La Fleche Wallonne

[Moondance]

I have to say, looking at the provisional start list, this is going to be one helluva a field on Wednesday. Anton, Schleck Brothers, Gilbert, Cunego, Valverde, LuLu, Cuddles, Kloden, Horner, Nibali, Kreuziger (sp), J Rod, Ivanov, Kolobnev, Sastre, Hesjedal, Gesink, Iglinsky and Contador. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone (and please feel free to point them out), but the point is this field is just stacked.

Hopefully all of them have come to race and not to get race miles.

Ummmm.... No offense but these three classics have always been stacked... No real difference than usual.

 

[Publicus]

Ummmm.... No offense but these three classics have always been stacked... No real difference than usual.

Umm, okay then. This field is on par for Fleche Wallonne. I've duly checked my enthusiasm.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Every year I'm suprised at how other people are suprised about A. Schlecks form.

It has been this way with him since he became pro. He only shows something when he really needs to

i said the same thing. he finds form very quickly from nowhere.When I said that I got my head chopped off.

If Andy Schleck, Cadel Evans, Valverde can win L-B-L or LFW, why not AC ?

I think AC will do a great race... I would love to see he in fisrt place!

I personally don't think he is able to win a classic this year. he can't go out there and think he can blow the race to pieces and it will be harder for him to get a big gap in these classics where they are shorter climbs.

I think he definetly can win a classic one day but not this year imo.

 

[jaylew]

I have to say, looking at the provisional start list, this is going to be one helluva a field on Wednesday. Anton, Schleck Brothers, Gilbert, Cunego, Valverde, LuLu, Cuddles, Kloden, Horner, Nibali, Kreuziger (sp), J Rod, Ivanov, Kolobnev, Sastre, Hesjedal, Gesink, Iglinsky and Contador. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone (and please feel free to point them out), but the point is this field is just stacked.

Hopefully all of them have come to race and not to get race miles.

Anyone know why Sammy is sitting out of the Ardennes this year? He's obviously on great form with 2 very recent wins and these races definitely suit him.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Anyone know why Sammy is sitting out of the Ardennes this year? He's obviously on great form with 2 very recent wins and these races definitely suit him.

He did say he was putting 100% focus on the tour. Seems that may be the reason

 

[Publicus]

i said the same thing. he finds form very quickly from nowhere.When I said that I got my head chopped off.


I personally don't think he is able to win a classic this year. he can't go out there and think he can blow the race to pieces and it will be harder for him to get a big gap in these classics where they are shorter climbs.

I think he definetly can win a classic one day but not this year imo.

Why not? He can accelerate harder and faster than Andy Schleck who blew AGR to pieces on Sunday with his acceleration on a short steep climb. I'm not saying he can blow the race to pieces and solo for the victory, but I don't understand your logic that AC can't put in an attack that blows the race to pieces when we've just seen that happen less than 36 hours ago (Andy Schleck).

 

[frankdstrack]

Velominati Super Prestive: La Fleche

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Winner takes home an Obey the Rules bumper sticker and the series winner takes home the Velominati Shop Apron!

More on the competition: http://www.velominati.com/blog/about/velominati-super-prestige/

 

[cyclopeon]

The most important thing is to have the right position at the bottom of the climb. The Gesink example is also kind of proof of your point that the classics aren't that straightforward, because he did the fastest climb of the Mur, but he didn't win

Surely it is more important to have the right position at the TOP of the climb?

 

[caça-foice]

Why not? He can accelerate harder and faster than Andy Schleck who blew AGR to pieces on Sunday with his acceleration on a short steep climb. I'm not saying he can blow the race to pieces and solo for the victory, but I don't understand your logic that AC can't put in an attack that blows the race to pieces when we've just seen that happen less than 36 hours ago (Andy Schleck).

I hope that AC will do a great damage in the field on this hill... I'm a beginner, but I don't understand why the people are not talking more about AC, as a contender, in this race or L-B-L... =(

http://www.velo-club.net/article_arch.php?sid=23586

 

[flicker]

I hope that AC will do a great damage in the field on this hill... I'm a beginner, but I don't understand why the people are not talking more about AC, as a contender, in this race or L-B-L... =(

http://www.velo-club.net/article_arch.php?sid=23586

ACs a smart rider he will win LBL if it is benefical but shall not take a chance of hurting himself for the tour.

