Liège - Bastogne - Liège : Sunday April 22th 201é

[thegrimpeur]

Again, I don't think Cunego was forcing it in Trentino. I'm not saying he could have followed Pozzovivo, but he is now a veteran guy who should be able to find a good tempo and go with that. Then again, he has repeatedly been making stupid decisions throughout his career, so I wouldn't be totally shocked if his legs were done come La Redoute.

 

[manafana]

cunego has had great prep for this will be main challenge but i think gilbert is just ticking the boxes to come along and win this

 

[cineteq]

Again, I don't think Cunego was forcing it in Trentino. I'm not saying he could have followed Pozzovivo, but he is now a veteran guy who should be able to find a good tempo and go with that. Then again, he has repeatedly been making stupid decisions throughout his career, so I wouldn't be totally shocked if his legs were done come La Redoute.

"Damiano Cunego appeared fresh after his difficult outing in Trentino"

 

[movingtarget]

I don't see Cunego or Gilbert winning Liege.

 

[karlboss]

I don't see Cunego or Gilbert winning Liege.

I think this year is actually pretty exciting, there is obviously no clear favourite, favourites, which i hope leads to some exciting racing.
Who has the strength to be a certainty in the sprint? Noone
Who has the strength to break away from a concerted chase? Noone

Really hoping guys tipped for top 10-20, chance there hand from a distance for the win.

 

[palmerq]

I can see gilbert winning it :S he is getting closer to his old self, whether he has improved enough is th question but I would not be surprised if he won... I will stick by my prediction and vote for franky schleck to win..

 

[blaxland]

I think this year is actually pretty exciting, there is obviously no clear favourite, favourites, which i hope leads to some exciting racing.
Who has the strength to be a certainty in the sprint? Noone
Who has the strength to break away from a concerted chase? Noone

Really hoping guys tipped for top 10-20, chance there hand from a distance for the win.

Agree with Karlboss and fingers crossed for some attacking style of racing.Not just survival of the fittest"

 

[meat puppet]

Hesjedal to go first, prolly RaF, and Dan martin to finish it off if the move does not stick. Righty.

Meanwhile in the real world... Voeckler or some other miracle worker's gonna pull a "2012" and make a solo attack stick from 50k out.

Just checked weatheunderground for Liege, and the site said there was a thunderstorm possibility for today, WTF. Cant be right, right? eek:

 

[The Hitch]

The other problem for Cunego is travel. Getting to Liege 2 days before the event isnt ideal.

I know Vino did it but thats the guy who does a Zomegnan Giro, tries a 60k break in the Tour, totaly cracks 1k from the end and wins the stage the next day, by soloing away from the HTC train.

 

[Yingge]

Weather in Liege at 08:15 - cloudy but dry, temp about 5C.

Forecast for today does not mention rain. Then again, forecast was similar yesterday, and it was sunny one minute, raining the next and a biting wind from the SW most of the time. Liege is one thing of course, its the hills to the south where the action takes place.

 

[dlwssonic]

Don't count out andy schleck just yet.

 

[movingtarget]

I can see gilbert winning it :S he is getting closer to his old self, whether he has improved enough is th question but I would not be surprised if he won... I will stick by my prediction and vote for franky schleck to win..

I think that's the problem for Gilbert. Plus this race is longer and harder than Fleche. I like Ryder H, Voeckler, and Andy Schleck will be thereabouts near the finish along with Gilbert but I don't see either of them winning. Very open race as others have noted. Cunego was in a good position at Fleche when he fell but not sure if he can win this one. Would be good to see BMC try something different than riding on the front for long periods.

 

[Kwibus]

Weather in Liege at 08:15 - cloudy but dry, temp about 5C.

Forecast for today does not mention rain. Then again, forecast was similar yesterday, and it was sunny one minute, raining the next and a biting wind from the SW most of the time. Liege is one thing of course, its the hills to the south where the action takes place.

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Liege+Belgium+BEXX0011

Big chance it rains today.

 

[dlwssonic]

I think that's the problem for Gilbert. Plus this race is longer and harder than Fleche. I like Ryder H, Voeckler, and Andy Schleck will be thereabouts near the finish along with Gilbert but I don't see either of them winning. Very open race as others have noted. Cunego was in a good position at Fleche when he fell but not sure if he can win this one. Would be good to see BMC try something different than riding on the front for long periods.

They should get GVA into the late breaks and let Gilbert stay at the chase group. If GVA is strong enough he can win the sprint from the break.

 

[Kwibus]

Don't count out andy schleck just yet.

Definately not. He will probably be ready all of the sudden.
Don't rule out Gilbert as well, he's obviously making big steps forward last week.

It will definately be interesting to see who will take this. I'm a bit afraid that the lack of an clear favourite or someone who is really strong that there won't be a big selection.

 

[Kwibus]

Euskaltel certainly sends a strong team.

Directeurs sportifs : GERRIKAGOITIA Gorka
81 Samuel SANCHEZ
82 Igor ANTON
83 Jorge AZANZA
84 * Gorka IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI
85 Egoi MARTINEZ
86 Mikel NIEVE ITURRALDE
87 Ruben PEREZ MORENO
88 * Romain SICARD

Nieve to win solo. He is in the first breakaway and we will never see him again.
Giro stage of last year all over, only the mountains are a bit smaller this time

 

[The Hitch]

Definately not. He will probably be ready all of the sudden.
Don't rule out Gilbert as well, he's obviously making big steps forward last week.

I can see why some would rule out Schleck though my prediction has been that he will beat J Rod.

But why would anyone rule out Gilbert? He is pretty much widely aknowledged as the heavy favourite.

 

[Kwibus]

I can see why some would rule out Schleck though my prediction has been that he will beat J Rod.

But why would anyone rule out Gilbert? He is pretty much widely aknowledged as the heavy favourite.

Your right. He isn't being ruled out actually so not sure why I said that.
I guess it was more a personal feeling I have about him.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Definately not. He will probably be ready all of the sudden.

Ready to help his brother, that is.

 

[Trofinios]

Very curious to see what Voeckler can do today. He was 11th in 2010, but this year he seems stronger than ever: 8th in RVV, won Brabantse Pijl, 5th in AGR. And with his performance in TDF last year he broke some kind of barrier, showing that he is now also is a capable GC rider, not just someone who shines briefly and then fades.

I say top 5 for Voeckler today.

 

[Panda Claws]

Euskaltel certainly sends a strong team.

Directeurs sportifs : GERRIKAGOITIA Gorka
81 Samuel SANCHEZ
82 Igor ANTON
83 Jorge AZANZA
84 * Gorka IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI
85 Egoi MARTINEZ
86 Mikel NIEVE ITURRALDE
87 Ruben PEREZ MORENO
88 * Romain SICARD

Nieve to win solo. He is in the first breakaway and we will never see him again.
Giro stage of last year all over, only the mountains are a bit smaller this time

Does the '*' mean that it is his first participation?

 

[Grzdylu]

It means Under 25

 

[boomcie]

Anton broke his collar bone in the neutral zone... Damn.

 

[Kwibus]

Anton broke his collar bone in the neutral zone... Damn.

Bloody hell. That's really bad news.
Imo someone like Anton should be able to do pretty well in a race like this as well. He finished 14th last year in I think his first attempt.

 

[pylarz]

Anton was 6th in his first attempt in 2010