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

[kanari]

Huh?? That's exactly one of his strong points. Sprints in mountain stages or after a hard hilly stage. Was even 2nd in a mass sprint in castilla y leon often. There's pletny of videos/results proving that. His weak point is that he often can't follow the very best. Only the 2nd group

Also look at stage 6 in last year's TdF (EBH's sprint win). Made a very good attack off the bunch in the last few hundred meters.

 

[Kwibus]

Also Martin is exactly one place and one point higher than Mollema on the UCI points table.

lol.
I think it's D. Martins goal. He puts everything he has just to beat Mollema by 1 spot. Or he can easily win the races, but his goal is too just beat Mollema by 1 spot

 

[Kwibus]

I'm not saying he's super bad at it, but I just can't ever see him win a group sprint in a hilly classic and thus he has to anticipate(which lowers his chances of winning a classic). Boogerd also had a decent uphill sprint in him, but was still always beaten to the line by someone(except a certain Lance Armstrong ). But like I said, I don't really follow him that much, so you're probably right. But do you see him winning a group sprint in a hilly classic? I doubt it to be honest.

If you get in the top 10 of a Monument, you must have some ambition to win it some day in my opinion and I don't think he should wait for a sprint.

Mollema has a very decent finishing kick. Usually it's only Daniel Martin that beats him at the finish line. If it's not Martin it's somebody else.. so far he usually gets beaten by someone else, but is faster then most others.
So he can't rely on his sprint that's for sure.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Great win by Iglinskiy...I really enjoyed last night's race.

Nice to see Dan Martin show himself in an Ardennes Classic.

TJBG also did a super ride as well. Very very strong. So was the rest of BMC except they couldn't finish it off with Gilbert.

 

[greenedge]

Congrats to Inglinsky, he deserved it. Great ride by Nibali.

 

[Panda Claws]

El gorrion de cazona owning the world.

Wasn't he the one trying to climb that hill bikeless.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Wasn't he the one trying to climb that hill bikeless.

Yup, cos he gave his bike to Valverde, loyal domestique that he is, and was trying to maintain his balance running uphill at 15% whilst also pushing his team leader away. Hence why he nearly ended up using his teeth as a climbing aid.

 

[karlboss]

Thoroughly enjoyed the race, and the post race chatter here. Except the suspicion comments on Iglinsky The guy has featured in tough stages and one day races, been in the mix this year, and had the right mix of strength and tactics. Was stronger than Rodriguez at a race distance that there are question marks over rodriguez. Chased down Nibali(who looked to have pushed too hard early) after sitting in the pack a little longer and closing the gap with Rodriguez. The other guys behind didn't mount a reasonable cohesive chase. He is no more suspicious than...well anyone else who could have won.

TJVG impressed today as did Rolland, both were superb in their respective roles.
Nibali is bound to get a classic soon.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yup, cos he gave his bike to Valverde, loyal domestique that he is, and was trying to maintain his balance running uphill at 15% whilst also pushing his team leader away. Hence why he nearly ended up using his teeth as a climbing aid.

I kinda liked that, adds to his "nerd" look --> being clumsy.

 

[cyclopeon]

Not had time to watch the race yet but just looking at the results, at 23rd and 50th Frank and Andy don't seem to have been major players in the race - who or what are they blaming this time?

Psychologically put off by the "Andersen not for the Tour" announcement? (note to The Hog: way to psych out your own riders, twit!)

 

[cyclopeon]

Apparently Cunego had a dropped chain right on the Roche aux Faucoun, but said that he was feeling really good

Oh god, don't tell me we're going to have another year of "Niballi/ Iglinsky should have waited!"

Kidding. Cunego is too much a real racer for that!

 

[Caruut]

Just watched the highlights, gutted for Nibali, Iglinsky rode well, both benefited from a stupid amount of cat and mouse in everything chase-wise that got going. Gilbert looked rubbish all the time, didn't get that spontaneous increase in form that the BMC brigade have been predicting, surprise surprise. The Schlecks were laughable, someone needs to just give Andy a calender that only shows July or something.

 

[Konfronto]

Now I wonder what we should expect from "Mad Max" Iglinskiy in the second half of the season?! Total madness I guess)

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Just watched a replay on TV. I agree with Caruut. Pretty impressive rides by first Nibs and then Maxim Iglinskiy, who really closed down the gap fast on the last climb.

 

[Kwibus]

TJVG impressed today as did Rolland, both were superb in their respective roles.
Nibali is bound to get a classic soon.

