Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2014, most boring monument in the last 10 years?

[Netserk]

Côte de La Roche-aux-Faucons is the climb that had teams concerned

Last year it wasn't there, and that was a poor race as well. 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 were much better races.

Imo it's quite clear that Faucons isn't the problem.

 

[Race Radio]

And why is that different to any other year?

Sorry, meant to write "In comparison to the rest of the race" Easier early in the race keeps more riders in the race. Back loading the hard parts results in conservative racing

Here is what Garmin said during the race.

Race Radio ‏@TheRaceRadio
Perhaps my memory is failing me but it seems the bunch is larger then usual at this point in the race.

Team Garmin-Sharp ‏@Ride_Argyle 1h
@TheRaceRadio that was a frequent topic during team recon Friday. Before Redoubt is easier, but the final this year is harder. #LBL

Race Radio ‏@TheRaceRadio 1h
@Ride_Argyle Ahh, that makes sense. Riders being conservative with harder finale

Team Garmin-Sharp ‏@Ride_Argyle 1h
@TheRaceRadio basically, yeah. Faucons is very hard. #LBL

Faucons is not always in the finale, it was out last year

 

[Ferminal]

Here is what Garmin said during the race. Easier early in the race keeps more riders in the race. Back loading the hard parts results in conservative racing



Faucons is not always in the finale, it was out last year

Yeh but was in every other year since 2008 or whenever it was before which that other rather large hill was used.

Redoute at 35km into Faucons and St Nick as in five editions previously is harder than Redoute at 43km and a rolling hill at 30km into Faucons and St Nick.

Point is moot in any case given no one really attacked before Ans, though I agree the false flat can take a hike.

 

[hrotha]

Okay, people who, ridiculously enough, could have won this race. Go!

Degenkolb

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Theo Bos and Kittel to line up in LBL next year

 

[burning]

Okay, people who, ridiculously enough, could have won this race. Go!

Degenkolb

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Okay, people who, ridiculously enough, could have won this race. Go!

Degenkolb

EBH.....

 

[burning]

EBH.....

You beat me

 

[Jagartrott]

Cowardly racing by almost all. Totally disappointing.

 

[Roderick]

EBH.....

in before Ryo mentions he lacks endurance, never will win a big race and is the most overrated cyclist ever

 

[oldcrank]

From what I've read in this forum, the 2012 and 2013 TdF's
were boring, last weeks Paris-Roubaix was boring and also
todays Liege-Bastogne-Liege was boring. Might I suggest,
my friends, that you head down to your local velodrome.
Track racing is always exciting (particularly if you are in
the race).

 

[Afrank]

Okay, people who, ridiculously enough, could have won this race. Go!

Degenkolb

1. CAVENDISH Mark
2. KITTEL Marcel
3. GREIPEL André
4. SAGAN Peter
5. BOUHANNI Nacer
6. VIVIANI Elia
7. KRISTOFF Alexander
8. MEERSMAN Gianni
9. BOS Theo
10. MODOLO Sacha
11. MATTHEWS Michael
12. RICHEZE ARAQUISTAIN Ariel Maximiliano
13. MEZGEC Luka
14. NIZZOLO Giacomo
15. BOASSON HAGEN Edvald
16. FARRAR Tyler
17. COQUARD Bryan
18. METLUSHENKO Yuri
19. KANKOVSKY Alois
20. DEMARE Arnaud
21. GOSS Matthew
22. HUSHOVD Thor
23. FERRARI Roberto
24. GIRAUD Benjamin
25. ROGERS Rico Dene
26. GUARDINI Andrea
27. CHICCHI Francesco
28. CIOLEK Gerald
29. HOFLAND Moreno
30. DUMOULIN Samuel
31. ARNDT Nikias
32. MARTINEZ Yannick
33. LOBATO DEL VALLE Juan Jose
34. GILBERT Philippe
36. MØRKØV CHRISTENSEN Michael
37. MARKUS Barry
38. PETACCHI Alessandro
39. PELUCCHI Matteo
40. RENSHAW Mark
41. LANCASTER Brett
42. PETIT Adrien
43. GAVAZZI Francesco
44. FENN Andrew
45. BELLETTI Manuel
46. KRUOPIS Aidis
47. IMPEY Daryl
48. BOOM Lars
49. GAVAZZI Mattia
50. PONZI Simone

I can keep going.

 

[scholar]

Okay, people who, ridiculously enough, could have won this race. Go!

JTL
10chars

 

[jaylew]

in before Rui mentions he lacks endurance, never will win a big race and is the most overrated cyclist ever

Assuming you mean Ryo, though it would be so much better if Rui came here from time to time, just to talk s**t about EBH

 

[Alpechraxler]

Cancellara should feature too in the next editions gerrans needs a proper lead out man.

 

[Afrank]

From what I've read in this forum, the 2012 and 2013 TdF's
were boring, last weeks Paris-Roubaix was boring and also
todays Liege-Bastogne-Liege was boring. Might I suggest,
my friends, that you head down to your local velodrome.
Track racing is always exciting (particularly if you are in
the race).

Ummm...no.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=22160&highlight=rate+Paris+roubaix

 

[Roderick]

Assuming you mean Ryo, though it would be so much better if Rui came here from time to time, just to talk s**t about EBH

Ryo idd. Riu,Ruy, Ryo, all the same to me

 

[Red Rick]

I think the biggest problem was that the strongest teams were the ones that just wanted a closed race and wanted a small group sprint in Ans. I loved what AG2R did, but they didn't have team that could make enough damage. Until 2011 the Schlecks were always good and there to attack cause they had 0 chance in a sprint.

So there are 2 problems

1. The riders going for broke weren't strong enough
2. The favourites didn't have the guts to do something

 

[roadbiker]

I wanted to destroy the TV when Denifl almost passed Saint Nicolas as first

Why? 10 characters.

 

[hrotha]

Why? 10 characters.

Because Denifl is a very mediocre rider who should have no business leading LBL towards the end of the race on one of its most iconic hills, and that he did is a testament to how much the race sucked.

 

[red_flanders]

I voted yes, that was horrible. The parcours is no excuse, they've raced the same route very well in the past.

 

[Parrulo]

They really need to make all the monuments much longer and harder with smaller teams so the domestiques are gone for the last 40k like in a proper monument.

As for this edition, it was completely awful, not a single favourite ever tried a single attack. Watching Denifl attacking up St. Nicolas was one of saddest moments in cycling history. With all due respect to Denifl, he clearly has more balls and ambition than many much more talented riders, but he has no business at the end of a monument.

 

[Yingge]

Surprisingly, as an Aussie, the win by Gerrans did not excite me. When I saw him there before the last corner, I had a feeling that he would pop out, which he did.

Then again, his team went for it, while the others either ran out of legs, or watched each other due to the barking in their ears from the radio in the team cars behind.

Quit the radios (or maybe quit them in the last 25km), a better race will result.

I thought 2011 was great, the two Schleck muppets leading Gilbert to the line, you could tell from way back that he would go around them, which he did.


I wonder what excuses will be offered up from Sky - a total failure by them.

 

[Samson777]

proper ****e

ardennes week as a whole just sucked balls

Yes, perhaps this could qualify as the worst ardennes week in 10 years.

 

[Escarabajo]

I watched the re-run of the last 20 km without knowing who won. I was not bored trying to look for Betancur. I never saw him in the front group but took me while to find out so it kept me on my toes for a while (LOL). Having realized he was not there then I lost the interest.

Having said all this this was truly a boring LBL. I feel for all the people who watch hours of this boring fest (LOL).