Jul 10, 2014
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The first of the big classics. Cobblestones, steep climbs, crazy fans, what's not to like.
A big test for Wout, but MVDP is waiting for San Remo for his start of the season.

Notable mentions: Wout, Philipsen, De Lie, Mohoric, Laporte, Pidcock, Benoot, Kung, Alaphilippe, Wellens, Trentin


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Live video stream available on Eurosport/GCN alternative.

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Full startlist (not yet final):

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Women's race thread here:
 
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I don't agree for all races, but I do for bigger ones such as this where the women's race finishes after the men's.

I am on the fence. If races are on different days I very much agree, different threads is the way to go. For example the UAE races. I don't know about the races on the same day, for me it's almost a one day long event, which just happen to be raced by both the men and the women, so the thread is mostly about the race itself, not the racers. I guess that's my 5 cents.
 
Apr 3, 2009
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So if WVA is going for the big wins this year, I hope he's learned not to give them away when he has them. He's got Omloop already, but there are never too many editions to have in your palmares. Don't want to hear any more about saving it up for the big races. Time to show out.
 
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Sep 26, 2020
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I am on the fence. If races are on different days I very much agree, different threads is the way to go. For example the UAE races. I don't know about the races on the same day, for me it's almost a one day long event, which just happen to be raced by both the men and the women, so the thread is mostly about the race itself, not the racers. I guess that's my 5 cents.

Yeah, but in this case there will be ongoing talks about the men's race while the women's race is in its latter stages (vice versa would also be in issue). Unless you introduce some kind of colour system people will get confused and angry :p
 
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Yeah, but in this case there will be ongoing talks about the men's race while the women's race is in its latter stages (vice versa would also be in issue). Unless you introduce some kind of colour system people will get confused and angry :p

Yes I can see the point I guess. Everyone will be moaning about why Wout didn't do this or that, and that he gifted the win to De Lie because they're both Belgians. Meanwhile the quartet of Vollering, Kopecky, Wiebes and Reussers will be demolishing the field and with a mini TTT gaining minutes on everyone else.
 
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Yes I can see the point I guess. Everyone will be moaning about why Wout didn't do this or that, and that he gifted the win to De Lie because they're both Belgians. Meanwhile the quartet of Vollering, Kopecky, Wiebes and Reusser will be demolishing the field and with a mini TTT gaining minutes on everyone else.

I won't be majorly surprised if they actually finish 1-4, but doing it in a TTT style would be against everything their team stands for.
 
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No, it's aimed at MVDP. I am saying he should be racing this instead. Unless he's afraid of Wout.
Ah...thanks. I asked 'cause it seems obvious? We don't really want to get in the business of complaining that the best riders go to the monuments, do we?
 
May 5, 2010
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I am on the fence. If races are on different days I very much agree, different threads is the way to go.

I'm the opposite; if it's different days - like the De Panne races - I see no point for different threads, as all the action in one race would be done by the time the other starts.

Unless you introduce some kind of colour system people will get confused and angry :p

Because colour systems has worked so well in limiting confusion.

But I promise, I'd never deliberately try to find as many ways as possible to mention 'Norsgaard' without any sort of differentiation.
 
Oct 4, 2020
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So why would MVDP go for MSR which he's already won, instead of this better race, which he hasn't yet won. Strange man.
Possibly because it will only be three weeks after he finished his cross season and he's had a mini mini break.; or not worth getting out of bed for a race that is not a monument.
 
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