Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2023, one day monument, April 23 (men's)

[Krzysztof_O]

Much slower than Remco, the champion is known already

Remember when Pog was pushing his bike on Paterberg just like amateurs? And look what happened next.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Like Jens Voight?

Ah, delicate issue… Probably he is/was a strongman on the bike… But aside the bike, he was rather… well… - a little bit weird, maybe. Maybe his mouth prevented him from being a real strongman… ;-)

 

[Berniece]

Remember when Pog was pushing his bike on Paterberg just like amateurs? And look what happened next.

He was lucky that MVDP lost too much energy in the beginning of the race, attacked at the Kruisberg and dropped his chain? I actually think that MVDP would be able to follow him without those things

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He was lucky that MVDP lost too much energy in the beginning of the race, attacked at the Kruisberg and dropped his chain? I actually think that MVDP would be able to follow him without those things

Lucky? He hammered Oude Kwaremont two times like nobody ever did and MVP didn't have answer both times (yet that effort on penultimate Oude Kwaremont didn't cost Pogacar at the end despite him losing energy). If not for Pogacar MVP would have crushed the rest. He was very strong (he himself said that he's never had numbers like that), which doesn't confirm theory that he lacked energy at the end. He just faced an even bigger monster on that day.

 

[Escarabajo]

Higuita is out, I wonder what happened?

 

[Lequack]

Higuita is out, I wonder what happened?

Saw Remco's legs.

 

[Salvarani]

Saw Remco's legs.

Breathtaking as @DNP-Old might say.

 

[search]

Higuita is out, I wonder what happened?

the team said he was sick after Itzulia. The way he looked like this week, it would probably only be another DNF anyway.

Not sure Bora will be able to field a full team - today they had four riders at the recon. Vlasov will join them, not sure who else. Maybe Zwiehoff, who was at home for the birth of his child - or Hindley, if he recovers in time.

 

[HelloDolly]

Is is my imagination or do Bora riders get sick alot
Almost as much as INEOS riders

 

[CyclistAbi]

Considering the race is nearing. We should start to turn the focus on Pogačar and Evenepoel?

 

[Tonton]

Remember when Pog was pushing his bike on Paterberg just like amateurs? And look what happened next.

Yeah, he got bilharzia .

 

[Tonton]

I don't think that there's an opportunist who can win the bike race, Nibali is done after all. The rest? All predictable, limited, small bags....they will hang on and fight for scraps. This has all the makings of a legendary bike race and I hope it delivers, regardless of the winner.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Liège is heading towards its most anticipated duel since VDB-Bartoli in 1999.

Their recent domination and strong team support make them the two overwhelming favorites. Pogacar is probably the better climber and sprinter; Evenepoel the better rouleur. Pogacar's form curve should be going down; Evenepoel's should be going up. They both have a good excuse if they don't win.

We haven't seen a real duel between these two huge talents yet. At the world's Pogacar made a tactical error, and didn't get any support on the flat. This time there can't be a surprise attack, because everybody expects a showdown between these two. Big duels like these are usually decided by a mechanical or a crash.

Do other riders have a chance? Yes. In 1988 people expected a duel between Argentin and Criquielion, but they both finished outside of the top 10, far behind Van der Poel. A smart outsider can use the advantage of the third dog, while the other two are watching each other. I'm curious to see how far Healy, Skjelmose and Landa can come. A secondant from Soudal-Quickstep or UAE is not impossible either, but unlikely. Tomorrow will tell.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The peleton's morale is at its lowest. Recently there were fighting for a mere second place (for consolation purposes they call it first place among humans). Remco is seen as their potential savior, the only hope to overcome the Pog's tyranny. However, others shouldn't have high hopes as he only wants to start his own (tyranny, that is).

 

[ice&fire]

The peleton's morale is at its lowest. Recently there were fighting for a mere second place (for consolation purposes they call it first place among humans). Remco is seen as their potential savior, the only hope to overcome the Pog's tyranny. However, others should have high hopes as he only wants to start his own (tyranny, that is).

The peloton knows they're fighting for third place.

