Renewi Tour 2023 (August 23-27)

[Devil's Elbow]

Anyone got any idea why Covi's in the break?

Because his form is very bad and has been for most of the year.

Also, Mohoric won this race thanks to being in a flat stage break that made it five years ago, it's not a terrible move in this kind of race.

 

[Rob5091]

Lotto has missed the mark with De Lie - He should be at the Vuelta when you consider the fastest sprinters are Molano and Dainese and there is at least 4 or 5 sprint stages - There is also another one or two stages with punchy finishes in which he could be competitive.

Sorry have to agree with Samamba - no way should he be at the Vuelta. If he was a little skinny climber, then I can understand the opportunity, but De Lie should be doing WT sprints over and over again until he dreams about them. He is still only 21 so there's time a plenty.

 

[Rob5091]

Because his form is very bad and has been for most of the year.

Also, Mohoric won this race thanks to being in a flat stage break that made it five years ago, it's not a terrible move in this kind of race.

Did n't Covi crash with Hart & the other GC guys at the Giro and went home early?

 

[SafeBet]

Did n't Covi crash with Hart & the other GC guys at the Giro and went home early?

Yes but he had health issues before the Giro as well and never quite found his shape.

 

[Rob5091]

Yes but he had health issues before the Giro as well and never quite found his shape.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Rob5091]

Job done by Covi - chapeau!

 

[yaco]

No he shouldn't ffs. Have you seen the parcours? Like seriously? Why should he be there? To get some cheap GT/WT win and then ruin his body doing 12 mountain stages? Maybe just ask him what he wants? Riding some chaotic Benelux sprints + some high level classic races are way better for his development than getting some easy sprint wins followed by ruining his body in the Vuelta.

There are a number of first year riders at the Vuelta who could be at the pointy end of stages - It's a big chance for DeLie to build up his endurance for his future endeavours - He could create a great double team with Van Eetvelt - Big chance for a stage victory, even taking into account the last minute addition of Groves - Winning a stage/s at a Grand Tour is not a cheap win.

 

[yaco]

Sorry have to agree with Samamba - no way should he be at the Vuelta. If he was a little skinny climber, then I can understand the opportunity, but De Lie should be doing WT sprints over and over again until he dreams about them. He is still only 21 so there's time a plenty.

So the Vuelta is not a WT race?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Pace already absolutely ferocious with 8k to go. I sense a big crash coming.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

So the Vuelta is not a WT race?

It's not a WT tier sprint field. He learns nothing from those sprints he hasn't already learned from the plethora of .1 and .HC races he's done these past two seasons. He does need to make the step of riding GTs soon, but there are better opportunities to do so than this not particularly sprinter-friendly Vuelta.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Nys not going for GC or just in prime Hayter/Yates stupidly hanging around the back of the peloton mode?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

A miracle that Welsford didn't take more people with him there.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Too easy for Philipsen when the likes of Kooij and Groenewegen are out of position. De Lie just not fast enough in these pan-flat stages.

 

[search]

A miracle that Welsford didn't take more people with him there.

took out Demare though, even if he didn't crash

 

[Samamba]

De Lie not fast enough here, not that surprising, see him more as a Pedersen, Kristoff type.

That being said. Philipsen makes sprints incredibly boring. Hope someone steps up at some point.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

That being said. Philipsen makes sprints incredibly boring. Hope someone steps up at some point.

Would have been a lot less boring if any of the sprinters who can challenge him in terms of speed had started the sprint from less than four riders behind him, tbf. Just too many bad leadouts/own positioning today and we all know that Philipsen/Alpecin are extremely reliable on both counts.

 

[Rob5091]

So the Vuelta is not a WT race?

Come on, you know what I mean. The guy is better doing the Renewi race against Philipsen and the other top sprinters, then trying to get up the Tourmalet before the time cut. 4th today and a good run out for the leadout guys.

 

[Samamba]

Would have been a lot less boring if any of the sprinters who can challenge him in terms of speed had started the sprint from less than four riders behind him, tbf. Just too many bad leadouts/own positioning today and we all know that Philipsen/Alpecin are extremely reliable on both counts.

Well being a sprinter isn't just being fast, that's the whole point. Philipsen is the complete package.

 

[yaco]

Too easy for Philipsen when the likes of Kooij and Groenewegen are out of position. De Lie just not fast enough in these pan-flat stages.

Doing a comparison between Philipsen and DeLie after two years - Philipsen at the same stage was a bit quicker, but it's not impossible for DeLie to get stronger and quicker, although he probably will not reach Philipsen's speed.

 

[Samamba]

Let's see what Arnauds watts were, cause even tho it's not surprising he's not as fast as the pure sprint boys, he seemed slow today. Russo was sprinting at the same speed for a while (before he got touched).

 

[yaco]

De Lie not fast enough here, not that surprising, see him more as a Pedersen, Kristoff type.

That being said. Philipsen makes sprints incredibly boring. Hope someone steps up at some point.

Merlier is the one, if QS can get their leadout to work better - Groenewegen is not fast enough, while Kooij needs perfect positioning which is hard with Jumbo's team.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Well being a sprinter isn't just being fast, that's the whole point. Philipsen is the complete package.

True, but you aren't going to get many sprints where all three of Merlier, Kooij and Groenewegen are this badly out of position. Yes, Philipsen is far more consistently well positioned and will therefore win more often than any of them by default, but it's hardly like the three of them never start the sprint from a good spot and therefore also hardly like the three of them will never beat or at least challenge him.

 

[yaco]

Come on, you know what I mean. The guy is better doing the Renewi race against Philipsen and the other top sprinters, then trying to get up the Tourmalet before the time cut. 4th today and a good run out for the leadout guys.

I'd rather win a stage at the Vuelta, instead of aa minor place at the Renewi Tour. De Lie could even win a harder finish at the Vuelta. Maybe DeLie does a super ITT which keeps him in touch for stage three.

 

[Red Rick]

Disgrace that this is World Tour.

Even more disgraceful that all the sprinters wanna be here when they could be at the Vuelta sprinting against pub level sprinters for GT stages

 

[Valv.Piti]

Youre telling me all the best sprinters are riding this race instead of getting 3 GT wins for free in the first week of La Vuelta? Some DS are not smarter than goldfish it seems. If you're that afraid of climbing, just abandon after stage 7 and call it. Thats the smart thing to do anyways instead of contesting much less valuable sprint stages against much greater competition.