Rolland was very impressive indeed. On the attack and keeps on attacking.
I wasn't sure after last TDF if he was a rider to stay at the top, but apparently he has the talent to be very good at the more important races.
It does seem he has a bit of an Andy syndrom... he is pretty anonymous during most other races. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

TJVG did some impressive work between the Redoute and Roche au Facons.

 

[hughmoore]

Rolland was very impressive indeed. On the attack and keeps on attacking.
I wasn't sure after last TDF if he was a rider to stay at the top, but apparently he has the talent to be very good at the more important races.
It does seem he has a bit of an Andy syndrom... he is pretty anonymous during most other races. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

TJVG did some impressive work between the Redoute and Roche au Facons.

I think your wrong, he is only young and cant ride everything, he was up there with the midgets in Giro Trentino the other day.

It also depends what his role is as he is generally supporting Voeckler.

He is nothing like Shreks, he is good climber and iirc, had a good TT at the TDF last year.

EDIT: I was wrong his TT was similar to Franks', my mistake. He was 2.50 down.

Hugh

 

[greenedge]

Happy for Astana.

I think if their tactics did not work and Nibali ended up winning they would have been complained about for not riding to chase him down. Inglinsky has been strong all week.
I feel sorry for Nibali, he attacked and opened a massive gap.

Rolland and Kyrienka did well along with Cataldo.

 

[Lexman]

DNQ Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
DNQ Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Movistar Team
DNQ Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team
DNQ Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator
DNQ Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar Team

Apparently they took, after Valverde's bike change, a shorter route by following the motors, the Director of the race ordered them to turnaround which they refused so he disqualified them. What a shame and a sportsman unworthy...

 

[Froome19]

I think your wrong, he is only young and cant ride everything, he was up there with the midgets in Giro Trentino the other day.

It also depends what his role is as he is generally supporting Voeckler.

He is nothing like Shreks, he is good climber and iirc, had a good TT at the TDF last year.

EDIT: I was wrong his TT was similar to Franks', my mistake. He was 2.50 down.

Hugh

Well he doesnt have much opportunities considering europcar's status and he was aiming for P-N until he got injured where considering the form he showed earlier on in the season (winning stage and coming 3rd on GC) the races where he has been involved generally he has done well in. Of course if he stays with europcar then it will providing their status doesnt change probably be based around a peak for P-N and then some form in Dauphine and obviously the tour. I dont see how that is much different than GT contenders such as Wiggins, Menchov etc and it is indeed certainly better than Schleck

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

Rolland was very impressive indeed. On the attack and keeps on attacking.
I wasn't sure after last TDF if he was a rider to stay at the top, but apparently he has the talent to be very good at the more important races.
It does seem he has a bit of an Andy syndrom... he is pretty anonymous during most other races. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Rolland is a huge talent, which unfortunately has suffered many setbacks due to injuries and illness. But when he is healthy he always competes and is actually very consistent at getting top 10-15 or better. When he thinks he is not on good form, he tries to take breakaways like yesterday or at Besseges at the beginning of the year and that actually netted him a stage win and 3 days in the lead at that particular race. So he is nothing like Andy because he actually tries at smaller races. And of course without his injury before P-N we would have seen a lot more of him.

 

[theyoungest]

Rolland does have an Andy syndrom though, in the sense that his style on the bike is a bit like the Schlecks... very talented guy. But he seems to pair talent with a good racing mentality. Curious what he can do in the Tour, when let off the Voeckler leash.

 

[Kwibus]

Good to hear Rolland performs when he can.

I somehow missed his performances while I pretty much read up every result. Don't know why I thought he had the Andy syndrom.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

DNQ Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
DNQ Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Movistar Team
DNQ Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team
DNQ Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator
DNQ Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar Team

Apparently they took, after Valverde's bike change, a shorter route by following the motors, the Director of the race ordered them to turnaround which they refused so he disqualified them. What a shame and a sportsman unworthy...

valverde showing how pathetic he really is. he knows depe down inside it's over his carere as a star. he can win stages in stageraces buty nothing else. the new generations are just stronger

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

valverde showing how pathetic he really is. he knows depe down inside it's over his carere as a star. he can win stages in stageraces buty nothing else. the new generations are just stronger

It's not looking good for Movistar as long as Valv can do as he pleases and target the Tour for GC.

He was pretty strong in Paris-Nice, though.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

fortunately for them the giro now starts with quintana and without valverde. I expect a sensation ala rujano 2005