Liege Bastogne Liege-7 hour monument, Sunday, April 21, 2024

[Cookster15]

Assuming UAE can keep any dangerous breaks on a leash, impossible to see past Pogacar after the form he's already shown, targeting the Giro and just coming off a stint at altitude. Pogi can win this comfortably. Likely another long range demonstration.

After Amstel it looks like MvdP is past his peak and is zero chance to beat Pogacar at this race. Pogi just needs to pick where to go.

Looking at the profile (thank you topcat), Stockeu looks a good candidate. Its only 1km but 12.5%. The problem is that is 79km from the finish, maybe a bit too far. Redout (1.6km @ 9.4%) is 34km from the finish. That will do. If MvdP can hold Pog's wheel on Redout he will deserve it, But I just can't see it happening.

I am also expecting a strong race by the ever improving Egan Bernal.

 

[Samamba]

Half the UAE team will be in the bus after 100km if it actually will be like 3 - 4 degrees around noon and rain/snow in the Ardennes and Bastogne.

I hope the conditions will be a bit better cause I'm a bit scared for a shortening of the race if it stays like this.

 

[RedheadDane]

Skjelmose gonna roll up to the start like this:

 

[RJH]

Hello to everyone, this is my first post here… I like this forum very much, by the way.

Seems they will have similar conditions for La Doyenne like they had at the edition that Poels won… I hope for a full race, without shortening due to the conditions.

LBL is my favourite one-day race in the calendar: one of the best times of the year, great course, strong startlist, great history.

Big favourite might be Pogacar, and I like it that MvdP starts there.

Maybe Pogacar does it like once Di Luca: winning Liege first, then winning the Giro afterwards?…

Kind regards

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Well, Skjelmose doesn't seem to lack confidence...

Mattias Skjelmose reageert koeltjes in aanloop naar Luik: “Ben in de vorm van mijn leven”

Interview Mattias Skjelmose haalde woensdag alle voorpagina’s van de wielermedia. Na de ijsregen in de Waalse Pijl werd hij compleet schokkend en onderkoeld van zijn fiets naar de ploegbus gedragen. Het gaat intussen een stuk beter met hem. “Al voelden de benen tijdens de verkenning van...

www.wielerflits.nl

" reageert koeltjes"

Yes, I bet he does

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Skjelmose gonna roll up to the start like this:

Could he BE wearing any more clothes?

 

[hfer07]

Poga is fresh and ready. MVP might be tired a bit.

 

[velaso montador]

Skjelmose gonna roll up to the start like this:

hahahhaha can someone please help me to understand how to post pictures here? That *** there is the most funny post of the day.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Skjelmose gonna roll up to the start like this:

Then DNF due to heat exhaustion.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

Van Gils for the double podium. (Fleche LBL)

 

[Savant12]

If UAE can't control the race then Pog might just have some fun and go for a long solo attack again.

Or they will control and like SB, Pog might just go for a long solo anyway.

 

[Kwaremonster]

I think there are two chances of a interesting race: 1) one or a few riders really surprise us and cannot be dropped by Pogacar. This can always happen ofcourse, even though its hard to see at the moment.
2) Pogacar runs out of domestiques before the other teams do. Maybe they can start attacking him, or he attacks himself and then they chase him back on the flat. This is even harder to see given his team is quite strong.

Happy days. Then again, lbl is traditionally quite boring whereas Flanders and Roubaix are not. Maybe this is opposite year?

 

[Berniece]

I think there are two chances of a interesting race: 1) one or a few riders really surprise us and cannot be dropped by Pogacar. This can always happen ofcourse, even though its hard to see at the moment.
2) Pogacar runs out of domestiques before the other teams do. Maybe they can start attacking him, or he attacks himself and then they chase him back on the flat. This is even harder to see given his team is quite strong.

Happy days. Then again, lbl is traditionally quite boring whereas Flanders and Roubaix are not. Maybe this is opposite year?

I agree and that he might have difficulty with the weather himself. Not necessarily a DNF but just not being able to ride as well as he normally would

 

[DNP-Old]

I agree and that he might have difficulty with the weather himself. Not necessarily a DNF but just not being able to ride as well as he normally would

Pogacar loves the cold and the rain. I wouldn't make myself any illusions.

 

[RedheadDane]

hahahhaha can someone please help me to understand how to post pictures here? That *** there is the most funny post of the day.

Magic!

First of all, you have to be on a computer.
Hold your cursor over the image and right-click.
On the menu that then appears select "copy picture link".

On the forum, select the little icon in the top-menu of the writing section that looks like a little picture with two mountains (or use Ctrl+P)
Then insert the link you copied.

 

[Berniece]

Pogacar loves the cold and the rain. I wouldn't make myself any illusions.

Sure, but he still weighs a lot less than others. His body will feel a bigger impact from the cold

 

[Krzysztof_O]

" reageert koeltjes"

Yes, I bet he does

No doubts, Skjelmose has a pair to challenge the Cold Weather Merchant after what happened recently! It'll be a historic race, max. 5-10 finishers but probably only one. Teddy Merckx is growing some fat especially for this cold occasion and his attack near Eddy's monument will be legendary!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

mvdp skipping recon because of the weather.

I wonder, Mathieu has not historically been great in cold rainy races either despite his "thicker" weight.

 

[YavorD]

Sure, but he still weighs a lot less than others. His body will feel a bigger impact from the cold

Yeah, Stephen Williams is (at least listed as) 59. His body felt such a big impact that he won FW. Pogacar in comparison is 66.

I really don't think it's about how heavy you are. You either love the cold weather and ride good or you don't feel great and your performance drop.
And some of Pogacar's most impressive performances are in a cold weather. I see no reason to believe that weather conditions will harm him.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah, Stephen Williams is (at least listed as) 59. His body felt such a big impact that he won FW. Pogacar in comparison is 66.

I really don't think it's about how heavy you are. You either love the cold weather and ride good or you don't feel great and your performance drop.
And some of Pogacar's most impressive performances are in a cold weather. I see no reason to believe that weather conditions will harm him.

yeah in fact Pogacar has been at his worst in hot races mostly...

 

[Peyroteo94]

Pogacar will win, close this thread

 

[Gratemans]

Happy days. Then again, lbl is traditionally quite boring whereas Flanders and Roubaix are not. Maybe this is opposite year?

In a year where La Flèche proved to be more entertaining than PR and AGR, I wouldn't rule out anything..

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

forecasts i see its gonna be cold but dry

 

[topcat]

Good thread. I feel we got off to a rocky start but it's all settled down nicely.

 

[Netserk]

Good thread. I feel we got off to a rocky start but it's all settled down nicely.