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Liege - Bastogne - Liege

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Jan 27, 2010
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there's no way those official hill stats are accurate - la redoute has got to be at least 15% in places. one of the hardest climbs i have ever ridden.
 
Apr 17, 2010
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i think they´re definitly right, the redoute is not stepper than the mur de huy and it has 9,3% average with 25% parts.
i just drove the redoute by car and it "looked" not so steep but this should be different on a bike
walked the mur up yesterday and this is just a nasty climb!
 
Redoute

C%C3%B4te_de_la_Redoute_Remouchamps_profile.gif
 
Jun 16, 2009
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I've been up the redoute in an elite ZC race.

It feels so steep in places that if you pulled up on the bars you'd tip over backwards.
 
Sep 25, 2009
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theswordsman said:
After the Time Trial win at Giro del Trentino, Vino told people that race is just preparation for Liege Bastogne Liege and the Giro d'Italia, so he obviously has something in mind for Sunday. But he's also the leader at Trentino right now, with 164 kilometer stage on Thursday, 172 kilometer stage with a mountain finish on Friday.

I don't know what the flight back log is like right now, but after Friday's stage he needs to get from Italy to Belgium, and just have Saturday to recover and do recon. Most of the other races are already in Liege, doing recon rides, and in control of their efforts for the next three days. It's a lot to ask of Vino to be stronger than everyone else.

Contador is still stinging from seeing the finish line a couple of hundred meters ahead, and being passed. Twice.



Sunday is his last day of racing for six weeks. Next up is recon on the cobbles, and a mini vacation. There's not a reason in the world for him not to give the race his best shot. There's time to do recon of the course in a car, and ride the most important climbs. Astana will have a really strong team.

People here were saying that it was crazy to pick him for La Fleche Wallone, but he finished on the podium with the same time as the winner. I'll go ahead and pick him for Sunday, and let people on my ignore list say what they will. :cool:

The reason that Armstrong's verbal attacks didn't work on Contador was that number one, he wasn't listening, and for the most part had no idea what was being said, and number two, he placed no importance on it. So if a few people post behind me, saying insulting things behind my back, and I never see it, then what's their motivation? Except for making the world a more negative place by their presence.

Edit: I just read Stephen Farrand's article here, where he made this observation:



http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-frustrated-but-satisfied-with-third-at-fleche-wallonne
it is beyond me, why the forum suddenly got flooded by the sludge of half-witted threads and posts whilst content-adding posts like the one quoted above get burred.

i like both vino and berto but i agree with your analysis above - vino with his heavy schedule and race fatigue would make a less rational choice for astana leadership at liege. there is one caveat though, yesterday, post stage 2 he left the door open for not contending for the overall on di pampeago tomorrow. perhaps saving his legs for sunday.
 
python said:
it is beyond me, why the forum suddenly got flooded by the sludge of half-witted threads and posts whilst content-adding posts like the one quoted above get burred.

i like both vino and berto but i agree with your analysis above - vino with his heavy schedule and race fatigue would make a less rational choice or astana leadership at liege. there is one caveat though, yesterday, post stage 2 he left the door open for not contending for the overall on di pampeago tomorrow. perhaps saving his legs for sunday.

He said the same thing after the TT as well. I don't think Astana has a very good squad there (at least compared to the Fleche Wallonne/provisional LBL squad) and they are not capable of controlling the race (don't they only have 7 guys?).

I think Sunday isn't about AC riding for Vino or Vino riding AC, it's going to be about the two of them exploring ways to use each other tactically (a la the Brothers Schleck). Frankly it will be the first time that they will raced together and both are on decent form, so it is the perfect time to experiment with tactics. At least that's how I see it.
 
Sep 25, 2009
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Publicus said:
He said the same thing after the TT as well. I don't think Astana has a very good squad there (at least compared to the Fleche Wallonne/provisional LBL squad) and they are not capable of controlling the race (don't they only have 7 guys?).

I think Sunday isn't about AC riding for Vino or Vino riding AC, it's going to be about the two of them exploring ways to use each other tactically (a la the Brothers Schleck). Frankly it will be the first time that they will raced together and both are on decent form, so it is the perfect time to experiment with tactics. At least that's how I see it.
you could be right. astana may be having a loose plan for two leaders with various tactical opportunities as they present themselves.

after all, look at katusha yesterday, they went in with three pre-announced leaders and three loosely defined roles to eventually net out a very respectable 2nd by rodriguez who was told to only follow wheels whilst ivanov and kolbnev soften up everyone.

still one needs good legs to play various leading roles and vino's will be more tired than berto's. one thing im confident about, they'll cooperate well and though some competition can not be excluded, it's light years apart from the texas treachery last year.
 
