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

[Leinster]

Pidcock: “I’m bloody freezing”

how was it after La Redoute? “Hard.”

 

[Peyroteo94]

So cringy that handshake between Lefevre and Bala junior

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Pidcock has the cutest little dog.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Blythe is a huge wanker who's in love with himself, nothing new.
Biggest takeaway from today: Konrad > Swiss Chipmunk cheeks

 

[ice&fire]

Pro cycling, and especially the classics, at the moment really needs that more than one of these four shows up and finish without accidents. If there is only one of them, we get races like AGR last weekend and today's race.

Bring back the old finishes at Cauberg and Ans so everything is decided at the end like FW.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Pidcock has the cutest little dog.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Remco changing into dry, black shorts for the podium.

 

[movingtarget]

Remco and Pogacar simply on another level at the moment. Roglic will need all of his early season form in the Giro but I'm still looking forward to the battle. What happened to the guy that went over the hedge ?

 

[OlavEH]

Bring back the old finishes at Cauberg and Ans so everything is decided at the end like FW.

I don't think that would happen in these times.......

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Bring back the old finishes at Cauberg and Ans so everything is decided at the end like FW.

IMO the drag to Ans wouldn't really block the race so long as Saint-Nicolas isn't reintroduced as well. I kind of miss it, it's very much the aesthetic I associate with this race and it's a finish that allows for more excitement than the current one (not the past two years, of course).

 

[dobrien]

Pro cycling, and especially the classics, at the moment really needs that more than one of these four shows up and finish without accidents. If there is only one of them, we get races like AGR last weekend and today's race.

Unfortunately, the scenario most of us dream of (Pog/Vinge/Remoco arriving at the start of a Tour de France, all 100% fit, all getting through the race without crashing out) is extraordinarily unlikely to ever occur.

 

[houtdffan]

Bring back the old finishes at Cauberg and Ans so everything is decided at the end like FW.

would not have mattered the last 2 years

 

[Mayomaniac]

Velasco managed to finish 19th, 2:13 behind Remco. Not bad after being in the initian breaaway and getting caught before Remco's move happened.
Ciccone looked good on the steep climbs, but lacks the monster engine for the flats, rolling terrain and uphill drags.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

This is just a bad look for road cycling. The GCN commentators can hype it all they want but those phases of super domination never ended well for cycling with a few years of distance.

It isn’t really super domination though. Depending on the race, we have seen 6 riders “dominate,” and if there are 6, it’s not comparable to an era of dominance by 1.
Pogacar
Remco
Roglic
Vingo
MVDP
WVA
All dominant in different races at different times.

Robo Remco Robotnik and his Death Egg laid waste to the peloton once again

Looks like the Death Egg has a bit more power this year compared to last year. As Bruyneel said, no reason to even hold the Giro as it is going to be a slaughter

Where did Bruyneel say this? I agree Remco looks scary strong, but people forget how good Roglic is because he crashes so much. Also, Bruyneel knows Remco’s father and has a bit of personal bias. I will be shocked if the Giro is “a slaughter,” but will not be shocked if Remco wins by 3 minutes or so. I could see it also looking like a slaughter in times of time gaps if Roglic goes Contador, going all in repeatedly and coming up short.

 

[OlavEH]

Unfortunately, the scenario most of us dream of (Pog/Vinge/Remoco arriving at the start of a Tour de France, all 100% fit, all getting through the race without crashing out) is extraordinarily unlikely to ever occur.

Yeah, for a GT that is a bit unlikely. But not for a one day race. And I still feel a bit cheated that we still haven't got a real duel between Pog and Remco in neither of the last two LBL, Lombardia last year or AGR last weekend.

 

[Samamba]

I'm just pretending like Remco doesn't exist and the group behind is battling for the win.

Healy looking good to win his first monument.

Looks like Pidcock won his first monument, not overrated afterall!

 

[HelloDolly]

Take Aways

Pog, Remco, Rog and Vingregaard shouldonly be allowed into races where one or more of the others are competing

Landa is so unlucky....would have gotten a podium here imo

Pidcock needs to improve his endurance

Healy is the revelation of the Ardennes . Needs better support and I say can get better. Second best on the climbs imo. Can win some of the long uphill stages at the Giro if he keeps form

 

[Riek s]

Where did Bruyneel say this? I agree Remco looks scary strong, but people forget how good Roglic is because he crashes so much. Also, Bruyneel knows Remco’s father and has a bit of personal bias. I will be shocked if the Giro is “a slaughter,” but will not be shocked if Remco wins by 3 minutes or so. I could see it also looking like a slaughter in times of time gaps if Roglic goes Contador, going all in repeatedly and coming up short.

Bruyneel didn't really say it like that, it was in the context when they were talking about remco's weight after catalunya. And Bruyneel stated that if Remco would indeed loose 4kg (based on a rumour he was 4kg packing) the others shouldn't bother to show up. (But those 4kg didn't happen at all, so no worries on that front, other can show up)

 

[dobrien]

Yeah, for a GT that is a bit unlikely. But not for a one day race. And I still feel a bit cheated that we still haven't got a real duel between Pog and Remco in neither of the last two LBL, Lombardia last year or AGR last weekend.

Agreed.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Bruyneel didn't really say it like that, it was in the context when they were talking about remco's weight after catalunya. And Bruyneel stated that if Remco would indeed loose 4kg (based on a rumour he was 4kg packing) the others shouldn't bother to show up. (But those 4kg didn't happen at all, so no worries on that front, other can show up)

Is it just me or does he look like he actually gained 4 kilos?

…of solid muscle

 

[Red Rick]

IMO the drag to Ans wouldn't really block the race so long as Saint-Nicolas isn't reintroduced as well. I kind of miss it, it's very much the aesthetic I associate with this race and it's a finish that allows for more excitement than the current one (not the past two years, of course).

It's weird but the old route would be raced much harder as well with the current guys.

Honestly it seems like a Liege like route just gets small gaps where it's hard to stay away in spots where everyone is kinda dead. Nobody really gets a big gap anymore.

It's very hard to encourage an aggressive race without deciding the race early.

 

[Didinho]

Yeah, he definitely cannot post this finish photo.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Is it just me or does he look like he actually gained 4 kilos?

…of solid muscle

The wet, white shorts didn't leave much to the imagination so I would say yes, his legs and buttocks looked cut and very solid. Remco may be 23, but it looks like he's still growing into a more muscular stature.

 

[Netserk]

Chapeau, Evenepoel. That was the best Liège victory in my time (only rivalled by Rogla surging past the clown), and it's now confirmed that Redoute has been made great again.

In a sense very predictable after Pogi's injury, but he still had to deliver the goods.

 

[Red Rick]

Chapeau, Evenepoel. That was the best Liège victory in my time (only rivalled by Rogla surging past the clown), and it's now confirmed that Redoute has been made great again.

In a sense very predictable after Pogi's injury, but he still had to deliver the goods.

Smaller gap than Andy Schleck.