Liège - Bastogne - Liège 2025, 27th April

[tobydawq]

Maybe a top 10 by sitting in with the group behind. The way he exploded compared to the others I don't thin he could have been a factor in the attacks in RaF. I think Tudor made a mistake singning him because he will absolutely not help them get to WT in the next cycle. They need riders that ride WT races smart to get a Top 10 here and there and then point farm the small race circuit. Alaphilippe won't do that.

As a viewer nothing to complain about trying today or in Amstel. Like with the ineos move I like people shooting their shot instead of defeatism like Lidl are showing across the spring. Or teams that basically don't show up all spring and make any effort like Red Bull.

Lidl are not showing defeatism, lol.

 

[tobydawq]

I think we did see Alaf’s limit today. I just don’t think he had the legs, a couple months shy of 33, to go with Healy and Ciccone. Besides which, i also don’t think he’s the kind of rider to settle for a podium, even at Liege; it’s win or blow up trying.

He finished 1 place ahead of Remco.

Of course we did, but he needs to realise it's there too. He's been blowing up in all his races the last year.

 

[Netserk]

Lidl are not showing defeatism, lol.

In monuments, it's fairly reasonable to ascribe that to them.

 

[tobydawq]

In monuments, it's fairly reasonable to ascribe that to them.

I'd say that it's only yesterday you could say so. In MSR, they didn't ride on the front. In De Ronde, Mads didn't pull for a while when in the front group. In PR, Mads might have had just as big of a chance as Mathieu and certainly bigger than Pogacar, but he punctured.

 

[Netserk]

On second thought, you're right @tobydawq . Despite my distaste for Pedersen's riding style, it isn't quite right to call it outright defeatist. Perhaps functionally defeatist is more fitting for his machismo.

 

[tobydawq]

On second thought, you're right @tobydawq . Despite my distaste for Pedersen's riding style, it isn't quite right to call it outright defeatist. Perhaps functionally defeatist is more fitting for his machismo.

That still subscribes to the belief system that he would either benefit from going long range (which he did so well at last year's Ronde, lol) or that he should focus on other races. Otherwise, he can't do much else.

And in PR, he absolutely did what he should have done.

 

[danielovichdk2]

Super boring race. Horrible tactics by all teams other than UAE. It seems they have retreated before they even start to race. Of course UAE is beatable, just as Sky was it. Visma too. Back to the drawing board on this one. Though I do not find Remco very likeable as a bike racer, the negativity put forward on him is off. Give the guy a break. He is trying to shine a light in the era of a phenomenon. That has to be applauded.

 

[Netserk]

That still subscribes to the belief system that he would either benefit from going long range (which he did so well at last year's Ronde, lol) or that he should focus on other races. Otherwise, he can't do much else.

And in PR, he absolutely did what he should have done.

He could pull less, attack less, and use his team better.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

which he did so well at last year's Ronde, lol

You mean the Ronde where he was still half-injured after the big DDV crash?

 

[tobydawq]

You mean the Ronde where he was still half-injured after the big DDV crash?

I mean the Ronde where he was dangling 20 kms just before the peloton with Gianni Vermeersch sitting with him as a passenger.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Of course we did, but he needs to realise it's there too. He's been blowing up in all his races the last year.

He should at least get some credit for trying. Maybe not the most concerted effort but still animating the race.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I mean the Ronde where he was dangling 20 kms just before the peloton with Gianni Vermeersch sitting with him as a passenger.

Just because you attacked, you don‘t have to keep riding. Not every attack yields a good group. That doesn‘t mean you should give up on attacking early.

 

[tobydawq]

Just because you attacked, you don‘t have to keep riding. Not every attack yields a good group. That doesn‘t mean you should give up on attacking early.

Well, he said himself that he had forgotten his brain in the bus on that day so it's not a controversial take that it was daft what he did there.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Well, he said himself that he had forgotten his brain in the bus on that day so it's not a controversial take that it was daft what he did there.

Let's hope the beautiful trend of riders forgetting their brains in the bus is growing.
The contrasts are 300 meter sprints with 7 hours of Sky trains draw snoozefest as warmup - or as in yesterday, everybody just waiting to the 35k mark for Pogi to shine.
Yesterday's LBL surely needed a hillclimber version of Mad Mads.

