Liège-Bastogne-Liège: October 4th, 2020

[johnymax]

It's just great to see a race where you get a group of four getting clear of the rest 15km from the finish. The group consists of arguably the two best hilly classics riders in the World, the two best GC riders in the World and 20s behind them, chasing them down, one of the best and most talented classics riders of the generation (winner of BinckBank Tour). And then there are Kwiatkowski (arguably the most complete rider of the last decade) and MvDP (the most recent winner of BinckBank Tour) also in the mix doing the chase. It doesn't get better than that.

 

[d-s3]

cause he looked back, saw them coming and then decided to cut them off.

Exactly.
It looked totally deliberate. Looking back, seeing somebody coming, blocking him.

 

[SKSemtex]

First time NO, second time YES

First time NO, second tome "probably". Definitly not "absolutly".

 

[klintE]

A flat descent?

Yes. False flat but doing down the road.

 

[Lequack]

Dumoulin really putting all his energy into this burger

 

[DanielSong39]

Hirschi is the real victim here, the most likely winner if Alaphilippe doesn't pull a Sagan

 

[Bolder]

Watched the finish a few times. Alaf - and he's one of my favorites - needs to check his head a little bit. I'm pretty bummed about how that went down, for everyone except Roglic...

 

[Anderis]

Watching the replay I had the impression that, if not for Alaphilippe's behaviour, Pogacar was going to win.

3 riders in top4 of a monument nonetheless, not bad for a country of 2 million people.

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Dumoulin really putting all his energy into this burger

stunning amount of cheese Is the green below guac? Fed up of brioche buns at this point

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Right back after a full pedal ride just past the giro stage and LBL, had to go riding after this and sending excuses to family 2020 is surely a special year.
Recently in another thread I stated that I was the idulgent observer speaking rider style gesticulating like Voeckler and Alaphillipe.
Think I should have clarified and added 'just as long when it doesn't have negatively impact on other riders'.
Ala's movements just past the 1K mark and finale sprint were ofcourse way past that limit.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Watching the replay I had the impression that, if not for Alaphilippe's behaviour, Pogacar was going to win.

3 riders in top4 of a monument nonetheless, not bad for a country of 2 million people.

I don‘t think so. He was going fastest at the time of the incident, yes, but Hirschi was just starting his acceleration. There was still quite a bit of sprint to go. We will never know though.

 

[SKSemtex]

Quite easy relegation here. I would like to know the verdict if Ala wins.

 

[Bonimenier]

I'm pretty sure Mohoric was going to win the sprint.

 

[Koronin]

Today was example A of why I do not like Alaphilippe.

Anyway, congrats to Roglic. Feel bad for Hirschi and it's very possible Pogacar was affected as well.

 

[jmdirt]

Amazing that people never learn: cross the line, then celebrate!

 

[gunara]

That was impressive from Mohorič to bridge when nobody else in the chasing group could.

He'd bridge to anything on such descent. And I can understand his straight-to-the-front move after such effort, like a mad soldier against a whole army.
Anyway, Ala's switches and twitches in the last K's of a race have always been so distracting, it's getting more and more uncomfortable to watch the bigger he's become, maybe it has won him things one way or another, but it has always been certain that one day it would come back to bite him.

 

[tobydawq]

Alaphilippe seems incredibly tense throughout the final kilometres. Tons of turns of direction in the run-up to the sprint and then hazardous decisions in the sprint itself (both the swerve and the decision to celebrate much too early). He really seemed much more twitchy than usual.

 

[BlueRoads]

Alaphilippe seems incredibly tense throughout the final kilometres. Tons of turns of direction in the run-up to the sprint and then hazardous decisions in the sprint itself (both the swerve and the decision to celebrate much too early). He really seemed much more twitchy than usual.

Maybe it was really nervousness, he seems to be under a lot of pressure this season and today especially. Would also explain his obsession with his bike again.
Or maybe I'm just being biased towards him at this point.

 

[memyselfandI]

Bit too much in his finish bottle..and in the bottle before that.

 

[saunaking]

Lamest celebration ever?

Dumoulin really putting all his energy into this burger

 

[Red Rick]

Dumoulin really putting all his energy into this burger

"I haven't had anything to eat since that Tour time trial"

 

[Leinster]

Amazing that people never learn: cross the line, then celebrate!

Cross the line, then wait for the race official's decision on your line check of your opponent, then celebrate (if applicable).

 

[Ranagazoo]

Haven't laughed that much at a sprint finale in a long time. Pure pantomime villainry from Alaphillippe, the *** Dastardly of pro cycling

 

[Jagartrott]

Watching the replay I had the impression that, if not for Alaphilippe's behaviour, Pogacar was going to win.

I actually think so too. Nice consolation for Roglic, but of course he wouldn't have won otherwise.

 

[Volderke]

I have inside information that the REAL story went like this:

Roglic (2k before the finish):
"Julian, I want this win, I need it bad. I'll give you double the amount of money Vino gave to Kolobnev if you let me win! I realize I ask you the impossible, because I fear Hirschi and Pogacar will outsprint me, even if you stop your sprint early."

Alaphilippe: hold my beer.