 

[Publicus]

I hope that AC will do a great damage in the field on this hill... I'm a beginner, but I don't understand why the people are not talking more about AC, as a contender, in this race or L-B-L... =(

http://www.velo-club.net/article_arch.php?sid=23586

Probably because he has never done well at the Ardennes Classics. Doesn't mean that he can't, but at this point, his competition has far more experience in these types of races, so odds are he won't do well.

Love this chart from your link:

0-100 mètres : 7,0 %

100-200 mètres : 1,0 %

200-300 mètres : 5,0 %

300-400 mètres : 6,0 %

400-500 mètres : 10,0 %

500-600 mètres : 11,0 %

600-700 mètres : 11,0 %

700-800 mètres : 10,0 %

800-900 mètres : 17,0 %

900-1000 mètres : 15,0 %

1000-1100 mètres : 14,0 %

1100-1200 mètres : 15,0 %

1200-1300 mètres : 6,0 %

 

[Publicus]

ACs a smart rider he will win LBL if it is benefical but shall not take a chance of hurting himself for the tour.

I think he has a better shot at Fleche, but I'm thinking this is more about racing these roads (some of which will be featured in the Tour) than actually going for the win. Would love to see him set up Iglinsky for the win (on Wednesday) or Vino (on Saturday).

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why not? He can accelerate harder and faster than Andy Schleck who blew AGR to pieces on Sunday with his acceleration on a short steep climb. I'm not saying he can blow the race to pieces and solo for the victory, but I don't understand your logic that AC can't put in an attack that blows the race to pieces when we've just seen that happen less than 36 hours ago (Andy Schleck).

Andy Schleck's move was not a race winning move. I don't think he can spilit away from others on the muur with out them already heavily marking him and really he only has 1km to do so as the final 300m flattens out a bit more.

He can definetly win it, but it won't be that easy for him to just fly away like on a long mountain pass.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Rabo changing their team a bit: Steven Kruijswijk, Bauke Mollema, Grischa Niermann, Oscar Freire, Robert Gesink, Laurens ten Dam, Paul Martens and Bram Tankink

We will finally see the great Bauke Mollema that all the dutchies have been taklking about!

 

[Publicus]

Andy Schleck's move was not a race winning move. I don't think he can spilit away from others on the muur with out them already heavily marking him and really he only has 1km to do so as the final 300m flattens out a bit more.

He can definetly win it, but it won't be that easy for him to just fly away like on a long mountain pass.

I actually don't think anyone will be marking him. Everyone is thinking about/focused on Valverde, the Schleck Brothers, Ivanov, Gilbert, J Rod, even Cuddles. AC is a novelty at most here. No one is naming him as a serious contender.

And just for the record, you didn't qualify your rip the race to pieces comment with that it was in fact the winning move. I acknowledged that Baby Schleck's move wasn't a winning move--but it definitely blew the race apart.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I actually don't think anyone will be marking him. Everyone is thinking about/focused on Valverde, the Schleck Brothers, Ivanov, Gilbert, J Rod, even Cuddles. AC is a novelty at most here. No one is naming him as a serious contender.

And just for the record, you didn't qualify your rip the race to pieces comment with that it was in fact the winning move. I acknowledged that Baby Schleck's move wasn't a winning move--but it definitely blew the race apart.

Sorry, my mistake with saying it wasn't the winning move. Still, i think it would be crazy to not mark him as he is a classy bike rider but I don't think he will win and i think it will be unlikely that he will podium.

 

[theyoungest]

We will finally see the great Bauke Mollema that all the dutchies have been taklking about!

