Aren't they pretty much similar?I'd also like the finish line moved. 2019 was better than 2020 & 2021, I think.
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Aren't they pretty much similar?I'd also like the finish line moved. 2019 was better than 2020 & 2021, I think.
No, no! Let's hope not!I'd really like to see Bala win this one and tie Merckx' record.
In all honestly I am not that in love with RAF as the final climb, but it's fine enough for now. I really wish they'd make the race much harder before La Redoute.If they must keep Côte de la Roche-aux-faucons, I'd like Côte de Colonster afterwards. And with the former still in the finale, I don't think Côte des Forges does anything good.
Is that possible with using some goat tracks and extremely narrow roads?In all honestly I am not that in love with RAF as the final climb, but it's fine enough for now. I really wish they'd make the race much harder before La Redoute.
I'm fairly sure it should be. Now the hardest climbs in the Ardennes are quite some distance from Liege, but I think a bunch of the climbs there just aren't hard for a very even leveled peloton anymore.Is that possible with using some goat tracks and extremely narrow roads?
Edit: You could of course add more climbs and increase the total amount of height meters, but I was thinking the last 40-50-60 km before Redoute. Is it possible to make this part significantly harder and create a bigger selection before Redoute?
Nor are the climbs in the Flemish classics or Amstel, but they are hard enough. The problem with Liège is first and foremost incentive. If they don't need to use the terrain, they won't.I'm fairly sure it should be. Now the hardest climbs in the Ardennes are quite some distance from Liege, but I think a bunch of the climbs there just aren't hard for a very even leveled peloton anymore.
Yes and no. Flemish hills are very dissimilar in that they they naturally go way above threshold or a short amount and they're so short top riders can attack multiple times on them without other riders having much of an advantage by sitting back. Climbs are so short and explosive it really hurts a chase.Nor are the climbs in the Flemish classics or Amstel, but they are hard enough. The problem with Liège is first and foremost incentive. If they don't need to use the terrain, they won't.
Sure. If he is the only one who attacks there and the peloton cooperate. Same with RaF (and Cauberg). But when a group (3-5) of the strongest riders go, they can stay away whether it's with 10 or 20 km to go.Meanwhile in Liege if Roglic were to go balls deep on La Redoute he'd get 25s and he'd then have 10 domestiques on his ass while having burnt most of his matches on La Redoute alone.
But the strongest won't really follow because they too know RaF is yet to come. And tbh the best part about the RaF is the false flat after. Obviously it's loads better than the old Ans finish but now you're still sort of stuck with a wait till the last climb, and I don't really love the run in into Liegeo cause it's mostly downhill so there's not much room for attacks or tactical play there. If I get to choose and go insane I'd ditch Maquisard for Targnon and then use only smaller hills after La Redoute.Sure. If he is the only one who attacks there and the peloton cooperate. Same with RaF (and Cauberg). But when a group (3-5) of the strongest riders go, they can stay away whether it's with 10 or 20 km to go.
What we actually see in such a scenario is that the chasing doms are no more numerous than the attackers and far weaker, and that when the chase is between captains, they rarely cooperate very well (and they too are weaker than the attackers, otherwise they would have been up front).
Roche-Facons is rated as one toughest climbs in Ardennes. I don't know if there exists many more climbs that could make it easy to remove this and expect more long range attacks. If there was a really tough climb close to Redoute, it would be easier. Redoute + followed or preceeded by climb in immidiate vicinity followed by 2-3 easier after climbs after Redoute for the last 30 kms.We see in Tirreno the crazy action you can get if the hills are actually super hard, compared to Liege where you have 20 to 40 guys within a minute most years. I would love to remove the incentive to wait for RaF, and give the better climbers a real launching pad further away
There's Col de Targnon closeby but it's basically a goat track and I don't know how ridiculous the road is. The top of that is basically the côte du desnie which they cut short this year.Roche-Facons is rated as one toughest climbs in Ardennes. I don't know if there exists many more climbs that could make it easy to remove this and expect more long range attacks. If there was a really tough climb close to Redoute, it would be easier. Redoute + followed or preceeded by climb in immidiate vicinity followed by 2-3 easier after climbs after Redoute for the last 30 kms.
Have there been any route of this race you haven't been fine with?I'm fine with the route.
You could add Sart-Tilman (again) after the RaF for a more action the final.
It's not a hard climb so I suppose the favorites will still make their big move on the Faucons. It could even be turned into a technical descent before reaching Liege. You have to have downhill skills in order to win LBL after all.
It would be interesting to see Roglic start his sprint with 25 km to go but I think he favours a shorter sprint.Yes and no. Flemish hills are very dissimilar in that they they naturally go way above threshold or a short amount and they're so short top riders can attack multiple times on them without other riders having much of an advantage by sitting back. Climbs are so short and explosive it really hurts a chase.
Meanwhile in Liege if Roglic were to go balls deep on La Redoute he'd get 25s and he'd then have 10 domestiques on his ass while having burnt most of his matches on La Redoute alone.
We see in Tirreno the crazy action you can get if the hills are actually super hard, compared to Liege where you have 20 to 40 guys within a minute most years. I would love to remove the incentive to wait for RaF, and give the better climbers a real launching pad further away
Have there been any route of this race you haven't been fine with?
I'm talking about the curly descent down to the Meuse river.Sart-Tilman is N663, I take it that it is the descent you propose, whereas Boulevard du Rectorat/de Colonster (N635) is Côte de Colonster.