L'Avenir 2024 U23s 18 to 24 August

[TourOfSardinia]

Love the race radio faintly in Jose's audio background

 

[Samamba]

Torres solo already, he really messed up yesterday looking at Widar too much. Was perfectly strong enough to win this Avenir.

I hope for Blackmore than he didn't blow himself up trying to follow Torres for a bit. He still looks good tho.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Blackmore dropped by Torres, gap is 10 seconds but he just needs to keep his tempo, Graat is apparently 30 seconds behind but has Van Bekkum so can make it back

 

[Tim Cahill]

45 seconds is the gap holding about steady for the last km

 

[Netserk]

~45" between Blackmore and Graat on the road?

 

[Tim Cahill]

~45" between Blackmore and Graat on the road?

45 between Torres and Blackmore hand timed, then another 40 or so to Graat

 

[Samamba]

~45" between Blackmore and Graat on the road?

30s.

Blackmore at 55s Graat 1'25.

Torres is flying.

 

[Netserk]

I had expected Graat to gain more time after Torres dropped Blackmore.

 

[Samamba]

I had expected Graat to gain more time after Torres dropped Blackmore.

He is gaining a bit now and it's still a long way to go. Only 20s difference, I think Graat will pass him.

Maybe Torres can just destroy them all and make up 4 minutes! 1'10 already

 

[scribers]

Gap going out. Will it be enough mountain though?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Gap opening out a touch now but it will be more than enough unless Blackmore completely blows, interested in seeing how fast Torres can do the climb as it's mostly a solo effort.

 

[Tim Cahill]

1.30 or something?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Looking a bit touch and go now, Graat can still win this, he's pretty close but the 7% section should be a bit of respite.

 

[Netserk]

Graat can see Blackmore now. The Brit should save himself a bit and then sit on the wheel.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Let's hope Graat takes it, so this Avenir doesn't have to suffer through another "GC rider" the likes of Foss.

 

[Samamba]

Graat can see Blackmore now. The Brit should save himself a bit and then sit on the wheel.

Shouldve never followed Torres in the first place honestly.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

My takeaway from this week is that Nordhagen would have smoked everyone.

 

[Squire]

Looking a bit touch and go now, Graat can still win this, he's pretty close but the 7% section should be a bit of respite.

Was gonna say he'd be a fitting member in the experienced-old-man-beating-kids club, but he's actually just a 3rd year, not a 4th year U23. Seems like he's been around in the U23 class forever.

This is such an awesome climb btw.

 

[Samamba]

Sticky bottles with 6km to go on Finestre, ok...

 

[Netserk]

Shouldve never followed Torres in the first place honestly.

I'm unsure. As well as Blackmore is going, he's strong enough to make it simple with no tactical games.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Was gonna say he'd be a fitting member in the experienced-old-man-beating-kids club, but he's actually just a 3rd year, not a 4th year U23. Seems like he's been around in the U23 class forever.

This is such an awesome climb btw.

Graat is only more experienced in age, not so much in cycling conversance. He didn't come into cycling until he was 17 and was discovered by complete accident when the KNWU couldn't field enough riders in a race in Slovakia.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Did Dalby even bother taking that bottle

 

[TourOfSardinia]

the road goes ever on ...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Was gonna say he'd be a fitting member in the experienced-old-man-beating-kids club, but he's actually just a 3rd year, not a 4th year U23. Seems like he's been around in the U23 class forever.

This is such an awesome climb btw.

Torres is from November 2005, Blackmore is from February 2003. So it's still a bit old man beating kid.

 

[Samamba]

It's pretty insane that Torres already has 2 minutes.