"The great Bauke Mollema" is just building his form, so I don't know if you'll see much of him

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Mollema had good results in the Ruta del Sol though, but Auscyclefan probably didn't notice that because Rogers won the race which usually makes him blind for all other placings

1 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 18:12:16 2 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:19 3 Sergio Pardilla Bellón (Spa) Carmiooro NGC 0:00:30 4 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:31 5 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0:00:35 6 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia 0:00:38 7 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:44 8 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur 0:00:46 9 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 10 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:00:50
And that was in february building-shape form
He was supposed to lead Paris Nice team but got sick. Since then he has just been building and mainly working for the team in other races.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Mollema had good results in the Ruta del Sol though, but Auscyclefan probably didn't notice that because Rogers won the race which usually makes him blind for all other placings

1 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 18:12:16 2 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:19 3 Sergio Pardilla Bellón (Spa) Carmiooro NGC 0:00:30 4 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:31 5 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0:00:35 6 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia 0:00:38 7 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:44 8 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur 0:00:46 9 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 10 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:00:50
And that was in february building-shape form
He was supposed to lead Paris Nice team but got sick. Since then he has just been building and mainly working for the team in other races.

I am more than aware of his results, but in a big race is what my comment was in reference to. I have seen his palmares and they are impressive.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If he stays clear of ilnesses and bad luck he'll do fine at the Giro.
There is only 1 rabo rider capable of winning or podium in FW and that is Gesink. I hope AGR was just a bad day

 

[auscyclefan94]

If he stays clear of ilnesses and bad luck he'll do fine at the Giro.
There is only 1 rabo rider capable of winning or podium in FW and that is Gesink. I hope AGR was just a bad day

What will the dutch have to say about this?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dutch-athletes-involved-in-humanplasma-doping-scandal

If you don't mind me asking, do you still keep in touch with T Dekker at all?

I got told that bmc's liscence should be taken away for the tour? Could this apply to rabo if it turns out to be a rabo rider?

 

[ak-zaaf]

What will the dutch have to say about this?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dutch-athletes-involved-in-humanplasma-doping-scandal

If you don't mind me asking, do you still keep in touch with T Dekker at all?

I got told that bmc's liscence should be taken away for the tour? Could this apply to rabo if it turns out to be a rabo rider?

The (new) reports are about 3 former athletes. Vroemen, Boogerd and T. Dekker and named a lot on the interwebs. So in that case no worries for Rabo, Boogerd quit a long time ago, Dekker left Rabo and Vroemen wasn't a cyclist.

It could be different if it would be Posthuma and Weening as reported a while ago.


“cyclists play an important role in the dossier.”
Yes, it's a doping investigation. What else did he expect?
The guy who said this (Herman Ram) is a complete idiot. He's the one who told the world there was an extra molecule in CERA to make it detectable.

 

[theyoungest]

The (new) reports are about 3 former athletes. Vroemen, Boogerd and T. Dekker and named a lot on the interwebs. So in that case no worries for Rabo, Boogerd quit a long time ago, Dekker left Rabo and Vroemen wasn't a cyclist.

It could be different if it would be Posthuma and Weening as reported a while ago.


“cyclists play an important role in the dossier.”
Yes, it's a doping investigation. What else did he expect?
The guy who said this (Herman Ram) is a complete idiot. He's the one who told the world there was an extra molecule in CERA to make it detectable.

This discussion belongs in the Clinic, but he says it's athletes or former athletes. Still I think it's going to be Vroemen, Boogerd, and Dekker. Fingers crossed for our Russian friend Denis M.

 

[Ferminal]

So who are we thinking here...

Piti - I like to think he's a good chance, as he is at any race he enters these days
Rodriguez - Not sure after what happened on Sunday, but he was so good in that Basque stage, Fleche being shorter than AGR might help him?
Schlecks - Maybe, if there is a smaller group at the bottom of the climb. They looked reasonable in AGR but probably could've played their cards better.
Cuddles - Impressive on Sunday, but a loser at heart.
Gesink - No working for Freire this time!
Cunego - He should be primed for this.
Kolobnev - Don't think he's a real contender here.
Gilbert - Going to be harder for him than AGR, will be tough the match the others on the Mur so is going to have to outwit them.
Bertie - What would we say if he won...

For some reason I can't see Bertie winning if it's a carvery at the end between all of the above. There's plenty more who could be there... Liquigas, Ivanov, Gasparotto?

1. Valv-Piti
2. Cunego
3. Gesink
4. Cuddles
5. Frank

 

[Sasquatch]

Gilbert, Kreuziger or Kolobnev. One of those 3.