Ronde Van Vlaanderen 2012

[spalco]

anyone think Gilbert can improve by amstel gold.

Who knows. There were probably about 50 riders who rode as hard as him today. He didn't look bad, but still far off from great.

 

[Richeypen]

It was the same last year as well, peoples favourite rider doesnt win = not an exiting race

Last year was great. Fact if that this course is too hard causing people to hold back until a lot later on.

 

[phanatic]

I didn't see Sagan get blown away by Pippo and Boonen, just them on their own, and then Sagan flies up Paterberg ahead of everyone else. Did anyone see it?

 

[Caruut]

lol. weren't you the one saying gilbert would ride wlel here?

Gilbert's continued poor form evidence of impending world beating!111!!!!11!!!!

 

[markene2]

I think i am starting to be a Pozzato fan..... (Never thought i would say that)

 

[dlwssonic]

lol. weren't you the one saying gilbert would ride wlel here?

well yeah I was overly optimistic, but there is still two weeks left for him.

 

[LaFlorecita]

What the **** was that with Breschel's sprint? Went to the other side of the road, why didn't he just stay in the group?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Welcome to CN's forum where all races and courses are boring and all are 'wheel suckers'

It was an exciting race for the last 25km. That's pretty good at some places, but at de Ronde it's a bit of a let down.

It was the worst edition of the Ronde I've ever seen. They played it too much like an Ardennes classic, people seemed too scared of the run-in to force selections early. When the selection came, the race was pretty decent, but we had to wait far longer than expected.

Hopefully, Boonen becomes the first and only ever winner on this course, and they can fine-tune it a bit to make it a bit more conducive to racing developing from far out in years to come.

 

[Kvinto]

Boonen is pretty honest to say he wasn't feeling very good today

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Last year was great. Fact if that this course is too hard causing people to hold back until a lot later on.

year before last was a lot more boring then this.

Chav and canc heroics last year were something else tho.

 

[Arnout]

I didn't see Sagan get blown away by Pippo and Boonen, just them on their own, and then Sagan flies up Paterberg ahead of everyone else. Did anyone see it?

He was going backwards when Pippo went, probably because of his earlier effort to get back in the front group. Pity, because it would've been better with him in the first group.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

a shame about canc, think he could have won this. even bigger shame he will miss out on PR now.

Yes, but he's like Pozzato he'll be riding again in about 4 days.

 

[The Hitch]

Race was good but for me it is overshadowed and defined by what happened at 62k to go.

 

[hushovd]

that is simply untrue.

Actually he did take quite a few short pulls. My wife(not a big fan of cycling, except to watch me race) even said "How come the guy in light blue never stays on the front for more then a few seconds."

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think i am starting to be a Pozzato fan..... (Never thought i would say that)

I've always liked pozz. the hate he has gotten at CN forums in the past has only ever increased me like of him.

 

[will10]

Yes, but he's like Pozzato he'll be riding again in about 4 days.

Riding Laigueglia with a pinned collarbone is a damn sight different than riding Roubaix after a week.

 

[The Sheep]

Last year was great. Fact if that this course is too hard causing people to hold back until a lot later on.

Looks like the AGR

 

[Savant12]

Flanders without Cancellara contesting at the end made it just that less special to watch.

I was bored by the end as the sprint result was going to be predictable.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Last year was great. Fact if that this course is too hard causing people to hold back until a lot later on.

Exactly. You need to strike a balance. Make it too easy, and the bunch is too big, and the only thing causing selection is accidents.

Make it too hard, and the big guys won't want to risk too much, and you'll get a nervy péloton and the only thing causing selection is accidents.

Until the penultimate climb, the only thing causing selection had been accidents. I can understand the comparison to Ardennes classics in that they frequently only start up the action two or three climbs out.

 

[thehog]

Race was good but for me it is overshadowed and defined by what happened at 62k to go.

It really was his own fault.... not a freak accident. With that I judge he should have stayed upright like Boonen managed to.

 

[will10]

Actually he did take quite a few short pulls. My wife(not a big fan of cycling, except to watch me race) even said "How come the guy in light blue never stays on the front for more then a few seconds."

Well, your wife is undoubtedly an expert, let's take her word as gospel.

 

[spalco]

that is simply untrue.

I saw it too. Boonen was sandbagging. Props to him for winning, but it wasn't especially heroic.

 

[luckyboy]

Maybe the parcours could do with only two laps and somehow a shorter run-in.

 

[will10]

Flanders without Cancellara contesting at the end made it just that less special to watch.

I was bored by the end as the sprint result was going to be predictable.

Cancellara fan is predictably disappointed.

There have been countless brilliant editions when Cancellara didn't make the final.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Exactly. You need to strike a balance. Make it too easy, and the bunch is too big, and the only thing causing selection is accidents.

Make it too hard, and the big guys won't want to risk too much, and you'll get a nervy péloton and the only thing causing selection is accidents.

Until the penultimate climb, the only thing causing selection had been accidents. I can understand the comparison to Ardennes classics in that they frequently only start up the action two or three climbs out.

no way was this as boring as agr and fw (especially fw) tho. But indeed, compared to what flanders can be it might have been a let down. Still I managed to enjoy it is a single race, regardless of previous editions.