Apr 10, 2010
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python said:
it is beyond me, why the forum suddenly got flooded by the sludge of half-witted threads and posts whilst content-adding posts like the one quoted above get burred.

Was thinking that too. However, its important to be respectful and don't slam others in their replies and threads. Opinions, attitudes will vary from forum member to forum member thats what makes the forum active and alive !!!.

As it says on another thread......

Don't slam: Some beginners and might not be clued in on forum etiquette and standards. Show them patience.

Be respectful: Different perspectives are what make a discussion interesting. It is ok to challenge what is said but writing abusive or insulting comments about others is not.
 
Jun 22, 2009
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Dekker_Tifosi said:
Unless Gesink magically recovers his basque form, which is impossible.
Oh well. We can still hope for a Vino/Voigt scenario. Gesink escaping with Vinokourov at 60km before the finish to try and get 2nd :p

:D

...but yea... gesink has little chance with the form he is in. Mollema needs to do something for dutch cycling come may :p
 
Jun 16, 2009
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Timmy-loves-Rabo said:
:D

...but yea... gesink has little chance with the form he is in. Mollema needs to do something for dutch cycling come may :p

I am still waiting to see the great "Bauke Mollema"! I am itching to see him in full flight.

Hey timmy, first thing i have got right this season!:eek:
Where is gallic ho the n.o1 hater of evans?
 
Jun 22, 2009
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auscyclefan94 said:
I am still waiting to see the great "Bauke Mollema"! I am itching to see him in full flight.

Hey timmy, first thing i have got right this season!:eek:
Where is gallic ho the n.o1 hater of evans?

well when you state "evans season starts tonight" in every race your bound to get one right :p Na he did well, kudos to him.

Mollema has been building his form, will be riding romandie (i think) as his last prep. for the giro. I'm also excited.
 
Jun 16, 2009
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Timmy-loves-Rabo said:
well when you state "evans season starts tonight" in every race your bound to get one right :p Na he did well, kudos to him.

Mollema has been building his form, will be riding romandie (i think) as his last prep. for the giro. I'm also excited.

But i actually tipped him. What happened to gesink in the end?:confused:
 
Jun 22, 2009
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auscyclefan94 said:
But i actually tipped him. What happened to gesink in the end?:confused:

I'd say the effort getting back to the peleton after the puncture killed him. But he clearly hasn't peaked his form correctly.
Rabo team said he has a cough, But I dunno..
 
Jan 18, 2010
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I go for a Gilbert win, with Lovqvist, Kolobnev again getting up there, but I'll have to study the start list and update again nearer the race because that forecast could change.

its getting harder to forecast these races with the influx of climbing specialists but Gilbert is going like a train and hopefully will take it.
 
I don't know who to believe anymore.

Gesink seems shot, Piti just didn't have it. Schlecks just missing a spark, Cunego... Solid but not a winner at this point. Vino will have an awesome go but will not win.

As an early tip I'm saying it's out of Gilbert, Kolobnev or Evans. Would be very happy for Kolobnev if he was to win :)
 

Dr. Maserati

BANNED
Jun 19, 2009
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python said:
you could be right. astana may be having a loose plan for two leaders with various tactical opportunities as they present themselves.

after all, look at katusha yesterday, they went in with three pre-announced leaders and three loosely defined roles to eventually net out a very respectable 2nd by rodriguez who was told to only follow wheels whilst ivanov and kolbnev soften up everyone.

still one needs good legs to play various leading roles and vino's will be more tired than berto's. one thing im confident about, they'll cooperate well and though some competition can not be excluded, it's light years apart from the texas treachery last year.

+1 .... i think Astanas tactic in LBL will be like Katushas tactic yesterday.

Vino doesnt have the kick for the final climb in Ans so I expect him to try from further out, with AC in position to benefit if Vino gets caught.

Kolobnev and Vino to sneak away on the run in and fight out the win??
 
Jun 22, 2009
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Ferminal said:
I don't know who to believe anymore.

Gesink seems shot, Piti just didn't have it. Schlecks just missing a spark, Cunego... Solid but not a winner at this point. Vino will have an awesome go but will not win.

As an early tip I'm saying it's out of Gilbert, Kolobnev or Evans. Would be very happy for Kolobnev if he was to win :)

yeah me too, I really wanna see the guy rewarded for all his efforts. Great rider. Not sure LBL is the best kind of race for him though.

I think Frank could do well.
 
Jan 18, 2010
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The thing is with the Schlecks is they just look behind themselves the whole time, showboating and waiting etc. very talented riders particularly Andy but they need to put their heads down and flex their muscles and race.
 
Apr 19, 2009
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sublimit said:
The thing is with the Schlecks is they just look behind themselves the whole time, showboating and waiting etc. very talented riders particularly Andy but they need to put their heads down and flex their muscles and race.

IMO they seem to be lacking a bit compared to last year.