Liege - Bastogne - Liege

[jaylew]

I have to say, at the end of the day, Astana had a great Ardennes Classic and I'm almost 100% positive that NO ONE would have predicted them to figure in these races at all.

Let the haters hate! That's what they are supposed to do.

No kidding there. A 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd and by three different riders. Impressive.

 

[theswordsman]

Well, we all know the bio-passport is dead, stone dead today. Hurray for McQuaid. Beginning to understand why Gripper left UCI.

Not defending the UCI, but I believe Gripper left because her life partner died and she was going home to run her foundation or something.

 

[thehog]

Not defending the UCI, but I believe Gripper left because her life partner died and she was going home to run her foundation or something.

farm. not foundation.

 

[Bala Verde]

Paul martens was showing great form once again. I can see him win/contend some of the bigger races next year!

 

[Parrot23]

That's exactly his attitude: "F you, I don't care"

All the folks cheering him are like jailhouse dudes watching a boxing fight. Like attracts like. Bad company corrupts good character.[/QUOTE]

Wow. You are really taking it there?

Issoisso had it right. Ditto with Menchov's Giro win last year.

Good time to take a shower, LOL.

P.S.: I have some serious respect for Basso today (as a baseline of where the truth prob. is).

 

[53 x 11]

THEY SEE ME ROLLING, THEY HATING.

 

[Publicus]

No kidding there. A 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd and by three different riders. Impressive.

All the more impressive because they are such a weak team. Seriously happy for these guys. They got shat on during the off season something awful. I hope they can carry it through the rest of the calendar.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Think his point is he doesn't wanna go down the doping path period. Vino did his time, therefore has the right to race, and win races.

Does not mean I have to like it. btw, good ride by ten dam!

 

[caça-foice]

FESTANA WINS!!! FESTANA WINS!!!

I don't understand these guys. Vino was wrong and served his sentence. I'm not defending those who do wrong ... but we must respect the rules of the game ... everyone deserves a second chance ... let's have fun guys ...

 

[jaylew]

Gilbert's attack was simply magnificent. You could just hear him say to himself, "if I'm going down, I'm going to do it fighting!".

Most impressive part about it was that he literally rode Valverde and Evans off his wheel. He didn't get the gap initially, but kept pushing and they cracked. I still think he was the strongest guy in the race.

 

[Publicus]

Iossosio had it right.

Good time to take a shower, LOL.

You both are entitled to your opinion, but trying to suggest that others that don't share your opinion don't because they are somehow degenerates is a bit childish.

 

[Moondance]

I don't understand these guys. Vino was wrong and served his sentence. I'm not defending those who do wrong ... but we must respect the rules of the game ... everyone deserves a second chance ... let's have fun guys ...

I think the question is more whether or not he's playing fair now.... Or at least it is in my eyes.

 

[sublimit]

Evans was excellent at the ardennes.

Bot Gilbert was the best for me, and I think deserved more. I think I have a man crush on him

Evans does look a stronger rider recently, he looks a lot bigger and Gilbert is so impressive as usual. both riders can reflect on a good early season with big wins in the bag.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Parrot, this sport is doped to the core. We all know it. Might as well enjoy the show at this point, because NOTHING is changing anytime soon.

Garin took the train in 1904, in the '20s riders had fans throw glass and nails on the road to let others puncture, Coppi said he needed amphetamines "most of the time", Merckx was caught 3 times, Moser made his career really legendary by working with Conconi, then came Gewiss, Festina, USPS, Phonak, T-Mobile and many others...

Might as well enjoy the show? That's what this 'sport' has always been about. Most big races were invented by newspapers to sell stories.
If you don't like it this way, you are into the wrong sport.

 

[Bala Verde]

