Ronde van Vlaanderen: April 7th, 2019

[Broccolidwarf]

Watching the bunch sprint now.

Van Aert just got a quick finishing lesson by Kristoff..... "move over buddy, this is MY spot"

 

[MartinGT]

Well done Bettiol, just feel a little anti-climaxed after that.

Understand the size of the group etc. just a bit meh

 

[gunara]

Great job, Bettiol!
To say the chasers are stupid is assuming you wouldn't do that if you're in the situation, well...what would you do?

 

[Jancouver]

MVP 4th after all that, that's still impressive.

Nice 5th place by Politt

Kristoff, what a beast!

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Where is the Cykel Cille (Uttrup) interview please? - It is probably crazy

 

[OlavEH]

Disappointing race by Van Aert and Van Avermaet. Very disappointing by Stybar.

And after today's race. Who are the favorites for PR? Most open PR in many years?

 

[Mavic]

Re:

Disappointing race by Van Aert and Van Avermaet. Very disappointing by Stybar.

And after today's race. Who are the favorites for PR? Most open PR in many years?

Too bad van der Poel is skipping it.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

Disappointing race by Van Aert and Van Avermaet. Very disappointing by Stybar.

And after today's race. Who are the favorites for PR? Most open PR in many years?

Kristoff would appear to be the favorite, but you are right that it looks incredibly open. Kristoff has no team to chase any big move he misses and after this you can bet that DCQ will be firing guys up the road

 

[alspacka]

Re: Re:

Disappointing race by Van Aert and Van Avermaet. Very disappointing by Stybar.

And after today's race. Who are the favorites for PR? Most open PR in many years?

Too bad van der Poel is skipping it.

Assuming no injuries, he should definitely reconsider.

 

[MADRAZO]

Re: Re:

Disappointing race by Van Aert and Van Avermaet. Very disappointing by Stybar.

And after today's race. Who are the favorites for PR? Most open PR in many years?

Too bad van der Poel is skipping it.

Assuming no injuries, he should definitely reconsider.

His team is not invited

 

[Oude Geuze]

In Norwegian media, Kristoff and his team have talked about how he is no longer forced to starve in order to loose those last 2-3kg after Katusha. They say he looses too much power and that it’s not worth it. He’s a very powerful and stocky guy, almost looks a little bloated on tv, but in real life, lean, ripped, muscle and veins bulging and no abdominal fat. Looks like they were right regarding weight.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

Bettiol & Bastianelli
Italy FTW

Much joy over on the RAI

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

Bettiol & Bastianelli
Italy FTW

Much joy over on the RAI

Fair enough. Two superb wins.

 

[Mavic]

Re: Re:

His team is not invited

Prior to sending out invites the PR organization already made contact with Corendon-Circus and their invitation was already on the table but they declined seeing as it didn’t fit their spring season plans. Bet they’re regretting it now.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Bettiol was super strong and deserved to win.


BUT, I really think in pure power/strength MvdP was even stronger. However he didn't ride really smart. Inexperienced and kwaremont /pater started at the back.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Bettiol was super strong and deserved to win.


BUT, I really think in pure power/strength MvdP was even stronger. However he didn't ride really smart. Inexperienced and kwaremont /pater started at the back.

Agreed. MvdP's ride today was one of the most impressive rides in the ronde I can remember. Maybe it looks even more impressive becuase the competition was really weak today but that crash, that recovery ride which must have taken a lot out of him and yet he was the strongest out of the group on the Paterberg. I think absolutely everyone thought the race was over for him when he crashed and yet here we are

 

[TourOfSardinia]

These young guys make the old guard (Sagan GVA Bala etc) look stale

 

[Gigs_98]

On another note, am I the only one who thinks the kwaremont was ridden really weirdly today? Usually on that climb the strongest rider goes to the front early and just rides rider after rider off his wheel with a huge but steady pace and at the end riders are all over the road. Today it seemed like the first half was almost softpedalled and with the exception of Bettiol who did a really explosive attack the group that came out on top was almost identical to the one entering the climb. It looked like some riders were holding something back, something you usually never see on that climb. I'd really like to see a comparison of the climbing times from today and previous editions.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Bettiol is a surprising but deserving winner. It's normal that there was no cooperation among the others after Paterberg, because they didn't want to drag Kristoff to the finish.

 

[Pantani_lives]

On another note, am I the only one who thinks the kwaremont was ridden really weirdly today? Usually on that climb the strongest rider goes to the front early and just rides rider after rider off his wheel with a huge but steady pace and at the end riders are all over the road. Today it seemed like the first half was almost softpedalled and with the exception of Bettiol who did a really explosive attack the group that came out on top was almost identical to the one entering the climb. It looked like some riders were holding something back, something you usually never see on that climb. I'd really like to see a comparison of the climbing times from today and previous editions.

Van der Poel was too far behind at the foot of the Kwaremont. The others weren't strong enough to follow Bettiol, maybe they were also surprised and watching the other favorites, but if you're strong you shouldn't hold back at that point in the race.

 

[fuiers]

Re:

Bettiol & Bastianelli
Italy FTW

Just noticed that also. How wonderful and rare is that. Well done.

 

[Lequack]

The Italians dominate Belgium today.

Pictured: men and women's winners:

 

[OlavEH]

Re: Re:

Disappointing race by Van Aert and Van Avermaet. Very disappointing by Stybar.

And after today's race. Who are the favorites for PR? Most open PR in many years?

Kristoff would appear to be the favorite, but you are right that it looks incredibly open. Kristoff has no team to chase any big move he misses and after this you can bet that DCQ will be firing guys up the road

Kristoff has usually been better in RVV than PR, but this year could be his big chance to win PR. There was also an report on him in Norwegian television earlier this week. He has been focusing less on loosing weight this season, and more on pure endurance. This could be an advantage in PR. And if we consider the other "big names"

Sagan: Is nowhere near last year's form.
Terpstra: Crashed out today. Worst classics season for him since 2011.
Stybar: Was perhaps the biggest favorite until today's race. What happend to him?
Van Aert: Past peak form? Better in Flanders?
Van Avermaet: Perhaps the top favorite, but not as good as he has been the last years
Bettiol: Has this guy ever ridden PR? Better suited for Flanders

Then we have Politt, Degenkolb, Naesen, Benoot, Stuyven, Vanmarcke, Pedersen, Asgreen and several other guys.

No, this is wide open. Very much looking forward to this one!

 

[Pantani_lives]

And as expected there's a thunderstorm now, after the race.

 

[Red Rick]

Wasn't today also much warmer than all the other races they've been doing so far? Maybe that had some part to play.