This weekends Canadian Races

[auscyclefan94]

This comment seemed different to me when i first read it

I washed my mouth out with soap!

 

[velosiped]

Was there ANY question at all Hagen could handle the worlds course this year then???

That is new to me. If Hagen is ever going to find a tailor made course, it's this year.
A shame his team is sh.t and that the main opponents are attackers, like Gilbert and Pozzato. So he is going to either have to react to attacks himself or hope Spain gambles on Freire (who's not even certain yet)

Tactically it's not easy. The course is perfect for Hagen. Who could ever doubt that.

Nah, 260 grueling km's probably to much for him at this stage of his career.
Norway only has 3 riders, so it's all about floating by the stream and being able to get the top dog into the finale. (15 man group?) Probably Hushovd this year.
He will get his chances in the future - as well in the longer classics - but right now it's all about winning races he has ability to win, and his team ain't ecactly helping him.

Winning races is for the really good riders; the Boonen's, Breschel's; Haussler's; Cancellara's; Hushovd's;Boasson's; Possato's on the tough flatter classics. The Gilbert's; Sagan's; Hesjedal's; Kolobnev's; Schleck's; Sanchez's on the hillier classics. The Cavendish's; Farrar's; McEwen's; Petacchi's; Freire's on the flatter races.
Cycling is a feudal system - the aristocrati rules.
I hate serfs like Voeckler, Ivanow, Tracsel, Eisel, Guesdon, Burkhardt, Kroon, Guiterrez etc. They have no business being there!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don't think the 260km+ are going to be a problem this time around actually.
Last year I would have agreed with you (even won a €10 bet with Moondance because of that)

 

[Moondance]

I don't think the 260km+ are going to be a problem this time around actually.
Last year I would have agreed with you (even won a €10 bet with Moondance because of that)

Had to remind me of that....

BTW you also mentioned at the time that you'd bet similar money on EBH to Top-5 this year. At least your position has been consistent.

 

[El Pistolero]

Worlds 2010
Milan San Remo
Ronde van Vlaanderin
Paris Roubaix

do i need to go on?

He should prove him self in those kind of races first.

Sure he won Ghent-Wevelgem, but so did Hincapie.

 

[velosiped]

Utter nonsense.

They were criticised in the cobble races for doing too much for Flecha, now apparently they did nothing.

EBH lost Vattenfall because Farrar was faster. He was going off the same leadout speed.

Eneco was lost because EBH decided to sit-up, rather than carry on with Martin and Morenhout.

This race was lost because EBH and others didn't react, and then left their kicks too late waiting for others. And for the record, Sky did have a 2nd man up there helping to pull back the Gesink group. I have no earthly idea what more you can expect a team to do for EBH.

Please, leave the alcohol in the closet.

what help did Flecha have the last 50 km's on any race?
Vattenfall was lost partly because of a slow leadout, partly because of a head-wind whish made Boasson wait as long as possibly before he sprinted. Farrar gambleded and went early, hit the wall, and barely managed to win. Had Boasson gone 10 metes earlier he would have won. Farrar has a good kangaroo-jump, but his top end speed in not better.

At Eneco he chose to let go because the peloton was about to get the break-away he was in. Why they suddenly decided to let Moorenhout and Martin is beyond me.

I expect the team with the best 1-2 sprinter to have a helper there in the finale when it's probable it will end in a group finish.

 

[velosiped]

He should prove him self in those kind of races first.

Sure he won Ghent-Wevelgem, but so did Hincapie.

You'r right. One step at the time.
But be sure to make those steps.

 

[maltiv]

I still think that the lack of tactical depth amongst the inexperienced DS's of Team Sky is one of the reasons why EBH hasn't had as much success as he should have had this year. I mean, he's a lot stronger in every aspect this year (stronger sprint, climbing and TT), yet his results are lacklustre. At Columbia they surely had extremely experienced staff who most likely played a vital role in EBH's successes in the 2009 season, as well as a stronger team in general.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I still think that the lack of tactical depth amongst the inexperienced DS's of Team Sky is one of the reasons why EBH hasn't had as much success as he should have had this year. I mean, he's a lot stronger in every aspect this year (stronger sprint, climbing and TT), yet his results are lacklustre. At Columbia they surely had extremely experienced staff who most likely played a vital role in EBH's successes in the 2009 season, as well as a stronger team in general.

Sky doesn't have the strenght, not much to do with tactics (well except for the early leadouts).

But to pull back a break with Hesjedal, Cunego, Gesink, Wegmann and Breschel, I don't think much teams would be able to do that regardless

 

[Anonymous]

Sky doesn't have the strenght, not much to do with tactics (well except for the early leadouts).

But to pull back a break with Hesjedal, Cunego, Gesink, Wegmann and Breschel, I don't think much teams would be able to do that regardless

I think the DS's has a lot to do with it. The A sprint team (henderson, sutton, downing, swift, vigano) for sky has been fine, its the B sprint team that keeps going to early. I think EBH's injuries didnt help.

Why is this another sky thread anyway. Great win for voeckler, and EbH came second. Lets all slate cunego, or hesjedal for messing up the finish, not having enough support

Last lap or so was cracking. lets enjoy the race instead of picking fault with everything.

 

[stefrees]

Was a great race, really enjoyed it, always like seeing voeckler win.

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Please, leave the alcohol in the closet.

what help did Flecha have the last 50 km's on any race?
Vattenfall was lost partly because of a slow leadout, partly because of a head-wind whish made Boasson wait as long as possibly before he sprinted. Farrar gambleded and went early, hit the wall, and barely managed to win. Had Boasson gone 10 metes earlier he would have won. Farrar has a good kangaroo-jump, but his top end speed in not better.