 

[Valanga]

Liège is heading towards its most anticipated duel since VDB-Bartoli in 1999.

Could we have a similar fight on La Redoute? That would be epic

Evenepoel is already claiming he's at 105%...

 

[CyclistAbi]

If we look beyond the duo. Power play in between UAE and QS as teams should be interesting indeed.

 

[DNP-Old]

Emil Axelgaard is quite unsure about the outcome of this race. He has named 60 riders amongst his star favorites, including Sam Oomen, who probably hasn’t finishes top 20 in about 3 years. Lol.

 

[Valv.Piti]

You should probably just ignore his rankings and analysis given that you seem to get so irritated every time. Or just ignore the one and two-star ranks, because the amount of work he puts in is second to none in the cycling world and his analysis is usually quite sound.

And then you probably point to some terrible analysis he has done, and yes, you wouldn't have done any better considering he's writing these pieces for literally every god damn race, so you're bound to fail miserably from time to time. Thats how it goes.

 

[DNP-Old]

You should probably just ignore his rankings and analysis given that you seem to get so irritated every time. Or just ignore the one and two-star ranks, because the amount of work he puts in is second to none in the cycling world and his analysis is usually quite sound.

And then you probably point to some terrible analysis he has done, and yes, you wouldn't have done any better considering he's writing these pieces for literally every god damn race, so you're bound to fail miserably from time to time. Thats how it goes.

Weird of you to assume that I am annoyed, irritated and have you not, when in actual fact I am entertained.

 

[RedheadDane]

Weird of you to assume that I am annoyed, irritated and have you not, when in actual fact I am entertained.

I think the funniest part is when he goes "And then there's [random rider], but he's not gonna win."

I like his previews, for the rankings, and for a quick rundown of who might - or might not - have a chance. I just wish he'd switch it around so the "Role and History of the Race" bit was last.

 

[Taxus4a]

Liège is heading towards its most anticipated duel since VDB-Bartoli in 1999.

Their recent domination and strong team support make them the two overwhelming favorites. Pogacar is probably the better climber and sprinter; Evenepoel the better rouleur. Pogacar's form curve should be going down; Evenepoel's should be going up. They both have a good excuse if they don't win.

We haven't seen a real duel between these two huge talents yet. At the world's Pogacar made a tactical error, and didn't get any support on the flat. This time there can't be a surprise attack, because everybody expects a showdown between these two. Big duels like these are usually decided by a mechanical or a crash.

Do other riders have a chance? Yes. In 1988 people expected a duel between Argentin and Criquielion, but they both finished outside of the top 10, far behind Van der Poel. A smart outsider can use the advantage of the third dog, while the other two are watching each other. I'm curious to see how far Healy, Skjelmose and Landa can come. A secondant from Soudal-Quickstep or UAE is not impossible either, but unlikely. Tomorrow will tell.

A good preview of the race of this historic moment...Pogacar was there in the Worlds, but tomorrow is the real first face to face of these Monsters....
One thing to take into account, Remco said he is not fear to sprint with Pogacar, so is more possible to see both them fighting at the end.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Could we have a similar fight on La Redoute? That would be epic

Evenepoel is already claiming he's at 105%...

Lies!

He said he is close to a 100%, maybe even 105%.

You see, he wants you to think he is a dumbass, but herein lies the stroke of genius! First of all, he says he is close to a 100. This is possible. Maybe even 105. This seems absurd but is actually also possible. Because he says maybe, so also maybe not! Furthermore, 100 IS close to 105, so again, no lies!
This is simply top tier mental warfare. Pogacar no doubt has also heard this statement and has likely not been able to sleep trying to figure out what Evenepoel meant exactly.

 

[Red Rick]

If weather is really gonna be bad I have a hard time seeing Evenepoel take down Pogacar tbh. But it doesn't look too terrible.

Big, big tailwind forecasted.

 

[search]

I read about bad weather as well, but the current forecast shows nothing but a tailwind for the whole 2nd half of the race.

There's a risk of rain late on, but it doesn't really look bad to me. Temperatures are also mild.