Of course put a bit on the tip.
With the right brains and team collaborations Pogi could easily have been under pressure with a long shot. UAE is definitely degradable material, even though the dough looks like cement from above.

 

[Red Rick]

Let's hope the beautiful trend of riders forgetting their brains in the bus is growing.
The contrasts are 300 meter sprints with 7 hours of Sky trains draw snoozefest as warmup - or as in yesterday, everybody just waiting to the 35k mark for Pogi to shine.
Yesterday's LBL surely needed a hillclimber version of Mad Mads.

Of course put a bit on the tip.
With the right brains and team collaborations Pogi could easily have been under pressure with a long shot. UAE is definitely degradable material, even though the dough looks like cement from above.

Liege doesn't have the route to put pressure on before La Redoute. And frankly you need a level of multi team cooperation against UAE that's completely unrealistic.

 

[gregrowlerson]

remco really breaked to not get caught dropping on tv,lmao.never saw that in my life.

Yet more material for Netserk.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Liege doesn't have the route to put pressure on before La Redoute. And frankly you need a level of multi team cooperation against UAE that's completely unrealistic.

Apparently that was the thought of the entire peleton.
Surely the perfect weather didn't make it better.

But at least you could do serious attempts, dying with the boots on.
Ofc. not as careful calculations, but as bombardments of surprises, all other captains dare to lose everything - yeah silly, but reason why I mean the race needs brains parked in the bus.

For instance starting the bombardment already from Mont-Le-Soie, feasable for solid long pull with lieutenants and some primes, and then early serious counter consecutive Stockeu - Haute-Levée combo with Nys, Ciccone, Healy, Ala, Remco, etc. Just endless counter attacks to break the shields of UAE, and if Pogi joins, just counter attacks galore.

Yes it's with maximum risks.
But not risking, you've already lost.

 

[gregrowlerson]

58

ALAPHILIPPE Julian

Tudor Pro Cycling Team

5

5

3:03

SO CLOOOOSE

Alberto Contador may be credited with; "The second place is no good" slogan, but he tried too suspiciously hard all the time for my liking. I reckon he stole this quote from Julian Alaphilippe.

 

[Red Rick]

Apparently that was the thought of the entire peleton.
Surely the perfect weather didn't make it better.

But at least you could do serious attempts, dying with the boots on.
Ofc. not as careful calculations, but as bombardments of surprises, all other captains dare to lose everything - yeah silly, but reason why I mean the race needs brains parked in the bus.

For instance starting the bombardment already from Mont-Le-Soie, feasable for solid long pull with lieutenants and some primes, and then early serious counter consecutive Stockeu - Haute-Levée combo with Nys, Ciccone, Healy, Ala, Remco, etc. Just endless counter attacks to break the shields of UAE, and if Pogi joins, just counter attacks galore.

Yes it's with maximum risks.
But not risking, you've already lost.

For me it really starts with it's pointless to not have someone in the breakaway and it's pointless to chase it yourself.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Bizarre that it could be years before we get someone other than MVDP or Pog winning a monument.

Make Amstel the only monument.

 

[gregrowlerson]

My legs were also empty at the end. I almost couldn't get out of my couch.

That must have seemed like quite a mountain to climb. Time can create quite a groove in those comfortable seats. Someone should create a poll on how you did it. A lot of people probably reckon you're clean, but I'm going with; "Appeared to use a thumb to press a button".

 

[Brullnux]

In monuments, it's fairly reasonable to ascribe that to them.

I don't think Pedersen was defeatist, he was just too focused on beating the other two through pure strength rather than any other way (but, crucially, thought he could do that).

Re yesterday, Ciccone v Pogacar is a one-sided match up no matter the tactics. Skjelmose's crash made them a lot weaker, and Nys and Bagioli aren't really riders you use for long range efforts.

 

[gregrowlerson]

happy i went to the gym, so i could fast forward through the stream, closed it with 25km to go seen this movie too many times

Remco is that you?

 

[topcat]

Greg, the race is over. You peaked too late.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Remco is that you?

Sorry, I read this as "went to the gym with 25km to go".