At Eneco he chose to let go because the peloton was about to get the break-away he was in. Why they suddenly decided to let Moorenhout and Martin is beyond me.

I expect the team with the best 1-2 sprinter to have a helper there in the finale when it's probable it will end in a group finish.

Who's been drinking?

EBH lost out at Eneco due to inexperience, not because of a lack of team support. Similarly, he, and others, could have followed Voeckler when he attacked but they didn't. Again, inexperience they will learn from.

I assume you're going to criticise Quickstep for not supporting Boonen when Cancellara attacked at RVV?

Some people need to understand that certain riders are better on the day. It doesn't matter how good or bad the DS' are, when it comes down to the last km it's all about tactical awareness. Voeckler has proved time and time again he can do this.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Full results
http://protourquebecmontreal.com/uploads/pdf/Qc2010-ComRace-ResultatsFinal.pdf

Scheirlinckx 5th, not Moreno, not the Euskal dude. But Scheirlinckx

Anyway, looking at the names in the first group(s). This race rocks.

edit
lol at this

@RGUpdate Heb Hagen gezegd dat ie maar eens wat aan zijn sprint moest werken, als Strijkijzer Gesink al zo dichtbij kan komen...

Translated: "I told Hagen that he should work at his sprint some more, if smoothing iron Gesink can come so close in a sprint...."

 

[velosiped]

Who's been drinking?

EBH lost out at Eneco due to inexperience, not because of a lack of team support. Similarly, he, and others, could have followed Voeckler when he attacked but they didn't. Again, inexperience they will learn from.

I assume you're going to criticise Quickstep for not supporting Boonen when Cancellara attacked at RVV?

Some people need to understand that certain riders are better on the day. It doesn't matter how good or bad the DS' are, when it comes down to the last km it's all about tactical awareness. Voeckler has proved time and time again he can do this.

You are wrong. He lost that stage mostly because the peloton let the escape go. they stopped the hunt. why was 18 teams happy with those 2 settle the victory? I am not saying Boasson wouldn't loose it on the final tempo even if he had 10 - 15 seconds on Martin, though.

are you seriously comparing RVF with GPQ? When did we last see 25 men in the finale at Flanders?

Here you are partly right. It is probable that an aggressive rider like Vockler will be there at the end. The other teams will look at the best sprinter and let his TEAM do the job. Where was that team? (And didn't BMc have several guys there?) Again - it was probable with a bunch finish, and Sky should have predicted a stunt like what V did.
they started with 8 men, and should have one bodyguard for the last km.
this is nothing but bad craftmanship.
My take: sky was hitting at 3 races during the same time-span. vuelta, Britain and Canada. they stretched their limited resoures, and so far has lost on 2 of them.
This is bad craftsmanship, and it's p$€£@$g me off!!

Cycling is not about pause-clowns like Vockler.

 

[Anonymous]

Cycling is not about pause-clowns like Vockler.

He picked his moment, and he deserved the win...

There is seriously too much alcohol on the forum this evening.

 

[The Cobra]

The only thing Sky did wrong was not get a man in the break meaning they had to do a lot of work and use most of the riders to bring it back. To say they should have had a man in the final few km to chase back Voekler is a bit harsh. At that stage in the race only the team captains were left. Out of the front group only Lampre had more than one rider, and in no way would I say this was a sprinters course.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Cycling is not about pause-clowns like Vockler.

Why not? Guys like TV Tommy bring something to the race, because they will try to break up the race and get a win in the only way they can, no matter how unlikely. What IS cycling about, if it's not about attacking to win?

 

[tgsgirl]

Cycling is not about pause-clowns like Vockler.

Are you seriously dissing TiVo? Are you mental?!

 

[velosiped]

Are you seriously dissing TiVo? Are you mental?!

Do you think cycling is democracy; equal share of victory to the respective teams and riders?
Roger de Vlaeminck is bashing the sport for supporting to many mediocre plebs.
He is right. this is about the real winners. the big talents.
what we remember is the big guys, Mercx, de vlaemick, Kelly, Maertens, Raas, Hinault, Petegem, Museeuw, Boonen, Cippolini, Freire, Cancellara, Zabel etc.

Who the hell cares about nobodies like TiVo? He wins solely because others are sleeping!
Their victories are annoying.

 

[tgsgirl]

Yeah, you're mental.

 

[theyoungest]

Do you think cycling is democracy; equal share of victory to the respective teams and riders?
Roger de Vlaeminck is bashing the sport for supporting to many mediocre plebs.
He is right. this is about the real winners. the big talents.
what we remember is the big guys, Mercx, de vlaemick, Kelly, Maertens, Raas, Hinault, Petegem, Museeuw, Boonen, Cippolini, Freire, Cancellara, Zabel etc.

Who the hell cares about nobodies like TiVo? He wins solely because others are sleeping!
Their victories are annoying.

Are you a frustrated Hesjedal fan or something?

 

[velosiped]

Why not? Guys like TV Tommy bring something to the race, because they will try to break up the race and get a win in the only way they can, no matter how unlikely. What IS cycling about, if it's not about attacking to win?

cycling is all about the battle of the titans. The midgets have no business being there.
Pfuh, what the heck kind of damage has postmodernistic relativism done with human brains? Supporting the mediocre?

 

[hrotha]

cycling is all about the battle of the titans. The midgets have no business being there.
Pfuh, what the heck kind of damage has postmodernistic relativism done with human brains? Supporting the mediocre?

Merry Trollmas.

 

[velosiped]

Are you a frustrated Hesjedal fan or something?

well, I dothink he will be a force in the ardennes the next years.
I am not canadian - or north-american.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

When did we last see 25 men in the finale at Flanders?

Uhm, this year, in the sprint for 5th place
Last year even in the sprint for 3rd place

So, my conclusion is you never watch flanders?