1. VINOKOUROV Alexandre 148 ASTANA 6h 37' 48"
2. KOLOBNEV Alexandr 36 KATUSHA TEAM 6h 37' 54" + 00' 06"
3. VALVERDE Alejandro 11 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 6h 38' 52" + 01' 04"
4. GILBERT Philippe 21 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 6h 38' 52" + 01' 04"
5. EVANS Cadel 121 BMC RACING TEAM 6h 38' 52" + 01' 04"
6. SCHLECK Andy 1 TEAM SAXO BANK 6h 38' 55" + 01' 07"
7. ANTON Igor 71 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 6h 38' 55" + 01' 07"
8. HORNER Christopher 174 TEAM RADIOSHACK 6h 38' 55" + 01' 07"
9. SCHLECK Frank 5 TEAM SAXO BANK 6h 38' 55" + 01' 07"
10. CONTADOR Alberto 141 ASTANA 6h 38' 55" + 01' 07"
11. VOECKLER Thomas 208 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
12. GERRANS Simon 41 TEAM SKY 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
13. HESJEDAL Ryder 81 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
14. VAUGRENARD Benoît 67 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
15. MARTENS Paul 103 RABOBANK 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
16. GESINK Robert 101 RABOBANK 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
17. WEGMANN Fabian 167 TEAM MILRAM 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
18. GARZELLI Stefano 223 ACQUA & SAPONE 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
19. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 28 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
20. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
21. CUNEGO Damiano 51 LAMPRE - FARNESE 6h 39' 06" + 01' 18"
22. ROCHE Nicolas 111 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 6h 39' 10" + 01' 22"
23. BAUGNIES Jérôme 232 TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN-MERCATOR 6h 39' 10" + 01' 22"
24. CUMMINGS Stephen 44 TEAM SKY 6h 39' 10" + 01' 22"
25. MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel 26 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 6h 39' 13" + 01' 25"
26. TONDO Xavier 137 CERVELO TEST TEAM 6h 39' 13" + 01' 25"
27. TROFIMOV Yury 207 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 6h 39' 13" + 01' 25"
28. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 18 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 6h 39' 13" + 01' 25"
29. NIBALI Vincenzo 217 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 6h 39' 17" + 01' 29"
30. FLORENCIO Xavier 133 CERVELO TEST TEAM 6h 39' 21" + 01' 33"
31. LÖVKVIST Thomas 46 TEAM SKY 6h 39' 21" + 01' 33"
32. CHAMPION Dimitri 113 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 6h 39' 21" + 01' 33"
33. TEN DAM Laurens 108 RABOBANK 6h 39' 33" + 01' 45"
34. MASCIARELLI Francesco 226 ACQUA & SAPONE 6h 39' 47" + 01' 59"
35. TANKINK Bram 107 RABOBANK 6h 39' 50" + 02' 02"
36. GERDEMANN Linus 161 TEAM MILRAM 6h 39' 56" + 02' 08"
37. MONCOUTIE David 156 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 6h 39' 56" + 02' 08"
38. BERTAGNOLLI Leonardo 181 ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI 6h 39' 56" + 02' 08"
39. FAILLI Francesco 222 ACQUA & SAPONE 6h 40' 23" + 02' 35"

thanks for the results

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Most impressive part about it was that he literally rode Valverde and Evans off his wheel. He didn't get the gap initially, but kept pushing and they cracked. I still think he was the strongest guy in the race.

He did easy most of the work when he was with evans and valv.

 

[Publicus]

I think the question is more whether or not he's playing fair now.... Or at least it is in my eyes.

Can you say that unequivocally about ANYONE in the peloton? If we are being honest with ourselves, I think the answer has to be no.

 

[thehog]

I don't understand these guys. Vino was wrong and served his sentence. I'm not defending those who do wrong ... but we must respect the rules of the game ... everyone deserves a second chance ... let's have fun guys ...

Very impressive team tactics.

 

[53 x 11]

Most impressive part about it was that he literally rode Valverde and Evans off his wheel. He didn't get the gap initially, but kept pushing and they cracked. I still think he was the strongest guy in the race.

he also took about 20 seconds out of the gap with that attack. i thought for a small moment that he might do something monumental.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Evans does look a stronger rider recently, he looks a lot bigger and Gilbert is so impressive as usual. both riders can reflect on a good early season with big wins in the bag.

Unfortunately lacked it in the end.

 

[joy118118]

No kidding there. A 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd and by three different riders. Impressive.

1st ,3rd X 2

 

[Parrot23]

You both are entitled to your opinion, but trying to suggest that others that don't share your opinion don't because they are somehow degenerates is a bit childish.

No one suggested that. But one must TRY to respect what's true without being an unreconstructed fanboy. Children like the latter.

 

[icefire]

Garin took the train in 1904, in the '20s riders had fans throw glass and nails on the road to let others puncture, Coppi said he needed amphetamines "most of the time", Merckx was caught 3 times, Moser made his career really legendary by working with Conconi, then came Gewiss, Festina, USPS, Phonak, T-Mobile and many others...

Might as well enjoy the show? That's what this 'sport' has always been about. Most big races were invented by newspapers to sell stories.
If you don't like it this way, you are into the wrong sport.

Exactly. I tend to look at it much like the movies: fiction for entertainment

 

[Mellow Velo]

The various transgressions of dopers seem to be treated with a differentiated degree of disdain, dependent upon their degree of contrition.
Trouble is, we the have to assume they are being contrite, not hypocritical.
Who's to know?

Other than that, it's all about the individual's perception of which riders are likely to be cheats and who isn't.

Vino isn't that different from the rest.

 

[luckyboy]

Embarrassing stuff. Gilbert's attack was great though. Saxo Bank not as good as expected again.

I don't understand these guys. Vino was wrong and served his sentence. I'm not defending those who do wrong ... but we must respect the rules of the game ... everyone deserves a second chance ... let's have fun guys ...

He said in the interview afterwards something about taking revenge..