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

[dobrien]

How the hell did ELB get mugged into leading that out?

She's better off with a podium than letting AVV and co come back and risking everything. Vollering confident she's winning any scenario.. ELB really didn't have a choice IMHO. Giving themselves a shot was about the best Trek were going to do today; sure beat Reusser riding away solo. I feel like that finale was about as good as it was ever going to be today short of Demi flatting or something.

 

[KZD]

Incredible achievement for Vollering, great win.

 

[Orbit501]

Very impressive triple for Vollering. Chapeau! SD Worx very hard to beat at the moment.

Will we see Pog make it a hattrick of riders to do the Ardennes triple today?

 

[theyoungest]

Really dominant and confident racing by Vollering, who knew she was going to win in any scenario (other than Reusser staying ahead). Great to see Riejanne Markus get a result as well, a typical late bloomer.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Fourth elite rider to do the treble. But what about the size of the engine on Marlen Reusser, even if she got to sit on, after everything before that to still win the sprint for 3rd. Yes, I'm pretty sick of SD Worx bogarting two steps of every podium, but you have to tip your hat to her here, it certainly wasn't your average "stay in the bunch because you have a rider up the front" kind of win from the sprint.

Can we also just get a chapeau for Gaia Realini's sprint. Her skillset is just the bestest. She rules.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Lonzo is dumb as hell. What was she thinking?

 

[dobrien]

Fourth elite rider to do the treble. But what about the size of the engine on Marlen Reusser, even if she got to sit on, after everything before that to still win the sprint for 3rd. Yes, I'm pretty sick of SD Worx bogarting two steps of every podium, but you have to tip your hat to her here, it certainly wasn't your average "stay in the bunch because you have a rider up the front" kind of win from the sprint.

Can we also just get a chapeau for Gaia Realini's sprint. Her skillset is just the bestest. She rules.

That was a well earned win by them today; the most satisfying race of the three for me, and yes, a great day out for Reusser.

 

[theyoungest]

Lonzo is dumb as hell. What was she thinking?

Trying to get a result? Now they at least have a 2nd place, which probably wouldn't have happened otherwise.

 

[Netserk]

Lonzo is dumb as hell. What was she thinking?

That she was outmatched.

Cycling is not chess, you don’t start with the same pieces.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Lonzo is dumb as hell. What was she thinking?

In what sense? No she wasn't going to beat Demi in the sprint, but she was going to guarantee 2nd place. Remember this is the same woman that finished 8th from a two-woman sprint in Amstel Gold a couple of years ago after torpedoing a break because she was scared of losing a two-up sprint to Kasia Niewiadoma. This was just her taking the bird in the hand to guarantee the podium, because you never know, Vollering could slip a chain, crash in the sprint or pull a wild move and get herself relegated or DQed. Sure, it's highly unlikely, but it's a non-zero possibility at least.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Fourth elite rider to do the treble. But what about the size of the engine on Marlen Reusser, even if she got to sit on, after everything before that to still win the sprint for 3rd. Yes, I'm pretty sick of SD Worx bogarting two steps of every podium, but you have to tip your hat to her here, it certainly wasn't your average "stay in the bunch because you have a rider up the front" kind of win from the sprint.

Can we also just get a chapeau for Gaia Realini's sprint. Her skillset is just the bestest. She rules.

It's a shame we didn't get to see if Kasia could have stayed with Reusser, like Chabbey says they expected her to be able to.

 

[Red Rick]

Fourth elite rider to do the treble. But what about the size of the engine on Marlen Reusser, even if she got to sit on, after everything before that to still win the sprint for 3rd. Yes, I'm pretty sick of SD Worx bogarting two steps of every podium, but you have to tip your hat to her here, it certainly wasn't your average "stay in the bunch because you have a rider up the front" kind of win from the sprint.

Can we also just get a chapeau for Gaia Realini's sprint. Her skillset is just the bestest. She rules.

Losing 3 seconds in a 200m sprint is impressive.

 

[Dk one]

First fdj rider in 17th, ouch. But good to see Cavalli looking a bit more like herself again.

 

[yaco]

Only a week to the Vuelta - SD Worx has a strong team but their only rider who could win a GT is Vollering and she can't ride in everything - If I had a secondary GC rider in the team then I'd target the Giro which would seem to be the weakest of the GT's.

 

[Peyroteo94]

That she was outmatched.

Cycling is not chess, you don’t start with the same pieces.

But she can't be at the front in the last km. Of course it is easier to speak than make but I was expecting more fight from her. She almost gave the win.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

But she can't be at the front in the last km. Of course it is easier to speak than make but I was expecting more fight from her. She almost gave the win.

She clearly tried to get Vollering to take the front, but she didn't cave. She could have tried a long sprint instead to see if she could have broken her, but I doubt it would have made a difference.

 

[dobrien]

But she can't be at the front in the last km. Of course it is easier to speak than make but I was expecting more fight from her. She almost gave the win.

If your two choices are:

1) 99% sure you lose the 1:1 sprint but you end up on the podium, OR
2) 100% sure you lose the small group sprint and end up with nothing, THEN

#1 is the best choice. She and Trek did what they could today but they were not
beating SD and Vollering; this was the best outcome for them and they knew it.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

She clearly tried to get Vollering to take the front, but she didn't cave. She could have tried a long sprint instead to see if she could have broken her, but I doubt it would have made a difference.

ELB should've sat on all the way from the bottom of the final descent, instead she came through to the front with 2km to go. I couldn't believe that, it was baffling.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Fourth elite rider to do the treble. But what about the size of the engine on Marlen Reusser, even if she got to sit on, after everything before that to still win the sprint for 3rd. Yes, I'm pretty sick of SD Worx bogarting two steps of every podium, but you have to tip your hat to her here, it certainly wasn't your average "stay in the bunch because you have a rider up the front" kind of win from the sprint.

Can we also just get a chapeau for Gaia Realini's sprint. Her skillset is just the bestest. She rules.

Dr. Reusser is a beast!

 

[jmdirt]

DVx3!

 

[MartinGT]

Just watched the race. Was Reusser sitting up on team orders or was she just brought back quickly?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Just watched the race. Was Reusser sitting up on team orders or was she just brought back quickly?

I assume she was getting tired by the time they hit RaF. I also can't see why she woudn't have stayed with Vollering and ELB if she had had the legs for it. We know that SD Worx isn't always the most harmonious team, but I believe Reusser and Vollering do have a pretty good relationship with each other. They also spent a few weeks together in Sierra Nevada to prepare for the classics.