged his strength compared to the others because he is used to being able to ride away from everyone. All the small climbs have an effect on the legs.

I honestly think we are saying the same thing. He burned his last matches too quickly rather than doling his effort for the final 200 meters

 

[kurtinsc]

Early 90s a lot of stage race contenders rode the Ardennes Classics also, maybe no winners but then there were quite a few Ardennes specialists like Argentin around. I definitely remember Roche, Indurain, Delgado, Zulle, Chiappucci, Rominger etc all competing in the early 90s. Dont make me get the results out.

I think the general point is Contador has taken 3 stage race wins and is competitive in the Classics and this has not happened in a very, very long time.

You could be right... all I can see is the winners and for specific guys who was on the podium. I didn't see Indurain with any, but I don't know about the others.

 

[Tornadin]

Nice first post.

I've actually been reading quite a lot =).

Awesome win by Cuddles today, hope he's gonna be up there sunday again.

 

[BroDeal]

Early 90s a lot of stage race contenders rode the Ardennes Classics also, maybe no winners but then there were quite a few Ardennes specialists like Argentin around. I definitely remember Roche, Indurain, Delgado, Zulle, Chiappucci, Rominger etc all competing in the early 90s. Dont make me get the results out.

I think the general point is Contador has taken 3 stage race wins and is competitive in the Classics and this has not happened in a very, very long time.

Don't forget a certain rider by the name of Gianni Bugno, who won both MSR and Flanders.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Well, supposedly quite a lot of people on this forum already do so I am just rubbing the salt into the wound to those people.

There's no reason to hate on Evans at this point. He's a much different rider than he was say 3-4 years ago. It would be nice if Leipheimer took some notes from Evans' development as a rider.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I honestly think we are saying the same thing. He burned his last matches too quickly rather than doling his effort for the final 200 meters

In the post-race interview, Evans said the same thing. He mentioned that he's done the same thing in previous years at the FW, but now he's learned and gauged his effort much better.

 

[pmcg76]

Don't forget a certain rider by the name of Gianni Bugno, who won both MSR and Flanders.

Of course or LeMond in Paris-Roubaix but I was referring more to riders in the Ardennes Classics.

 

[theswordsman]

In the post-race interview, Evans said the same thing. He mentioned that he's done the same thing in previous years at the FW, but now he's learned and gauged his effort much better.

Yeah, he said he had never done recon on the climb before, and when he did so this year, he realized he'd been racing it wrong all these years.